I really need to take MATH 151 next semester, but due to the fact that I haven't taken a math since pre-cal my Junior year in high school, I'm terrified. I really don't have time to take MATH 150, nor do I want to, as its a wasted credit, but I'm not sure if I can deal with Calc without having a refresher first. Can anybody suggest a good prof to take, or give me any helpful hints to prepare for Calculus over winter break?

[This message has been edited by Lightbulb Sun (edited 11/19/2008 9:44p).]

I am taking calculus now. All you need to have is a good understanding of algebra such as exponent rules and simplifying. Also a brief understanding of trigonomic functions and limits. Nothing I couldnt have done without pre-cal though. Good Luck!

[This message has been edited by ampzor (edited 11/19/2008 10:54p).]

ampzor, are you taking MATH 151 or a different calculus course like 141? There's a huge difference. I don't want to scare Lightbulb here, but I've watched 151 destroy people who came in without adequate preparation. The math department puts tons of resources at your disposal, so it's definitely possible to succeed if you can put in the work. But 151 isn't a class where you want to slide through by the hair on your chin because it's typically followed by Math 152, arguably the hardest math course on the engineering math track. If you don't have a solid foundation going into and out of 151, you're in for a world of hurt.

Unfortunately, the prof who comes just about universally recommend (Amy Austin) does not teach 151 in the spring.

I would suggest going to the Math 151 course page and going through some WIR videos. If after a week or two of those lectures you are still lost, consider taking 150. There's no shame in it.

quote:

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typically followed by Math 152, arguably the hardest math course on the engineering math track.

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Is it really? Wow, that makes me feel A LOT better... I easily got an A in 151 and am struggling to keep a C in 152.

Yep 152 is the hardest math course you will take at A&M unless you are an ELEN or whichever other majors are 3 credits away from a minor and are crazy enough to take the 4xx needed to minor .. then that 4xx will be the hardest math course you have taken at A&M

Oh linear algebra is also a little hard, but nothing like 152 ... Id say that it would go like this

4xx
152
311

else

152 is much easier the second time around

Amy Austin probably still has her videos posted on the web. those were great helps

311 was a breeze. 152 was difficult. Actually, I'd put them like this:

152

251
151

311

the rest

Yeah pretty much the Amy Austin vids are the only thing keeping me afloat in 152 right now.

I think I developed some bad math study habits with 151 being so easy.

Good to hear that 251 isn't too bad.

quote:

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152 is much easier the second time around

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So True! 152 is the only course I ever had to retake at A&M and I also never used an Q drops, thank god for Grade exclusion to get rid of the first 152.

lightbulb, you are in almost exactly the same situation I was... I had never done calculus and hadn't taken any math since precal/discrete math, which I finished halfway through my junior year. I got a B in 151, and I am (at this point, that should say "was" ) a relatively average student in aerospace engineering. Go into it expecting to work hard. Do all your homeworks, do them yourself, go to Amy Austin's reviews, and watch her online help videos. If you are not exceptionally good at math, you'll probably end up a semester behind whether you start with 150 or 151, so go with 150 and your GPR will probably thank you.

Incidentally, just a few minutes ago I sent an email thanking Amy Austin for her help; she is amazing.

Is Amy Austin still teaching? Did she get her PhD? She was an awesome teacher way back in 1996-97 when I was a frosh taking MATH 151 & 152.

amy austin.amy austin.amy austin.amy austin.amy austin.amy austin.amy austin.amy austin.amy austin.amy austin.amy austin.

AMY AUSTIN!!!!!!!



and if you cant get her then david manuel is pretty good too...

...also, i wouldnt worry about math 151, as long as you do your work, you will get a B.

My schedule says I'm taking Manuel. I looked at the 151 website and found a pre-cal review with videos. I'll ace it over winter.

i'd go to A+ tutoring, oli is amazing

I made a D in the class.

no. it's barely doable when you've taken AP Calculus and made a 3 on the damn test.

How many of you are engineering majors?

Im AERO.

what cheer said.

Dont listen to Ampzor. They dont exactly "teach" calculus in 151...its seems more like they are reviewing those that have done it before. This is all what I hear from my friends (I tested out of 151 and 152), but it is by no means an easy class. It would be wise to take some sort of pre-cal course.

I wasnt trying to offend anyone. I asked that question because I didn't know if there were any engineers who though 151 was hard. You would think they would call 151 easy compared to thier upperlever classes.

151 wasn't bad (for people who are good at math).

152 is rough though, comparable to at least 200-level aero classes.

I am an engineer and I have seen people do OK in 151 and then because they werent great at 151, they suffered in 152...lots of them dropped out of engineering after that.

150 is not bad since it will help your GPA if you are willing to take it.

I never took calculus in high school and I did very well in all the math classes at A&M.

Math 152 & 251/253 will be the toughest by far. Math 311 is easy with certain professors, or it can be very tough. I made an A in Math 311 but I did my homework before I ever stepped into the classroom.

151 was not too bad. 152 is the worst math class you will take as an engineer. 251 was extremely easy i though. math 308 was the easiest course out of the entire math block. i'm a 5th year aero.

Where in ktown are you from? Or is my question irrelavent? lol

I'm taking the 152 final tomorrow and just started reviewing about 2 hours ago...
Hah, that worked for 151, but there is so much crap in 152 that I forgot how to do. I might be pulling an all-nighter.

[This message has been edited by AgentZero (edited 2/7/2012 11:03am).]