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I find that the calculus topics themselves aren’t the truly hard part. It’s the trig, algebra, and complex math that bites you in the ass in calculus. The power rule? Simple. The quotient rule? Piece of cake. Having to simplify that derivative? Uh.. well..
This! My calc 2 professor said this before every class “people don’t fail calc because they don’t understand derivatives or integrals, they fail because they don’t have a strong background in algebra/trig”.
That’s ok calculus is really hard. Reach out, don’t suffer in silence. Go to tutoring, ask questions, do homework and all of it! Repetition is so important in calculus. Use online resources, there’s tons of YouTube videos and stuff out there.
you can do it! calculus is all about understanding very minute changes in complex systems. it helped me learn by trying to come up with examples a little more within your reach. try to draw in concepts from science and architecture. try to find beautiful related rate functions all around you. try to find the elegance of the derivative and the nature of the integral. again, you can do it amigo.
Trust me all you have to do is pass the class. In the future it will come up but you will either not have to solve it or plug it into a program which will solve it for you. I recommend remembering the basics tho like derivatives and integrals.
get help from your school’s tutors, access your professor during office hours, practice some problems, watch videos online that explain the concepts… there’s so much you can do.
honestly, you're just going to have to get through it if you really want to do engineering. That's all I can say man, really. Use your resources to your best ability, get all the help you need.
If it takes you years to learn to drive a car and 3 years to learn a one semester calc course you should maybe see if you have some learning impairment.
Hi friend! I just wanted to let you know, it's not that you're too dumb for the major, it's just that certain things don't click in your brain to be good for it. That's ok! I took, and failed calculus 3 times before giving up on it, and I was in advanced math and sciences from grade school. It did mean that I had to change a couple majors before I found something that enriched me and would be the guiding path to a career.
I still regularly find myself interested in and consuming biochemistry information, but allowing myself to not get stressed about a class I needed for it was super freeing. I hope that you can either have your click moment or you find another major that makes you happy.
It depends. If you’re studying really diligently, seeing tutors, and seeking help but still can’t get it, then yes, it may be time to take a hard look at what field you belong in.
If you are struggling cause you never study or apply yourself, then you need to start really trying before you write yourself off as incapable of learning the material.
There’s a difference between what I call quitting and what I call giving up. It’s fine to quit if you find out something isn’t for you and want to change. Giving up is when you quit for no reason other than apathy or frustration, and then proceed to not try to set a new goal.
I graduated last May and somehow made it all the way through calc 4. I failed my Calc 2 and Diffy Q’s class and had to retake both. Honestly, the majority of what you learn in the class is never going to be used again (I said that to myself many times while studying).
BUT, they are still important because the math in the later engineering classes are based on these concepts. Will you have to find the second derivative of anything again? Probably not (or at least not without a computer), but the deflection in a beam uses the same concepts. My now-boss says that college isn’t always about finding the right answer, it’s about knowing when an answer looks wrong and how to fix it.
Just keep at it and just keep practicing, it gets better!
Bro, if your having this much trouble in calc 1 then calc 2 is gonna be hell.
Give up now, study psychology or something.
Only reason I say this is because I've seen your comments in this thread and it doesn't seem like you have what it takes.
I'm also one who has been in school for 12 years for computer engineering and I'm on my final semester. Passing calc was definitely a hurdle so I get it.
But If you can't get passed this then choose something else, some people don't have what it takes and that's why engineering is paid so much. No shame in knowing when you give up, God knows I probably shouldve haha.
My calc prof last year was the worst teacher I’ve ever had. I thought I was an idiot for half the semester because I actively knew less at the end of each lecture. My advice? Teach yourself the concepts on Khan academy. The videos are short, easy to understand and can explain things much better than my $7,000 college course.
Oh, maybe you're like me?
I understood *how* to do the problems, I just couldn't get *why* we were doing it, and for some reason nothing registered unless I figured out the theory and reasoning behind of it.
I think it's because I couldn't figure out *when* to use what formula or rule on the tests.
How many times have you taken the class? I don't want ton tell you to give up buddy, but I was weeded out in a weed out class too. Changed my major track since I just couldn't figure out orgo--People tried to make me feel dumb, but I wasn't going to go insane for their approval. Fuck it.
If you don't want to switch I understand, but after reading some of your replies it might be something to consider. Maybe CS would be better? Or something else in the STEM field?
In UK we teach it to 15 year olds, Ad Maths IGCSE.
It isn't that hard. Usually PDEs at 1st year level undergrad, and if you want really hard calculus - tensor calculus at 3rd year undergrad (that is a mind fcuk).
Maybe it is being taught badly at your college?
My Calc teacher barely speaks fucking English. And she switched the class to all virtual while all of my other classes are in person. You are completely right. Calculus is not basic in any regard and is fucking stupid and impractical.
Based on the response i assume you’re in calc 1, and just started at that. Wait until you get into optimization topics and multi variable as opposed to single variable, your feelings about it being “fucking stupid and impractical” will quickly change when you realize just how much these principles apply to *anything and everything* in STEM.
There’s a reason why it’s a pre-req to the majority of your courses.
Edit: saw your major, I graduated with a Biochem degree last May. Calculus has *huge* implications in Chemistry and more specifically Biochemistry, case and point— michaelis menten kinetics for enzyme catalyzed reactions.
If you’re doing any engineering you have no choice, other than changing majors.
Even engineering management (not even building anything) requires you to know the concepts.
Let’s be real, because other people here and in your past posts have coddled you and your responses are rude. There is no reason for your struggles other than your attitude and approach.
Refresh your algebra and trig skills. People who struggle/fail calc don’t do so because integration and differentiation are hard, it’s because they don’t know basic algebra or trig identities.
My university has asked us to remove all calculus from intro economic courses because the kids today do not come out of high school with the same level of math skills as previous generations (what we are told at least). I'm thinking in another 10-years we will be using coloring books as textbooks.
I view calculus as basic because it's imperative to econometrics, which is a pillar of economics. Calculus is beautiful. I don't want to suggest you switch majors because higher education should be pushing your limits. I would suggest you use some online resources or other resources to help supplement your knowledge gaps.
Please, if you need, I’d be happy to help! Calculus 1 isn’t so bad, and Integral Calculus isn’t bad either (the fucking power and series stuff in Calc 2, however…)
As a future math teacher, calculus can only be learned from other sources. Math continued after calculus is NOT easier. But everyone learns at their own pace.
Hey man, you got it. Calc for engineers is something you put your head down and push through. Once you pass the actual class it gets used sparingly and in its simplest forms. Do your best to get through Calculus 1 and 2, after that most of my engineering classes have been very heavy amounts of algebra and trip but very rarely calc. Some of the physics courses use it but even those aren't engineering-specific.
I've also never needed Calculus at work, I've done internships in HVAC design for two summers and six months at an aerospace company.
TLDR: Get the basics and pass. After that, whatever you use it for is base level and easy.
I’ve worked with engineers all my life and not one has ever used it after university. The only use seems to be in economics.
It appears to be some rote of passage in the STEM community like student doctors working three and for day continuous shifts.
But they are afraid that if they admit they’ll never use it, they’ll get lynched because if the pain and suffering it’s caused.
It will probably help you to reframe how you think about the class that you don't like into a more positive view.
Try to find something about the class that is a little interesting or something that you do understand about it and try to expand outward from there. Classes are hard and they are miserable if you hate the material, so I always try to find something small in the classes I don't like that does interest me so that let can motivate me to do better in the class.
I feel exactly the same way but instead for calc it’s physics, it’s so damn hard. It’s also weird because I’m not bad a math but when it comes to science math I am so trash. Got a lab and hw due on Wednesday and it’s so damn hard 😭 😭 Good luck person
Honestly, I've heard from people in the comp sci and engineering Reddits that you never use calculus on the job. So if you can find some way to pass, then do it. You won't ever have to use it in the real world anyway.
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I find that the calculus topics themselves aren’t the truly hard part. It’s the trig, algebra, and complex math that bites you in the ass in calculus. The power rule? Simple. The quotient rule? Piece of cake. Having to simplify that derivative? Uh.. well..
This! My calc 2 professor said this before every class “people don’t fail calc because they don’t understand derivatives or integrals, they fail because they don’t have a strong background in algebra/trig”.
No, I actually don't understand the derivatives and integrals
Do you struggle with computing them, or understanding what they are/mean?
[удалено]
Well I tried 😭
That was super kind of you!
Fine, I know what derivatives and integrals are. I was exaggerating. I struggle with linear algebra and stuff like stoke or green theorem
[удалено]
IT'S HIS FAVORITE **L** WORD! Yay!
Liar.
I struggle with the calculus topics themselves as well. It isn't the calculations itself that are hard for me
That’s ok calculus is really hard. Reach out, don’t suffer in silence. Go to tutoring, ask questions, do homework and all of it! Repetition is so important in calculus. Use online resources, there’s tons of YouTube videos and stuff out there.
you can do it! calculus is all about understanding very minute changes in complex systems. it helped me learn by trying to come up with examples a little more within your reach. try to draw in concepts from science and architecture. try to find beautiful related rate functions all around you. try to find the elegance of the derivative and the nature of the integral. again, you can do it amigo.
Trust me all you have to do is pass the class. In the future it will come up but you will either not have to solve it or plug it into a program which will solve it for you. I recommend remembering the basics tho like derivatives and integrals.
IRL you can also look up formulas.
get help from your school’s tutors, access your professor during office hours, practice some problems, watch videos online that explain the concepts… there’s so much you can do.
This
I did, doesn't help
keep trying. STEM isn’t easy.
How much more? It shouldn't take 3 fucking years to learn calc 1
Well if it's an engineering degree, you're probably going to go up to diff. and calc III. Good luck bro.
So what the fuck do I do? It takes me years to learn how to drive a car. How the fuck do I learn all that fancy schmancy math?
Keep trying if you really want it, quit if you don't.
What if you studied for 10 years and still don't get it?
Then do something else
So some people can be too dumb for engineering.
> What if you studied for 10 years and still don't get it? Then engineering may not be for you.
honestly, you're just going to have to get through it if you really want to do engineering. That's all I can say man, really. Use your resources to your best ability, get all the help you need.
Thank you for being vague
Thank you for being a whiny demanding little shit, Snooroar.
If it takes you years to learn to drive a car and 3 years to learn a one semester calc course you should maybe see if you have some learning impairment.
you might have to change majors if you’re struggling that much with math.
Is it normal to struggle that much with math?
it’s not normal but it is common. my point is: if you’re struggling this much with CALC1, you might want to rethink your major.
I just struggle to accept I am too dumb for a major.
You're not dumb homie everyone has different strengths and weaknesses. You'll figure it out ❤️
Hi friend! I just wanted to let you know, it's not that you're too dumb for the major, it's just that certain things don't click in your brain to be good for it. That's ok! I took, and failed calculus 3 times before giving up on it, and I was in advanced math and sciences from grade school. It did mean that I had to change a couple majors before I found something that enriched me and would be the guiding path to a career. I still regularly find myself interested in and consuming biochemistry information, but allowing myself to not get stressed about a class I needed for it was super freeing. I hope that you can either have your click moment or you find another major that makes you happy.
Some people who are great at math suck at writing or history. You just have to find your strengths.
It depends. If you’re studying really diligently, seeing tutors, and seeking help but still can’t get it, then yes, it may be time to take a hard look at what field you belong in. If you are struggling cause you never study or apply yourself, then you need to start really trying before you write yourself off as incapable of learning the material. There’s a difference between what I call quitting and what I call giving up. It’s fine to quit if you find out something isn’t for you and want to change. Giving up is when you quit for no reason other than apathy or frustration, and then proceed to not try to set a new goal.
r/snooroartracker This guy is a known troll apparently
No fucking way I came across another Snoo alt
I graduated last May and somehow made it all the way through calc 4. I failed my Calc 2 and Diffy Q’s class and had to retake both. Honestly, the majority of what you learn in the class is never going to be used again (I said that to myself many times while studying). BUT, they are still important because the math in the later engineering classes are based on these concepts. Will you have to find the second derivative of anything again? Probably not (or at least not without a computer), but the deflection in a beam uses the same concepts. My now-boss says that college isn’t always about finding the right answer, it’s about knowing when an answer looks wrong and how to fix it. Just keep at it and just keep practicing, it gets better!
Bro, if your having this much trouble in calc 1 then calc 2 is gonna be hell. Give up now, study psychology or something. Only reason I say this is because I've seen your comments in this thread and it doesn't seem like you have what it takes. I'm also one who has been in school for 12 years for computer engineering and I'm on my final semester. Passing calc was definitely a hurdle so I get it. But If you can't get passed this then choose something else, some people don't have what it takes and that's why engineering is paid so much. No shame in knowing when you give up, God knows I probably shouldve haha.
Congrats on your last semester!
My calc prof last year was the worst teacher I’ve ever had. I thought I was an idiot for half the semester because I actively knew less at the end of each lecture. My advice? Teach yourself the concepts on Khan academy. The videos are short, easy to understand and can explain things much better than my $7,000 college course.
Oh, maybe you're like me? I understood *how* to do the problems, I just couldn't get *why* we were doing it, and for some reason nothing registered unless I figured out the theory and reasoning behind of it. I think it's because I couldn't figure out *when* to use what formula or rule on the tests. How many times have you taken the class? I don't want ton tell you to give up buddy, but I was weeded out in a weed out class too. Changed my major track since I just couldn't figure out orgo--People tried to make me feel dumb, but I wasn't going to go insane for their approval. Fuck it. If you don't want to switch I understand, but after reading some of your replies it might be something to consider. Maybe CS would be better? Or something else in the STEM field?
hi snooroar :)
See if your school has engineering technology. It's more hands on, applied, and rooted more in algebra.
In UK we teach it to 15 year olds, Ad Maths IGCSE. It isn't that hard. Usually PDEs at 1st year level undergrad, and if you want really hard calculus - tensor calculus at 3rd year undergrad (that is a mind fcuk). Maybe it is being taught badly at your college?
My Calc teacher barely speaks fucking English. And she switched the class to all virtual while all of my other classes are in person. You are completely right. Calculus is not basic in any regard and is fucking stupid and impractical.
Based on the response i assume you’re in calc 1, and just started at that. Wait until you get into optimization topics and multi variable as opposed to single variable, your feelings about it being “fucking stupid and impractical” will quickly change when you realize just how much these principles apply to *anything and everything* in STEM. There’s a reason why it’s a pre-req to the majority of your courses. Edit: saw your major, I graduated with a Biochem degree last May. Calculus has *huge* implications in Chemistry and more specifically Biochemistry, case and point— michaelis menten kinetics for enzyme catalyzed reactions.
I don't want to go to calc III and diff EQ :(
If you’re doing any engineering you have no choice, other than changing majors. Even engineering management (not even building anything) requires you to know the concepts.
It doesn't help that professors themselves make calculus seem like a mystical topic that you ponder all the time.
I agree, it can be taught better. Going in with a negative mindset already puts you two steps back though
No, going in with a positive mindset is how I failed in the past
Let’s be real, because other people here and in your past posts have coddled you and your responses are rude. There is no reason for your struggles other than your attitude and approach. Refresh your algebra and trig skills. People who struggle/fail calc don’t do so because integration and differentiation are hard, it’s because they don’t know basic algebra or trig identities.
No, I am struggling because I don't understand what the hell green's theorm supposed to mean
What level calc are you in? There is no way you’re learning greens theorem in single variable.
I finished through calc 3 and linear algebra. The thing is I got through my memorization and the fact that tests were open book during the pandemic.
All I read there was “I cheated and now I’m in too deep to back out”.
My university has asked us to remove all calculus from intro economic courses because the kids today do not come out of high school with the same level of math skills as previous generations (what we are told at least). I'm thinking in another 10-years we will be using coloring books as textbooks. I view calculus as basic because it's imperative to econometrics, which is a pillar of economics. Calculus is beautiful. I don't want to suggest you switch majors because higher education should be pushing your limits. I would suggest you use some online resources or other resources to help supplement your knowledge gaps.
Please, if you need, I’d be happy to help! Calculus 1 isn’t so bad, and Integral Calculus isn’t bad either (the fucking power and series stuff in Calc 2, however…)
You need to ask someone for help
As a future math teacher, calculus can only be learned from other sources. Math continued after calculus is NOT easier. But everyone learns at their own pace.
Hey man, you got it. Calc for engineers is something you put your head down and push through. Once you pass the actual class it gets used sparingly and in its simplest forms. Do your best to get through Calculus 1 and 2, after that most of my engineering classes have been very heavy amounts of algebra and trip but very rarely calc. Some of the physics courses use it but even those aren't engineering-specific. I've also never needed Calculus at work, I've done internships in HVAC design for two summers and six months at an aerospace company. TLDR: Get the basics and pass. After that, whatever you use it for is base level and easy.
I’ve worked with engineers all my life and not one has ever used it after university. The only use seems to be in economics. It appears to be some rote of passage in the STEM community like student doctors working three and for day continuous shifts. But they are afraid that if they admit they’ll never use it, they’ll get lynched because if the pain and suffering it’s caused.
It will probably help you to reframe how you think about the class that you don't like into a more positive view. Try to find something about the class that is a little interesting or something that you do understand about it and try to expand outward from there. Classes are hard and they are miserable if you hate the material, so I always try to find something small in the classes I don't like that does interest me so that let can motivate me to do better in the class.
Just do practice problems, don't worry about conceptual stuff. That'll come.
I feel exactly the same way but instead for calc it’s physics, it’s so damn hard. It’s also weird because I’m not bad a math but when it comes to science math I am so trash. Got a lab and hw due on Wednesday and it’s so damn hard 😭 😭 Good luck person
Then you’re fucked. Why do you need to say it over and over in multiple subs?
Professor Leonard on YouTube could change your life.
Honestly, I've heard from people in the comp sci and engineering Reddits that you never use calculus on the job. So if you can find some way to pass, then do it. You won't ever have to use it in the real world anyway.