Calculus CLEP/in general: Not sure where to start

[OfficerA]

Hello all,

For my grad school requirement (last I checked anyway), the Calculus CLEP is accepted as a prerequisite course, and now I'm trying to study for it in between my one-week downtime before my last semester (hopefully) with TESC begins.

My background (although it's been at least a year since) mathwise are:

College Algebra
Trigonometry
Intermediate Algebra

(not including Statistics, since it's treated separately as a subject by TESC)

I've borrowed books here on base (including the 5 Steps to a 5 AP book on the subject) to try to get started on this, but there just seems to be a huge gap between what I've learned in the past vs. the basics that I'm expected to learn from in Calculus. There's something about the subject matter too that I just can't relate/connect with (everything I read emphasizes how important it is, but doesn't really explain why I'm doing what I'm doing).

I looked around at another recent topic and found interactmath.com; not sure which one to start with, but I decided to go with one of the Calculus textbooks and work on the problems, as well as reading the feedback from http://www.degreeforum.net/general-educa...lus-2.html

But I guess overall I'm just a tad lost; I've browsed a PreCalculus book I was able to find from a giveaway here on base and the problems on it looked familiar/easy, but as soon as I get back on Calculus I'm not sure why I'm lost. Can anyone suggest a place to begin with?

Thank you all, as always.

[UptonSinclair]

If you are going to try to learn Calculus on your own, I suggest your purchase a one year subscription to Thinkwell Calculus. The $150 price is a bargain for the quality instruction. It uses the same materials as Straighterline's Calculus. Professor Edward Burger presents Calculus in a series of videos that are far better than the materials you will find in textbooks. Alternatively, MyMathTutor does an amazing job of presenting the calculations.

I am not sure where you studied math previously, but I found that the accelerated approach I took through Aleks did a poor job of preparing me for Calculus. After a few months I forgot much of the information. Math is one of the topics that requires lots of practice. I took Calculus I through Excelsior, but in order to complete Calculus II, I would have to start over at Precalculus. A Mechanical Engineering Senior recently told me that the best way to deal with college math is to take it straight through without a break between math classes.

[lprstn]

There's also the CLEP Professor - Calculus you can get off amazon. My oldest son took this test and said it was rather difficult and the calculator they make you use was frustrating. He didn't pass it (was close though) and he decided he'd do better just taking the class.

[bricabrac]

There's also the CLEP Professor - Calculus you can get off amazon. My oldest son took this test and said it was rather difficult and the calculator they make you use was frustrating. He didn't pass it (was close though) and he decided he'd do better just taking the class.

+1.

Just a reminder Aleks has prep for calculus. Alt calc with limits. Maybe use a homeschool student free trial period to try it out. This way you can run through precalc again then use the calculus prep as an additional source to prepare for the CLEP.

You might also consider taking it as an online evening course at your local community college. What I've found is your midterm and final are delivered online and are nonproctored. Granted there is a set time the exam is made available and you have only the class time to get it done and uploaded but it's open book and less stressful than the TESC course would be. This could be a backup plan if the CLEP doesn't work out for you.

BTW, I think it's ridiculous they don't allow you to use your own calculator. As long as it's a graphing there shouldn't be an issue. (Yes, I know most are programmable. Doesn't matter, you still need to know what to key and when.) Online calculators while ok if used for homework are just not the same during a test. You are already nervous enough. Your calculator is basically an extension of yourself. Learning how to use your calculator is like a prereq course in itself; believe me, I have the idiots guides/tutorials and watched many vids to prove it. I have studied calcs quite a bit because quiet as it's kept, all the calculators are not the same.

[dposborne]

I would second the comment on Thinkwell. The subscription is well worth it. Professor Burger breaks it all down into simpler terms for the everyday Joe. Thinkwell also has an app for iOS (not sure about android) so you can view videos conveniently from you phone or tablet as well.

[OfficerA]

Thank you all for the replies.

Yikes, didn't expect the one course I decided to slack off on in high school to come back at me this hard later in life. I'll look over these options and see what I can do; I've taken CBEs in the past that I thought too much about, but for this one I actually need to truly focus on, and I may need to take a class on this ultimately.

[dposborne]

If you do end up taking a class, don't do what I did and take an online class (like at TESC or whatever). I literally had to teach myself calculus all over again because I hadn't touched the subject matter for 20 years.

[bricabrac]

If you do end up taking a class, don't do what I did and take an online class (like at TESC or whatever). I literally had to teach myself calculus all over again because I hadn't touched the subject matter for 20 years.

That's the beauty of taking the course at a community college. Whether taking an online course (which is just easier for working adults) or in seat, you can always schedule time in the math lab and have unlimited access to free tutor support (incl study groups & workshops). Well, this was the set up at the two community colleges I attended. One of the most brilliant math professors I've ever met spent the majority of her down time in the math lab tutoring students.

[bluebooger]

this guy usually explains things pretty well

PatrickJMT calculus videos

and he has a book

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/111849671X?

[NAP]

Also, a book like Calculus for Dummies can help to keep the concepts simple with good tips and fill-in some of the gaps between the details and big picture.