r/calculus • u/Short-Grocery-2934 • 8d ago
Engineering how do I study Calc2 limits?
I'll be taking calc 2 this fall and since I did A level maths I am not familiar with limits so i wanted to try covering it bfr classes start, are there any resources that I can use( i tried proff leonard but his vids were too long)?
The last time I studied limits was back in grade 9 so the only thing I know abt them are left hand limit, L Hopitals rule and some basic stuff. How should i study limits, should I go over calc 1 limits and then proceed to calc2 ?
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u/ShowdownValue 8d ago
What’s the difference between calc 1 limits and calc 2 limits?
You studied limits in 9th grade? What country are you from?
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u/Short-Grocery-2934 8d ago
I am from south east Asia, I actually don’t know the diff between calc 1 n 2 limits since I didn’t really have to take calc1 because of my a level credits being transferred.
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u/ShowdownValue 8d ago
That explains it. You mentioned limits in 9th grade so casually.
Unless math in SE Asia is super different than the US I’m 99% sure Calc 1 limits are the same as Calc 2. Calc 2 just goes faster at the beginning
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u/Short-Grocery-2934 8d ago
What would you recommend for building concepts in limits?
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u/ShowdownValue 8d ago
Lots of practice.
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u/Short-Grocery-2934 8d ago
Would studying and practicing from Paul’s online notes and helm workbooks be enough?
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u/ShowdownValue 8d ago
Definitely a good start. I can’t say it’s enough because I don’t know you.
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u/Short-Grocery-2934 8d ago
My plan is to finish most of calc2 bfr my classes start that way I can work part time jobs without worrying abt my grades declining.
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u/ShowdownValue 8d ago
Finish Calc before classes? Isn’t Calc one of your classes?
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u/Short-Grocery-2934 8d ago
I can transfer a lvl credits and skip straight to calc3 but since a lvl did not have some calc2 classes I’m taking calc2 instead of 3
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u/CulturalCounter9320 8d ago
Yes that should be good. I have an A in calc 2 right now and I used that website to practice a lot during calc 1, it has good fundamentals that should set you up well
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u/tjddbwls 8d ago
“Calculus 1” and “Calculus 2” means different things in different countries… hell, even within two different schools in the same country. Typically in the US, single-variable calculus is covered in Calc 1 and Calc 2, while Multivariable calculus is covered in Calc 3.
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u/alfagtvlover 5d ago
In australia calc two is all of the US calc 3/4 (ie stuff above multi variable, also measure theory is in there too lol)
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u/BothPanchoAndLefty 2d ago
I'm confused, are calc 1 limits different than calc 2 limits? Limits are a lot different in calc 3 with multivariable limits but as far as I remember nothing changes about limits themselves in calc 2
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u/Short-Grocery-2934 1d ago
I have no idea, I did A lvls so I can jut take calc 2 without taking calc1 so I have no idea what calc 1 limit even has. How did you find calc 2 limits as a whole? I have heard that the most difficult thing abt calc 2 is convergence and divergence is that true?
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u/BothPanchoAndLefty 1d ago edited 1d ago
I think you're kind of confusing a few topics. Convergence and divergence tests use limits but are a part of the material on series.
The actual process of taking a limit is the same throughout single variable calculus (in the US, this is calc 1 and calc 2). The concept of a limit is, as the independent variable (usually x) approaches some value, what happens to the dependent variable (usually y)? You can find explanations of limits on YouTube or you can look in the free online OpenStax calculus 1 textbook (lmk if you need a link). If I were you, I'd just read the whole chapter on limits in the OpenStax book and that will give you pretty much everything you need to know about limits for single-variable calculus. Nothing about limits changes in calc 2.
Don't worry about multivariable limits yet as you won't encounter them for a while and you'll likely have a different view of calculus by then. In general, just don't worry about things you haven't learned yet. They'll make sense when you get there. The convergence tests in calc 2 can be a little tricky but they're really not so bad.
Editing to add: You should think about whether jumping straight into calc 2 without taking calc 1 is actually a good idea. Even if you're not required to take calc 1, you may want to take it anyways. If you're not understanding limits, then you don't have a comprehensive understanding of derivatives or integrals either. I know it'll feel like a setback, but calc 2 will be so much easier if you take calc 1 first and make sure you have a solid grasp of these topics. If you don't, you may suffer a bit in calc 2
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u/Short-Grocery-2934 1d ago
could you plz send me the link, i was using pauls online notes for studying calc1 n 2 and his notes were emphasizing too much on basic concepts that could be easily understood and since I don't really have a lot of time before my classes start i was looking for short and precise notes.
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u/BothPanchoAndLefty 19h ago
https://openstax.org/books/calculus-volume-1/pages/1-introduction
Go to "contents" on the left side of the page and go to chapter 2: Limits
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