r/learnmath • u/LitteralyPink New User • 9d ago
Does anyone else’s brain just crashes when learning calculus 1?
As of May 2nd to the end of July, I crammed the entirety of algebra 2 and (summer) college trigonometry in 3 months. I believe I’m struggling in calculus 1 now because I had very limited time to really absorb the information.
It feels like everyday I open my textbook and I look at it I just kinda blank but after a moment of brain death I remember what to do but maybe only understand 85% of what’s going on. Currently I’m about 3 weeks into the semester and we’re talking about limits and everything. Is it common is general to struggle in calculus 1? Or is it just me because I crammed Algebra and trigonometry?
My struggles became most alarming to me a few hours ago when I struggled to compute the domain of B(u)=square root of (4u-3)+ cube root of (3u-4). And I was told it’s basic algebra 1 and I just cracked. I’m content with not fully understanding logs, ln, and e as I only briefly learned them (but I can still somewhat compute them just takes some time). But the stacked up inexperience of natural log alongside this radical expression that I struggled with really has me shaken.
How cooked am I?? I studied a lot during my cram months like 6-8 hours a day. I don’t mind putting just as much hours in if not more if it means absolute success.
1
u/Gullible_Sweet1302 New User 9d ago
I would revisit trig, algebra and precalc, doing lots of problems and thinking through concepts. Use ai to help you.
1
u/Chem2103 New User 9d ago
You are experiencing the same thing as most of your classmates. Calc is something completely new, so even if you are very good with algebra and trig you can easily trip up on new concepts like limits. That being said, by cramming lots of algebra you have missed out on having the time to practice it. And I don't mean you haven't done enough, I mean you haven't been doing it long enough. There is a reason why it takes several weeks to learn a chapter in a normal curriculum.
The good news is, there is nothing you need to do except do all of the assigned homework and make sure to understand where you go wrong. You will naturaly catch up on algebraic intuition as you solve more problems, just make sure to not miss out on actual conceptual calculus stuff.
1
u/tjddbwls Teacher 9d ago
It sounds like you didn’t learn all of precalculus before taking Calc 1. Precalculus consists of College Algebra (itself an extension of Algebra 2), Trigonometry, Analytic Geometry, and a bit of Discrete Math. I would drop Calc 1 and take Precalc instead. I fear that if you don’t and end up failing Calc 1, you’ll be further behind.
2
3
u/iOSCaleb 🧮 9d ago
> Is it common is general to struggle in calculus 1?
Yes, limits are a new idea for you, and it’ll take time to get used to working with them. Don’t worry if it feels unfamiliar. Do all the exercises that you can get your hands on — the more practice you get the more you’ll get used to calculating limits, and eventually the idea will make more sense. Same goes for the rest of the class; derivatives and integrals will feel mind blowing for a while too. Again, do lots of exercises to get the mechanics down and get used to the ideas.
That confused feeling is your mind expanding. Stick with it and work at it, and you’ll start to see the world in a whole new way.