Calculus anyone?

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Specializes in Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy.

I'll be taking Calc 1 next semester. I haven't done any math since high school (I got up to Trig but I don't remember much) so I'm very rusty. Anyone with tips for how to prepare or brush up before I start Calc?

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I haven't heard of any nursing programs requiring calculus as a pre-req. Seems kinda odd. Usually only algebra and always statistics.

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I'd suggest taking a course in Precalculus, or whatever the listed prerequisite is. May I ask why you are taking Calculus? No nursing program I have heard of has required that course as a prerequisite.

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This is a link to some math placement tests that will tell you where you stand. Your school should have something similar.

Mathematics Are You Prepared

Also, check this out. It's a math review for the GRE exam.

Free General Test Preparation Materials

Good luck! Tofutti.;)

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Specializes in Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy.

I need to take Calculus as a co-req to Chemistry. But in any case I'm going for a BSN so I'll need the credits. I like math.

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I'll be taking Calc 1 next semester. I haven't done any math since high school (I got up to Trig but I don't remember much) so I'm very rusty. Anyone with tips for how to prepare or brush up before I start Calc?

If you want to be successful in Calculus, go check out a pre-calc book from the library and study general equations of circle, parabola, etc. Review trig functions and LOTS of algebra!! I have completed thru Calc III, and the biggest problems I see in students is a weakness in algebra.

Good Luck!

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
I'll be taking Calc 1 next semester.
I dearly wish I had the skills required to successfully complete a Calculus class. Would you please bestow your magic touch upon me? ;)
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I thought Calc was easier than trig and algebra LOL!!!!!!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Cardiac.

As some of the above posts suggested I'd check out the prerequisites for your Calc course.

As I remember my Calc courses (a LONG time ago) all I needed for the first course was basic algebra and maybe a very basic knowledge of what sine, cosine, and tangent were in trigonometry. I had never taken trig, but I managed to get through three 10 week trimesters of calculus just using the trig info in the appendix of the book. If you like math you'll probably like it. I did. Since it's a Calc I course they're going to have to start with the assumption that you don't know anything.

I'm surprised to hear of Calc as a prereq for Chemistry, at least nursing level chemistry. We used it a lot in physics and second year chemistry, but not in general or organic or biochemistry.

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Specializes in Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergy.

I found a really excellent math tutorial on the web:

TheMathPage: Arithmetic. Algebra. Trigonometry. Precalculus.

I've been doing a lesson or two a day and it's really coming back to me! I'm feeling a lot more confident that I can do this successfully.

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I found a really excellent math tutorial on the web:

TheMathPage: Arithmetic. Algebra. Trigonometry. Precalculus.

I've been doing a lesson or two a day and it's really coming back to me! I'm feeling a lot more confident that I can do this successfully.

That is a great website with an informative review of pre-calculus.

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Just remember, that like all math classes, you will build off what you learn the week before. So if you don't get something, ask questions and get help because if you don't understand a concept, it will really hurt you the rest of the course.

Good luck though, I am sure you will do fine.

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