AB or BC Calc?
Super-power
28-12-2005, 18:54
In a few weeks I'll be choosing my classes for my senior HS year...I'm in honors precalc right now and I am holding a low A avg. From what I understand AB Calc would be an "easier" course to take, but if I have that A avg could I still maintain it in BC calc?
Anybody who has taken either of these courses, please advise me.
As I understand it, you should also keep in mind what you plan on studying in college as well. I planned on going into social sciences, so despite qualifying for BC Calculus, I took AB to lighten my senior year workload a bit.
If you think you're up to it, and it might come in handy for your future, I'd say go for it. It'll look good on your record, and I'd assume it's easier to switch to AB from BC than vice versa :)
*resumes lurking*
If you want to take BC calc, you will have to study an introductory calculus text over the summer to learn the basic information needed to comprehend the BC class. AB teaches you how and why calculus works. BC assumes that you already know all that, and starts to teach you the manipulations of calculus to be able to use it to analise a wider variety of functions or word-problems. It's not a question of difficulty, but rather of previous knowledge.
I'd stick with AB, score well on the AP, then take Calc 2 in college if you're interested in calculus.
Super-power
28-12-2005, 19:27
If you want to take BC calc, you will have to study an introductory calculus text over the summer to learn the basic information needed to comprehend the BC class. AB teaches you how and why calculus works. BC assumes that you already know all that.
Well I'm not going anywhere this summer anyways (getting a job, gonna run XC) so I think I'd have the time to study the introductory notes...if worst comes to worst I could just switch down to AB, but nothing's for certain as of now.
And I plan to go into engineering of some sort...any chance calc will help me there?