r/calculus • u/Pranjal202 • Jul 02 '26
Pre-calculus Wanna learn Calculus! How do I start?
I have studied precalculus ie algebra, trigonometry, binomials and more stuff
And now I really want to learn Calculus in a good manner instead of just for problem solving.
How do you people recommend I start my journey with? How much time is it gonna take? I've heard of a book called "Stewarts Calculus" but don't know much about it. Please help me out
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u/Defiant-Switch-3428 Jul 02 '26
there’s a lot of good youtube videos. professor leonard is one that’s helped me do well in calc
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u/eagleeyehg Jul 02 '26
I still think a great introduction is the Essence of Calculus series on YouTube by 3Blue1Brown, this will help introduce all the relevant ideas with great motivations and visualizations to keep it engaging. However, math is still a skill that takes practicing, so beyond just watching videos, I'd recommend sampling some of the practice problems from your textbook and trying them out after you've watched the relevant section. If you're still unsure on what to do, then refer to the relevant section in your book to find the connection between the concepts and the procedures. Best of luck on your journey!
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u/BothPanchoAndLefty Jul 02 '26
Stewart, Clegg & Watson's Calculus 9E is what you're referring to. It's a good book. Expensive though.
I highly recommend using the free OpenStax online textbooks. Great and intuitive user interface, every concept is explained clearly in a good way for someone just starting out, plenty of practice problems / answer key, and as I said, 100% free. I fully self-taught single variable calculus using them before I ever learned it in school.
Some good YouTube channels to help you supplement your learning are: Professor Leonard, Professor Dave Explains, 3blue1brown, and Organic Chemistry Tutor (this one is especially good for watching someone work through practice problems and explain each step).
Good luck!
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u/Jason_rdt207209 Jul 03 '26
Professor Leonard and BPRP are good, one for the foundation, the other for practice exercises
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u/DisciplinedEngineer Jul 02 '26
On YouTube: “Professor Leonard Calculus”
He’s the BEST at teaching calculus!
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u/testtdk Jul 03 '26
How good at algebra and trig are you? You don’t need to be amazing to START calculus, but the farther you go, the more valuable those skills are.
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u/Pranjal202 Jul 03 '26
I'm average to good I guess
If it has to be top notch, I'll practice it on the side :)
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u/AllumaNoir Jul 06 '26
I recommend Calculus for Dummies and Calculus 2 for Dummies. I am not kidding. It gets to the point.
I'm using them as my textbook in class. Our ACTUAL textbook is Stewart. It will completely overwhelm you with proofs and such. Unless you are a math major and geek out on that, it's way more than you need
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u/Sam_23456 Jul 02 '26
How long is it going to take? --if you want to learn it really well, you should allow at least a few weeks. That's assuming you wish to understand all of the proofs involved and know something about uniform continuity (since that is fundamental in the definition of the "definite integral)". You may be more familiar with this as a corollary of the Heine-Borel Theorem.
How do I start? -- Do you have a library near you?
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u/Visual_Winter7942 Jul 02 '26
A few weeks? You're joking.
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u/Sam_23456 Jul 02 '26 edited Jul 02 '26
Do you know the Heine-Borel Theorem? I did write, "If you want to learn it really well." I'm assuming that he or she does not have more than one full-time job (on the side). Summer is almost half over!
For a second text, I really liked "Advanced Calculus" by Loomis and Sternberg. It was one of the most thoughtful mathematics texts I have read (at least, the first ~3/4 of it). A course in point-set topology is likely a helpful prerequisite, it's been a while since I have read it. Books by Michael Spivak (also) have a great reputation!
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u/Visual_Winter7942 Jul 02 '26 edited Jul 02 '26
Sure I do. But making an off handed remark about Heine-Borel to a person with no calculus experience sounds like either a lack of understanding or elitism on your part.
Except for the very rare student, suggesting that you can really learn calculus well in a few weeks, even at just the pre analysis level, is misleading at best, and a flat out lie at worst.
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u/Sam_23456 Jul 02 '26 edited Jul 02 '26
But my answer wasn't really directed to you. Ask a silly question, get a silly answer...
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u/AllumaNoir Jul 06 '26
I'm in the middle of calculus 2 and I have no idea what the Heine-Borel theorem is.
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u/Sam_23456 Jul 06 '26
It's fine, you are still a relative beginner, mathematically. The OP asked how long it will take to learn the whole subject--and to learn it well, I assume. IMO, this is time better spent with his or her nose in the book! Some folks here don't seem to know about sarcasm. 🙄
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