<p>Whether Calc I or Calc II is harder depends on one or two things: how well you know algebra and how well you can grasp derivatives and antiderivatives/integration. Calc I is mostly algebra, probably at least 90%. Depending on the course, you more-than-likely will not do “calculus” until the second half or last quarter of the semester. You definitely need to know the trig identities, and basic rules of algebra (commutative, associative, etc.). You also need to know how to factor well. Sounds corny, but you do a lot of factoring. </p>
<p>So, if you can factor well and know your trig identities than Calc I should be easy. The few math profs that I talked to all say that the students who have difficulties with Calc I usually stumble over the algebra. </p>
<p>Calc II is largely about integrals. It is not a difficult topic, but many struggle with it because they’ve spent so many years doing algebra and here is something that is different. This is the real calculus. Integration, for me, was simple. But I am a non-linear thinker and it is easy for me to visualize the function of f and go back and forth between derivatives/antiderivatives without doing a step-wise process. </p>
<p>Calc III is mostly just Calc I, but with most variables. Most students find Calc II harder than Calc I and/or III.</p>
<p>I thought Calc I was ridiculous. So much time was wasted learning limits, then bam, one day we were taught how to derive without limits and wondered why we were even taught limits in the first place. Learning limits has its use; sketching a graph, finding discontinuities, finding asymptotes, and a few others, but it is not something that you will really use unless you are looking for the result of an infinitesimally small denominator or seeing what would happen if a large input was applied. Essentially, you will probably never see another limit again. Same with summation and integrals. Why learn summation if the prof, and textbook, are only going to quickly turn around and show you a different, easier way?</p>
<p>In my opinion Calc I should be pre-Calc and Calc II should be Calc I.</p>