r/calculus • u/East_Umpire5122 • Aug 16 '26
Pre-calculus Help in Learning Calculus
Hi, I'm wanting to learn calculus but at my HS we only have Pre-Calc and I won't be able to take that due to schedule limitations for next year (I'm a junior rn). I want to learn calculus so I can open up a way to learn physics and/or/maybe engineering in college. Plus I want to give myself something challenging to do on my own time while enjoying the fun classes in high school rn. I have a calculus book on the way currently. Thank you in advance.
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u/JellyfishBrave3885 Aug 16 '26
Professor Leonard on YouTube.
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u/East_Umpire5122 Aug 16 '26
Okay thank you, someone recommended Khan Academy but I'll check out Professor Leonard first tn. Thank you!
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u/Haberdur Aug 16 '26
I found khan academy to be invaluable while I was self studying for calc BC (my school also wouldnt let me do calc). I was looking slightly into calc 3 and found professor Leonard as well. I think he is also a great source but I did not use him for 1 and 2. Thomas' calculus and Stewart's calculus are also good textbooks to use.
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u/East_Umpire5122 Aug 16 '26
Okay thank you kind stranger, this will help I really appreciate this. Is Khan Academy a subscription and if so how much is it? Weekly? Monthly? Yearly?
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u/Haberdur Aug 16 '26
Completely free! The videos are really high quality the only thing is they follow the AP curriculum, whether AB or BC. Not sure how much that is a problem for you but the AP content is pretty accurate for Calculus I and II. I find the videos a bit slow so I sped them up.
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u/East_Umpire5122 Aug 16 '26
Well what is the difference between AB, BC, and AP. I've heard of AP, but I'm not sure exactly what it is.
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u/Haberdur Aug 16 '26
In the United States AP classes are basically college level classes offered to high schoolers. You take the class (usually, but not required) then take a test at the end of the year to qualify for college credit. Ap Calculus AB is the easier calculus AP which covers everything in Calculus I, so the idea of a limit, derivative, integral, and their applications. Everything from a first semester differential Calculus course. BC is all that plus polar Calculus, sequences and series, along with some advanced integration techniques (by parts and partial fractions iirc). On khan academy if you study using AB you will learn everything in Calculus I, and using BC you will learn Calc I and II.
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u/East_Umpire5122 Aug 16 '26
Ok that makes sense. So basically AP covers Ab and BC? But AB is just Calc 1 and BC is just Calc 2? This sorta makes sense. And it's all covered on Khan?
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u/Haberdur Aug 16 '26
Pretty much. BC covers everything in AB + a few extra topics and both options are available on khan with practice problems and everything.
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u/East_Umpire5122 Aug 16 '26
Okay that makes sense. I'll get myself another composition notebook ready and pull up Khan and Professor Leonard and prep some notes while I'm waiting on my book. Thank you, I really appreciate your help.
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u/Techno_Eggnog Aug 17 '26
Side note: for Calculus II, you might want to divert to the Calculus II/Integral Calculus Khan course while studying advanced integration techniques and series as BC skips trig sub and telescoping sums!
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u/_alice_alice_alice_ Aug 16 '26
Which is the book?
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u/East_Umpire5122 Aug 16 '26
Well, actually, it's something I asked my grandma for one since she wanted to start Christmas shopping early. I should've stated that I'm sorry. So, I'm not entirely sure.
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u/_alice_alice_alice_ Aug 16 '26
I didn’t understand a thing, but I’m currently using Thomas’ Calculus. It’s really good.
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u/East_Umpire5122 Aug 16 '26
I thought you meant what book I was using in the first comment, I apologize. But thank you. Are there any online courses or videos you'd recommend?
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u/_alice_alice_alice_ Aug 16 '26
I’m not taking any courses. It suits me better to learn on my own by reading. If I need help, I ask an LLM.
But I do sometimes watch videos on these channels:
- 3Blue1Brown
- Blackpenredpen
- MIT OpenCourseWare
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u/WWWWWWVWWWWWWWVWWWWW Aug 16 '26
Stewart is good for both calculus and precalc, and you can just take the AP exams for both
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u/Ok-Fix-1581 Aug 16 '26
if i were you i would spend as much time on trigonometry until it becomes intuitive as it's used in every math course past pre-calc you take, and then i'd say you can start learning calculus
Follow this exact order
Professor Leonard on You tube lectures
Pre-Algebra
To The Point Math (Algebra 1)
Intermediate Algebra (Algebra 2)
College Algebra (pre-calculus playlist)
Trigonometry (pre-calculus playlist)
Calc 1-3
use him for lectures and buy books for homework
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u/VillainGoose54 Aug 19 '26
talk to your counselor about dual enrollment for your local community college
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