Is Skipping Pre-Calc Worth It?

bsmd11
Tue, 27 Jul 2010 22:07:53 +0000

Well, let’s see. If you want to take Calculus BC, I don’t think pre-calc is necessary. Taken from my point of view (I took pre-calc as a sophomore and then calc bc as a junior), pre-calc is only important to the point where you understand the trig identities and the radian. Also, knowledge of conics is a plus, but definitely not a necessity to succeed in calculus.

However, I think a one month review (as you explained) would be beneficial. If you can look over some conics, limits, and make sure you are aware of some of the higher graphing calculator functions, you will definitely do well.

Personally, pre-calc is just a little bit more detailed than algebra II (or whatever you call it in Ohio). Therefore, you don’t necessarily NEED it in order to do well in calculus. So, my opinion would be to skip it. (It really depends on how strong of a math student you are).