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How to succeed in the Calculus course
Some Remarks

  • Attend all lectures and tutorials

  • Make notes during lectures

  • Develop your own shorthand note-taking style and symbols so that you can record comments and blackboard notes quickly

  • If you have questions do not hesitate to ask during the class or come to see me during office hours
    (I will also answer questions by e-mail)

  • Regularly come to the Math Drop-In Center
    (I will be there!)

  • Use all extra resources (course webpage, Nipissing University Calculus Help Site, Ilrn website etc.)

  • Before each lecture, try to read the corresponding section of the textbook – it will give you some preliminary understanding of topics to be covered

  • Review lecture after every class; read the corresponding section in the text

  • Solve suggested exercises; do it regularly, do not postpone till later

  • After test or midterm examination, if you feel you had difficulties with some questions, try to solve the questions on your own again

  • Work with other students

  • Use holidays and the reading week for review, problem solving, and exam preparation

  • Make sure you have the working knowledge of topics listed below. If not, review the necessary high school material ASAP:

Number system (integers, rational numbers, irrational numbers, real numbers), real number line, absolute value

Coordinate plane (graphs of basic functions, distance formula)

Linear and quadratic functions, their graphs and properties (slope, intercepts, parallel and perpendicular lines, quadratic formula, factorization, completing the square)

Polynomials (roots, factorization, equations, inequalities, long division)

Rational functions (common denominators, algebraic manipulations, inequalities)

The square root function

Trigonometric functions (definitions of trigonometric functions, graphs, properties, trigonometric identities, equations and inequalities involving trigonometric functions)

Basics of plane geometry (Pythagorean theorem, similar triangles, sine and cosine laws, perimeter, area and volume formulas for rectangle, triangle, trapezoid, circle, cylinder, cone, and sphere)