Re: Calculus I: What to expect?
- From: ooo <x@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2007 20:14:01 -0400
On Tue, 14 Aug 2007 12:04:23 -0500, me@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
Staring calculus I at local community college in week
A bit nervous to say the least
Have done well in algebra and trig but this sounds like
the big leagues now.
Any tips or advice?
Worth my time to get math software such as mathematica
for my PC to help 'see" the concepts?
I think most of the well informed folks that post here would tell you
that it's the learning/understanding that's most important. The toys
(tools) can be helpful, but they can't do the thinking for you ... or
take the exams.
Prep is important, and it's *very* helpful if your algebra/trig is
rock solid.
If I were you, I wouldn't bother with any PC CAS software (like
Mathematica CalcCenter and certainly not Mathematica Professional)
anytime soon. Better for now to be learning the concepts.
***** Did I mention the bit about understanding the material? That's
the ticket, laddie. ***** 8-)
Oh ... one more thing ... first year calculus is *not* as hard as most
people think. The subject is *very* cool. Fun stuff!
Students can do just fine without calculators, PCs/laptops, whatever.
That said, it's certainly not uncommon these days for 'everybody' in
various classes to have a graphing calculator. If you want/need to go
that route, a couple of models to consider are:
- TI-89 Titanium (mentioned by someone else earlier in this thread)
<http://education.ti.com/educationportal/sites/US/productDetail/us_ti89ti..html>
- TI Voyage 200
<http://education.ti.com/educationportal/sites/US/productDetail/us_v200.html>
I would think you'd want to check with the school/teacher to see what
they require/allow/recommend before you do any shopping. If you go
mail order, check <http://www.pricegrabber.com/> (or one of the price
sites) for cost.
You also mentioned you don't have a computer at this time. Having one
is a 'good thing' for many reasons, most of which I expect you already
know. That having one might help with class work is just one more
reason to have one. Exactly *what* to buy is IMO a complicated
decision. If you're already knowledgeable, great. Otherwise, do
adequate research. For most of us, it's a pretty serious investment.
If you don't need portability, you'll generally get more bang for the
buck with a desktop. But if you want/need something to carry around,
a laptop is the way to go, and yes, you can get models that are fast
enough for pretty much any purpose.
Regarding laptop size (screen size), it's mostly a personal decision
as to how big/heavy a "thing" you won't get tired of carrying around
if you do such on a regular basis. Best to go look at/handle them in
person before deciding. You could also get a laptop docking station
that can turn the machine into a desktop, more or less. Service is
also an important consideration. For example, if you can find a good
local shop to buy from (and that's likely not going out of business
anytime soon), and you've got good warranty coverage, they can do a
lot to keep you going when (not if) something goes wrong. But, buying
local generally costs more than mail order.
Also, if you do get a laptop to carry around, it's a good idea to get
a personal articles policy (insurance) for everything that cost
significant money. That's often less of a consideration for a home
machine, but check your homeowners policy (and with your agent).
.
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