Can somebody please post or link me to some key concepts about vectors that one should know prior to calculus?
I have a list at the moment and I’m going to update it with my school’s textbook once the year starts. I’m taking a summer course for precalc next summer but the syllabus doesn’t look like very much new material and I’m afraid it won’t prepare me well enough, so I’m trying to get on track to learn the additional material throughout this coming school year.
The list I have at the moment is from IXL precalculus, sections U and V, with the possible addition of eigenvalues/eigenvectors.
I’m not too concerned about vectors affecting my performance in calc AB*, I’m more concerned that I might be behind in Honors Physics, which I plan on taking that year, although I think the class can be taken concurrently with precalculus so students wouldn’t be expected to know vectors when class starts.
*My school requires AB be taken before BC
Any help is appreciated, thanks!
EDIT: Here’s what’s in the vectors section of the syllabus:
-Study: Getting Around
Use vectors to describe motion.
-Explore: Connection to Physics: Navigation
Learn how to use physics in navigation.
-Complete a set of practice problems on vectors.
-Quiz: Vectors
[Paul’s Online Notes](http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/Classes/CalcII/VectorsIntro.aspx), [MIT’s WWM/url and [url=<a href=“https://www.wyzant.com/resources/lessons/math/calculus/multivariable_vectors”>https://www.wyzant.com/resources/lessons/math/calculus/multivariable_vectors</a>] WyzAnt Resources](http://web.mit.edu/wwmath/vectorc/summary.html) can help. I also use [Math is Fun](Vectors).
Yeah, at my school for Honors Physics the requirement is having Trig/PreCalc or Trig/Analyt (Honors course) as either a pre or co requisite. Academic physics only requires Algebra 2 as a pre or co requisite. If your school gives a course selection booklet, it’s usually listed there.
Calc AB doesn’t include anything on vectors if I remember correctly.
Calc BC has some stuff on vector-valued functions and taking derivatives, but most of it is pretty easy if you just go component by component.
You don’t need to know what eigenvalues or eigenvectors are for AP Calculus or most HS physics courses, but you might want to familiarize yourself with them if you take higher-level courses.
I know Khan Academy has some stuff on vectors both in physics and math
MIT OCW multivariate calculus has a few introductory lectures on vectors. Any beginning physics text should have them as well. If you’re looking for formalization, Stanford’s QM lectures have a more rigorous approach to vector theory, although with critical thinking you could use that as your first introduction to them, once again this is found in the first lecture or so.
Looking at the syllabus, the teacher will most likely teach you the material needed in the course. I doubt you will even go beyond simple vector addition, which requires a bit of trig and algebra, and you should have knowledge of those two if you are taking calculus. If you are still concerned, look up the definitions of vector and vector addition. You should get the point.