AP ab calculus in 10th grade

[robbie12345]

Hi guys, so this is my first time making a thread in community discussions, and am asking you guys for help. So here is my dilemma.

Next year (9th grade) I will be taking algebra 2 and trigonometry honors. The year after that I am looking at taking pre calculus honors. However, I would like to be at the top of my graduating class (I am already taking spanish 10 honors next year) and would like to be better set up for Ap calculus BC which I will most likely be taking in 11th grade anyways.

Pretty much, I could take pre calculus, get an a at a summer school, and then be able to take cal ab next summer. this part wouldnt be difficult. The difficult part is Calculus Ab too difficult of a class to take during your softmore year at highschool?

I thought algebra one and geometry were really easy classes, and did well in both, but is calc a different story? Also, does pre calc even help you for calc? I heard it was just a reveiew of algebra two trig.

Any thoughts are welcome, thanks

 

[Frisco]

Hi guys, so this is my first time making a thread in community discussions, and am asking you guys for help. So here is my dilemma.

Next year (9th grade) I will be taking algebra 2 and trigonometry honors. The year after that I am looking at taking pre calculus honors. However, I would like to be at the top of my graduating class (I am already taking spanish 10 honors next year) and would like to be better set up for Ap calculus BC which I will most likely be taking in 11th grade anyways.

Pretty much, I could take pre calculus, get an a at a summer school, and then be able to take cal ab next summer. this part wouldnt be difficult. The difficult part is Calculus Ab too difficult of a class to take during your softmore year at highschool?

I thought algebra one and geometry were really easy classes, and did well in both, but is calc a different story? Also, does pre calc even help you for calc? I heard it was just a reveiew of algebra two trig.

Any thoughts are welcome, thanks

Sorry I can't help you. I was never even to pass pre-algebra in high school. But I am sure others will chime in.

 

[CrickettGrrrl]

Yes, it's tough but it also depends a lot on the instructor. My HS calculus teacher was a nut job and made things more stressful than class needed to be, particularly since it was an AP class and everyone was motivated anyway. In college I had a terrific math instructor who loved math and was a gifted teacher, --what an immense difference.

 

[Frisco]

Yes, it's tough but it also depends a lot on the instructor. My HS calculus teacher was a nut job and made things more stressful than class needed to be, particularly since it was an AP class and everyone was motivated anyway. In college I had a terrific math instructor who loved math and was a gifted teacher, --what an immense difference.

Would you recommend that people stick with the liberal arts, like philosophy?

 

[chown33]

First, talk to the instructor about what's covered in the course. If there's a textbook, find out which chapters are covered.

Second, the exact course content may vary by state, city, or even by school. If the goal of the course is preparing for an AP test, find out if the course teaches to the test or not. Ask the instructor or an administrator or counselor at your school. Also find out what your options are for changing classes if you find course content is too easy or too hard.

Third:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precalculus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AP_Calculus

 

[GermanyChris]

Hi guys, so this is my first time making a thread in community discussions, and am asking you guys for help. So here is my dilemma.

Next year (9th grade) I will be taking algebra 2 and trigonometry honors. The year after that I am looking at taking pre calculus honors. However, I would like to be at the top of my graduating class (I am already taking spanish 10 honors next year) and would like to be better set up for Ap calculus BC which I will most likely be taking in 11th grade anyways.

Pretty much, I could take pre calculus, get an a at a summer school, and then be able to take cal ab next summer. this part wouldnt be difficult. The difficult part is Calculus Ab too difficult of a class to take during your softmore year at highschool?

I thought algebra one and geometry were really easy classes, and did well in both, but is calc a different story? Also, does pre calc even help you for calc? I heard it was just a reveiew of algebra two trig.

Any thoughts are welcome, thanks

I didn't take pre-calc in HS I took Calc as a sophomore also I wouldn't waste a 1/2 year and a 1/2 math credit on pre-calc.

Would you recommend that people stick with the liberal arts, like philosophy?

I was a philosophy major..

The hard helotism to which the tremendous range of the sciences condemns every scholar today is a main reason why those with a fuller, richer, profounder disposition no longer find a congenial education and congenial educators--Nietzsche

 

[robbie12345]

I didn't take pre-calc in HS I took Calc as a sophomore also I wouldn't waste a 1/2 year and a 1/2 math credit on pre-calc.



I was a philosophy major..

The hard helotism to which the tremendous range of the sciences condemns every scholar today is a main reason why those with a fuller, richer, profounder disposition no longer find a congenial education and congenial educators--Nietzsche

Im not sure which state you went to school, but how it works at my school is that pre calc honors is a full credit. However could you please elaborate on the classes you took in high school?

did you take calc ab or bc as a softmore? also what class did you take in 9th grade? Algebra two trig honors? If so could you please tell me what that jump felt like to you, and if you would do it again. Thanks

----------

First, talk to the instructor about what's covered in the course. If there's a textbook, find out which chapters are covered.

Second, the exact course content may vary by state, city, or even by school. If the goal of the course is preparing for an AP test, find out if the course teaches to the test or not. Ask the instructor or an administrator or counselor at your school. Also find out what your options are for changing classes if you find course content is too easy or too hard.

Third:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precalculus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AP_Calculus

Thanks for the response, I will do just that. last year I took an algebra one honors class at a different school then I will be going to next year. The teacher was the absolute worst, and made the class algebra one, half of algebra two, and about a third of geometry. Pretty much, after looking at the precalculus link it looks like most of the topics covered fall into algebra two.

That being said, Will Parametric equations, Polar coordinates, Matrices and determinants, Mathematical induction, and Limits be discussed in calculus ab?

if so, then it looks like precalculus is just a repeat of algebra two, but maybe more in depth. Also, do you by any chance know the difficulty level between pre calculus honors, and calculus ab? it seems to me that Pre calculus is post algebra two... thanks

 

[GermanyChris]

Im not sure which state you went to school, but how it works at my school is that pre calc honors is a full credit. However could you please elaborate on the classes you took in high school?

did you take calc ab or bc as a softmore? also what class did you take in 9th grade? Algebra two trig honors? If so could you please tell me what that jump felt like to you, and if you would do it again. Thanks

----------



Thanks for the response, I will do just that. last year I took an algebra one honors class at a different school then I will be going to next year. The teacher was the absolute worst, and made the class algebra one, half of algebra two, and about a third of geometry. Pretty much, after looking at the precalculus link it looks like most of the topics covered fall into algebra two.

That being said, Will Parametric equations, Polar coordinates, Matrices and determinants, Mathematical induction, and Limits be discussed in calculus ab?

if so, then it looks like precalculus is just a repeat of algebra two, but maybe more in depth. Also, do you by any chance know the difficulty level between pre calculus honors, and calculus ab? it seems to me that Pre calculus is post algebra two... thanks

In 1992 when I took Calculus it was either AP or DC..I took AP because the final was easier and the DC universities were all in Florida and I knew I wasn't going to college there.

I would not spend an entire year on pre-calc..

 

[leftywamumonkey]

In my experience, PreCalculus is just like Algebra II, just expanded with Trig and word problems. I didn't take Algebra II in high school, but when I took PreCalculus in high school, that's what it seemed like to me. Precalculus just gets you familiar with functions and trigonometry. If you feel comfortable with math,you should considering taking AP Calc AB/BC your sophomore or junior year. Although I took it my senior year and took stats over the summer prior, I have friends who took AP Calculus AB or BC in their sophomore or junior year and because of that they were able to get ahead in math over the summer and in their senior year by taking higher math at a CC. This is especially useful if you decide to become an engineering major since there's so many more requirements in the hard sciences and math compared to other majors.

On an unrelated note, I was really surprised when my pre-nursing friends told me that they only need PreCalculus and Statistics!

 

[wordoflife]

It really depends on your teacher. Mine was great and I did great on the exam.
It's not really about whether you are a sophomore, or junior, or senior when you are taking AB. It's about what you know beforehand. Precal is helpful for AB because you need to know your basic trigonometric identities and such. But some things you learn in precalculus well be helpful for BC as well, even though 60% of the BC exam is AB material. And of course, you need to know Algebra 2 stuff, mainly factoring and graphing functions.

Anyways, I don't really understand what you're trying to do. BC is the highest level of math that you can take as an AP. So if you do AB in 10th grade, and BC in 11th grade... what are you going to do in 12th grade? I guess you could take stats or something, but that's completely different form of math compared to what you're used to. My point is, I don't really see any reason as to why you're rushing to get to these courses.

That being said, Will Parametric equations, Polar coordinates, Matrices and determinants, Mathematical induction, and Limits be discussed in calculus ab

Yes to limits. I don't know what matrices/dertiminants or what mathematical induction is. (I mean, i've probably done it but dont know the name). Polar coordinates are functions of the unit circle, which you need for calculus. Parametrics use polar coordinates for graphing, but that's really for BC.

 

[leftywamumonkey]

.

Anyways, I don't really understand what you're trying to do. BC is the highest level of math that you can take as an AP. So if you do AB in 10th grade, and BC in 11th grade... what are you going to do in 12th grade? I guess you could take stats or something, but that's completely different form of math compared to what you're used to. My point is, I don't really see any reason as to why you're rushing to get to these courses.

He could take Advanced Calculus, if his high school offers it, or go to a community college and take Calculus III his senior year (assuming he passes the BC AP exam). He could also take AP Statistics or Statistics at a community college in the summer. If he finished the Calculus series and the first Statistics course by the time he finished high school, he could walk into college and immediately take Linear Algebra or Differential Equations (if his major requires them) and be done with lower division math by his first year. Not to mention it could save him some money on tuition.

 

[CrickettGrrrl]

Would you recommend that people stick with the liberal arts, like philosophy?

Odd question. Of course not, unless they want to go in that direction.

It's great that the OP is investigating his options ahead of time, and presumably his instructors.

 

[wordoflife]

He could take Advanced Calculus, if his high school offers it, or go to a community college and take Calculus III his senior year (assuming he passes the BC AP exam). He could also take AP Statistics or Statistics at a community college in the summer. If he finished the Calculus series and the first Statistics course by the time he finished high school, he could walk into college and immediately take Linear Algebra or Differential Equations (if his major requires them) and be done with lower division math by his first year. Not to mention it could save him some money on tuition.

Well I guess its worth doing if he can actually do (or plans to do) calculus III in senior year (although many recommend not jumping straight into calc 3 in college). But if he's not planning on doing calc 3 in senior year, then I stil dont see any reason to rush by doing summer courses.

 

[robbie12345]

It really depends on your teacher. Mine was great and I did great on the exam.
It's not really about whether you are a sophomore, or junior, or senior when you are taking AB. It's about what you know beforehand. Precal is helpful for AB because you need to know your basic trigonometric identities and such. But some things you learn in precalculus well be helpful for BC as well, even though 60% of the BC exam is AB material. And of course, you need to know Algebra 2 stuff, mainly factoring and graphing functions.

Anyways, I don't really understand what you're trying to do. BC is the highest level of math that you can take as an AP. So if you do AB in 10th grade, and BC in 11th grade... what are you going to do in 12th grade? I guess you could take stats or something, but that's completely different form of math compared to what you're used to. My point is, I don't really see any reason as to why you're rushing to get to these courses.



Yes to limits. I don't know what matrices/dertiminants or what mathematical induction is. (I mean, i've probably done it but dont know the name). Polar coordinates are functions of the unit circle, which you need for calculus. Parametrics use polar coordinates for graphing, but that's really for BC.

First thanks for the response, I really appreciate it.

Second, the question at hand for me isnt really about junior and senior year. Right now, I plan on taking calc bc, and ap stats in 11th and 12th grade. The question is is taking ab calc in 10th grade a) doable, and b) will it help me for
calc bc.

third, I dont really think that ill need the trigonomety in ab calc, because I am learning algebra two trig honors next year. Or is the trigonometry you learn in pre calc completely different? Thanks

 

[mobilehaathi]

the question at hand for me isnt really about junior and senior year. Right now, I plan on taking calc bc, and ap stats in 11th and 12th grade. The question is is taking ab calc in 10th grade a) doable, and b) will it help me for
calc bc.

Take a breath.

I dont really think that ill need the trigonomety in ab calc, because I am learning algebra two trig honors next year.

Wrong.

Or is the trigonometry you learn in pre calc completely different? Thanks

No.

Calculus AB spreads the first semester of calculus over two semesters. Calculus BC proceeds at the regular pace. Taking AB and then BC would be redundant.

 

[robbie12345]

In my experience, PreCalculus is just like Algebra II, just expanded with Trig and word problems. I didn't take Algebra II in high school, but when I took PreCalculus in high school, that's what it seemed like to me. Precalculus just gets you familiar with functions and trigonometry. If you feel comfortable with math,you should considering taking AP Calc AB/BC your sophomore or junior year. Although I took it my senior year and took stats over the summer prior, I have friends who took AP Calculus AB or BC in their sophomore or junior year and because of that they were able to get ahead in math over the summer and in their senior year by taking higher math at a CC. This is especially useful if you decide to become an engineering major since there's so many more requirements in the hard sciences and math compared to other majors.

On an unrelated note, I was really surprised when my pre-nursing friends told me that they only need PreCalculus and Statistics!

Thanks for the response.

Im not planning as of right now to be an engineering major. But Im only going into 9th grade, so things will likely change. I think I now see that Pre calc is sort of a waste of time, as portrayed by you, and other people.

Now my question is this: Will I be able to get an A in calculus ab in 10th grade.
The math part is not my problem, my main problem is I tend to be a little bit lazy. I do not want to have three hours of homework a night, as I would tend to skip most of it. Also, if the course itself is impossible, I would not want to take it.

The key for me is to get the highest grade possible in the harder class. If I cannot get an A in the harder class, Ill have to take the easier class instead.

Thanks, -Robbie

 

[mobilehaathi]

my main problem is I tend to be a little bit lazy. I do not want to have three hours of homework a night, as I would tend to skip most of it.

Good luck in college, buddy.

 

[wordoflife]

First thanks for the response, I really appreciate it.

Second, the question at hand for me isnt really about junior and senior year. Right now, I plan on taking calc bc, and ap stats in 11th and 12th grade. The question is is taking ab calc in 10th grade a) doable, and b) will it help me for
calc bc.

third, I dont really think that ill need the trigonomety in ab calc, because I am learning algebra two trig honors next year. Or is the trigonometry you learn in pre calc completely different? Thanks

a) No one can really answer this for you. It can be easy (more than doable) if you have the right prerequisites. Or it can be very difficult. I don't know what you will learn in trig class, but I took Algebra II and then precalculus. Trig is such a big topic though, everything is trig related.

b) 60% of the BC exam is AB material. I know some people who jump straight from precal to BC, and that's because their teacher teaches them everything. But if your teacher doesn't do that and expects you to know your AB stuff, then you're screwed.

c) AP Stats is completely unrelated to algebra 2, pre calc, calculus i or ii, etc. You could literally take that as a freshman because the math you need to know before hand is stuff you already know.


Look if you're really concerned about your grades being As, I don't know why you're insisting on skipping a whole course ... "precalculus"... before planning to do college level calculus, two years of it I might add. Take note about what I said about AP stats. It's so unrelated to anything you've taken, it would be the same as taking AP Computer Science or something. Yes its math, but you don't know anything about it. If you didn't understand what I'm trying to say ... just double your maths one year and take AP stats. No need to rush everything so you can take AP stats in 12th grade. Just do it alongside any of your other math classes




Anyways.... as i take it, you've not even started 9th grade. Why are you worrying about this so much already? At the end of your 9th grade year, go talk to the Ab teacher and find out if your trig class was enough to skip precal.

 

[robbie12345]

a) No one can really answer this for you. It can be easy (more than doable) if you have the right prerequisites. Or it can be very difficult. I don't know what you will learn in trig class, but I took Algebra II and then precalculus. Trig is such a big topic though, everything is trig related.

b) 60% of the BC exam is AB material. I know some people who jump straight from precal to BC, and that's because their teacher teaches them everything. But if your teacher doesn't do that and expects you to know your AB stuff, then you're screwed.

c) AP Stats is completely unrelated to algebra 2, pre calc, calculus i or ii, etc. You could literally take that as a freshman because the math you need to know before hand is stuff you already know.


Look if you're really concerned about your grades being As, I don't know why you're insisting on skipping a whole course ... "precalculus"... before planning to do college level calculus, two years of it I might add. Take note about what I said about AP stats. It's so unrelated to anything you've taken, it would be the same as taking AP Computer Science or something. Yes its math, but you don't know anything about it. If you didn't understand what I'm trying to say ... just double your maths one year and take AP stats. No need to rush everything so you can take AP stats in 12th grade. Just do it alongside any of your other math classes




Anyways.... as i take it, you've not even started 9th grade. Why are you worrying about this so much already? At the end of your 9th grade year, go talk to the Ab teacher and find out if your trig class was enough to skip precal.

Thanks for the response.

In my school the highest tracking is two years accelerated in math. Most kids end up taking be calculus in 11th grade (some take ab) and then by default you take ap stats in 12th.

I wouldn't really be skipping pre calculus. I would be taking a summer class next summer.

There are three reasons I would like to take an calc as a softmore.

It would look better to colleges to be the only Person in my grade taking it.

It would greatly help me with bc calc which I will have to take in 11th grade anyway.

Pre calc seems like a waste of time to me.

As for my level in math I'm not sure that I can or cannot handle it. That's the real question.

Ive always been very good at math. My brain works quite logically and I love geometry.

Thanks

 

[Tomorrow]

Pre calc seems like a waste of time to me.

I don't know about that. I skipped Algebra 2/Trig and went straight to Pre-Calc. It covered pretty much everything I would have done in Alg2/Trig, and also covered analytic geometry. They don't really cover that in Calculus, but it'll save your behind once you're in college and you're expected to know it.

 

[iBreatheApple]

Fresh out of high school (2008) I can tell you that pushing your limits in high school is not worth it and only poses risks of overwhelming you. Work hard in high school but there's no need to inundate yourself in so much ridiculous schoolwork. Enjoy high school while you can without the added stress. AP classes typically won't get you into any better college than standard ones.

 

[Frisco]

Looking at America's future and job prospects--most of the jobs will be with those with a great math background--whether we are talking computer science, engineering (chemical, mechanical, electrical) or some other discipline.

Think of how much you can make as anti-computer hacker, or a hacker for the US.

Even Medicine requires a very high math knowledge. I say take the highest level you think you can handle, even if you only get a "B." Those with high levels of mathematics are the ones who will great jobs today and tomorrow.

Good luck! I wish I had your mathematical aptitude.

I hate to say it, but those posts from those fresh out of high school have no real knowledge of the real world. Yes I agree enjoy high school and college, but once that is over that's where the real world begins. And it so competitive and cut throat. The parties are over.

 

[robbie12345]

Fresh out of high school (2008) I can tell you that pushing your limits in high school is not worth it and only poses risks of overwhelming you. Work hard in high school but there's no need to inundate yourself in so much ridiculous schoolwork. Enjoy high school while you can without the added stress. AP classes typically won't get you into any better college than standard ones.

Thanks for the response.

Although I do agree with you in some ways, I think I have been a little bit unclear about why I would take it. Taking the class would make me a definite valedictorian at my high school. I'm already taking a year advanced honors language, together with a year above the brightest kids in math would put me to the top.

That is why I want to take it mostly. Thanks

----------

Looking at America's future and job prospects--most of the jobs will be with those with a great math background--whether we are talking computer science, engineering (chemical, mechanical, electrical) or some other discipline.

Think of how much you can make as anti-computer hacker, or a hacker for the US.

Even Medicine requires a very high math knowledge. I say take the highest level you think you can handle, even if you only get a "B." Those with high levels of mathematics are the ones who will great jobs today and tomorrow.

Good luck! I wish I had your mathematical aptitude.

I hate to say it, but those posts from those fresh out of high school have no real knowledge of the real world. Yes I agree enjoy high school and college, but once that is over that's where the real world begins. And it so competitive and cut throat. The parties are over.

Yes I agree. The problem is that without an a, I would be better off taking honors per cal cad it lowers my non waited gpa.

Right now I am looking towards a degree in finance, I know so stats will help me with that, but will any of this calculus help at all? Thanks

 

[mobilehaathi]

Thanks for the response.

Although I do agree with you in some ways, I think I have been a little bit unclear about why I would take it. Taking the class would make me a definite valedictorian at my high school. I'm already taking a year advanced honors language, together with a year above the brightest kids in math would put me to the top.

That is why I want to take it mostly. Thanks

----------



Yes I agree. The problem is that without an a, I would be better off taking honors per cal cad it lowers my non waited gpa.

Right now I am looking towards a degree in finance, I know so stats will help me with that, but will any of this calculus help at all? Thanks

You are focused on the grade not the material. This is not how you should be operating.

I suppose you'll fit in well in finance.

 

[leftywamumonkey]

Yes I agree. The problem is that without an a, I would be better off taking honors per cal cad it lowers my non waited gpa.

Right now I am looking towards a degree in finance, I know so stats will help me with that, but will any of this calculus help at all? Thanks

Honestly, colleges would rather see you get a B in a higher level or AP class than get an A in a regular plain Jane class. I'm sure they would be more inclined to go with someone who got a B in Advanced PreCalculus rather than a person who took all regular courses including regular Precalculus. I mean, if you got a B in AP Calc AB, I'd take that over an A in Precalculus. Especially since Calc BC is an AP class, meaning that you the scale is forgiving. [ 5 - A, 4 - B, 3 - C : on a 4.0 scale]. So it won't hurt you from getting a 4.0 in that sense.

What I'm attempting to say is, don't just take classes you can get a guaranteed A in, just for the sake of getting an A. Save that for college.