Is Calculus hard?

[jaydee]

It's a lot easier the second time around. By then you realize you have to do the homework, you have to pay attention in class, you have to do well.

Of course you can save yourself the trouble by doing all this the first time...

 

[HokieESM]

After three degrees (one in math, two in mech. eng.... and working on that PhD), TAing calculus I and II for one year and teaching them for another.... I'll give the standard engineering answer: it depends. <grin> The best thing I can say is that ANYONE with sufficient effort can plug through the first few courses with sheer determination. Calculus is one of those subjects that seems to "click" with some students and not with others (and not very predictably among "average" students, either). Some students LOVE it and see its implications... some struggle to keep your head above water.

But in short, try hard, and you'll get it. If you're a math theory person--its all going to begin for you next year. If you're a physics/engineering person (like myself), a little intuition (and hopefully a little instruction) will show you how the world works.

And for some of you that replied to this message: Undergraduate math (esp. that aimed at engineers and physicists) is remarkably simple. Hell, graduate level math aimed at engineers and physicists is simple. Most of it relies on "solve a bunch of problems just like the teacher did on the board". With a little effort, you can plug through it. Good luck to all.

 

[eLiu]

Hm...I thought it was pretty easy. Calculus is not really like any math you've ever taken before...so you'll just have to wait and see; being good at math doesn't necessarily mean you'll do well in calculus, at least not easily.

 

[SCSIfreek]

I'm a engineer, I never study for Calculus until i got a D in one of my Cal II test hehehe... If you are a slacker, chances are its gong to be hard. If you listens in class and do the homework then its piece of cake!

--Scsi