FAST FACTS
How to
Succeed in Calculus
“Dedicated to the memory of Dale Winter —
student success was foremost in his thoughts.”
“Mathematics is not a Calculus plays an important part in the curriculum of students across
spectator sport.” the university in disciplines like engineering, science, business,
―Paul Halmos (1916–2006), economics, computer science and information systems.
American mathematician
But for many it may also be perceived as a barrier. The purpose of
this handout is to help students soar over that barrier.
Calculus rests on only one big idea—the limit. Master that and all its
“If you do the work, you big applications, and you have made a major step toward success.
get rewarded. There are no There are four essential varieties of the limit:
short-cuts in life.”
―Michael Jordan (1963– ), • The derivative (the slope of the tangent line)
retired NBA star • The definite integral (the area under a curve)
• Asymptotes (how graphs behave)
• The sum of an infinite series
Mastering the concept of the limit—in its various forms—involves
“Determination. Plus building multiple layers/levels of knowledge. First, you have to learn
discipline. Plus hard work. the basic concepts (i.e., be able to define limits and use them in simple
That is the path.” situations). Then you have to learn to apply the concepts to more
―Jaime Escalante (1930–2010), complex problems (i.e., recognize how and when the integral applies to
mathematics teacher and particular word problems). And throughout this process, it’s important
hero of the movie “Stand and to increase your accuracy and efficiency in using the concepts (i.e.,
Deliver” be able to take derivatives accurately and easily so you have mental
energy left to focus on more difficult aspects). All of this can be done,
but it takes time and perseverance in building your knowledge and
skills. The plan/steps/strategies outlined in the following pages will help
you spend that time more efficiently so you can achieve success.
How to Succeed in Calculus
“Don’t blow off the class because Prepare for class. Don’t walk into Polish your pre-calculus. You
it seems fairly straightforward. No class without preparing yourself for can’t build a house—or calculus—
matter how manageable a class is, that particular lecture. Prior to class, on shifting sand. Go for bedrock! If
if you don’t put in work and time, read all assignments, look over the you don’t have the simplifications of
you’ll never perform as well as you previous lecture notes and print out e2In(x) and sin(2θ) on the tip of your
can—and should. any available webnotes. Be sure tongue, and can’t factor and graph
you can do the assigned practice y = 2x2−5x−12 quickly, you may
Always attend recitation. Even if problems. When you go over the be in trouble. So, practice these
you think you know everything, you material prior to class, the lecture prerequisite skills enough that
should still go to recitation. And if will serve to clarify and reinforce you can apply them quickly and
you’re not a morning person, don’t ideas with which you have some accurately, and still have some
pick an early-morning recitation—it familiarity. After lecture, be sure to mental energy left over for new
will be hard to get up for something review your notes within 24 hours to material . This is a case where
that starts at 9:30 a.m., especially optimize recall. drilling yourself a bit every day—
since you may not feel that attending and pushing yourself to be faster
recitation is as necessary as going to Go to class. Many professors give and more accurate—can really pay
lecture. clear hints on what is important— off in the long run. Some textbooks
Nothing will guarantee success and what may show up on the offer online supplements that will
test. Knowing what happened in help you review your pre-calculus.
on a test as much as solving all of
class enhances your studying and
the problems in the book. Practice
reduces the study time you need. Use your resources. There
is key – you develop speed and
Take the word “choice” out of going are lots of resources available:
intuition only by going through lots
to class…just make the decision your professor, your TA, your
of problems.”
to attend each and every class. classmates, tutoring, and
— Dina, Economics and Math
Think of going to class as your job, Supplemental Instruction (SI) can
“The biggest challenge I faced in being accountable to yourself for all help. Ask your professor or TA
calculus was not so much one of those five hours each week. Some to thoroughly check your solutions
grasping the new material, as one courses will have both lecture and to a few problems. You can’t ask
of when and where to apply it. I recitation. In lecture, the professor them to check every problem, but
would blindly attack the problem will discuss concepts or theories. getting a few problems graded
and get lost in the math, leaving me However, in recitation you will could really help you to understand
frustrated and tired. After meeting practice and apply those concepts the level of detail that is expected.
with the professor and spending to problems or ideas. Plus, it will give you a chance to
time with the helpful tutors at the visit their office hours—which never
Think in class. During lecture, you hurts. Learn how the text is
academic success center, I came to
should not just be transcribing— organized and take advantage of
realize where I was going wrong.
you should be actively thinking and features like the true and false
Don’t use the answer key as a learning the material. You might concept checks in the review
crutch. The answer key can be try to figure out the main ideas sections.
helpful if used correctly to check of a lecture as you listen while
your work after you’ve done the jotting down key ideas. Always Do it now. Don’t wait to study until
problem on your own. Using it to ask yourself if you are following what just before a test. Begin studying
complete homework, however, will the instructor is saying, and if you’re for tests on the first day of class by
work against you. You could be confused or unsure, make a note keeping up with assignments and
tricked into thinking you get it, but of your question(s) and be sure to readings, attending class and taking
when faced with the problem on an find an answer (either by reviewing notes, and using available help
exam, you could draw a blank if you the material yourself or asking your regularly. Memorize theorems, rules
haven’t practiced it enough.” instructor or a TA). Lastly, take and formulas as they appear in the
— Mridula, Biological Sciences appropriate lecture notes (see the Fast course, and test yourself on them.
Fact entitled, “Taking Lecture Notes”).
How to Succeed in Calculus
Read the text. Mark it up. Write in Study Group Tips
“Doing practice problems by
yourself is important; but it is not the margins. You paid for it, so get
just doing them, it’s how you do your money’s worth out of it. Yes, • Be sure that the time spent with
them. Think about each step that you could re-sell it, but it is better to your group is productive.
you take to solve the problem. Why know what is in it and how to find
did you do that and would you be it. Furthermore, reading the book/ • Don’t make the group too large;
able to do the same thing with other webnotes before class makes the four to six students is the ideal
problems? If so, which ones? You lecture more useful. size.
might think you shouldn’t even
Do lots of problems and practice • Come prepared: Do the
bother doing easy problems because
“good practice.” Someone who readings and homework, and
they are just a waste of time. But
wants to be a champion golfer review the lecture notes. Don’t
unless you can do them like adding
would hire a coach to make sure come just looking for answers.
2+2, you should still practice them!
they are practicing their swing One way to share the work is to
When you take exams (which are correctly, because practicing a ask each member of the group
typically long, it’s about accuracy bad swing can actually make you to be responsible for explaining
and speed. You can’t afford to a worse golfer. The same principle certain problems or sections of
ponder over the easier problems too applies to learning calculus. You the chapter. Another idea is to
much, plus they are easy points if need to practice solving problems in ask each member to bring along
you can do away with them quickly. the right way. Try to solve problems 5 questions that are unclear to
Then you can spare yourself more in front of the professor, TA, tutor them.
time for harder problems. or even peers. This way, you can
There are a good number of get immediate feedback and the
• If your group is not helpful/
formulas in calculus but it shouldn’t practice is much more likely to be
productive, switch to a more
be hard to memorize if you’ve done “good” practice. You cannot master
responsible group.
enough practice problems. You calculus by looking at other people’s
should have done so many you can’t work—or the solutions manual.
Always do more problems than are • Structure the time to avoid
get the formulas out of your head. If turning study time into a social
this is not the case, do more!” assigned. And be certain before the
test rolls around that you can do hour. It’s likely that you will
— Stephanie, Biological Sciences become friendly with members
problems with the book closed.
“Seek help early and often. There of your study group, and it’s
are many resources here at CMU Work with others. Your fellow certainly okay to chat a bit, but
(professors, TA’s, tutors, etc) that students have varied and interesting be sure you get some work
will help you succeed. There’s no backgrounds. You can learn a lot done, too.
shame in getting additional help. from them—including calculus.
You’ve probably noticed at one time • Either periodically throughout
For later courses, it’s almost impos- or another that two heads are better the study group session or
sible to do all of the work on your than one. And, you’ve also probably immediately afterwards, make
own. Working in groups also helps noticed that when you can teach sure that everyone can do
you meet people you might not have something…then you really know the work on their own and is
known otherwise. it. Form a study group that will be able to articulate the concepts
I remember after the Calc final that serious but enjoy being together. independent of the group.
my teeth were hurting from clench-
ing my teeth throughout the exam, Remember, talking about calculus
though I didn’t realize I was doing helps understanding.
it. Now for most of my exams, I
chew gum to help my nerves.”
— Ben, Computer Science
How to Succeed in Calculus
Learn to judge your work.
A solutions manual is just an aid,
not a crutch. You must do the
problems. Include enough steps that
you can justify each one, so that you
can have confidence in the whole
solution. Remember to take time to
have your professor/TA check some
of your work.
Be neat. Organize your work. Note
how your professor and TA organize
theirs. Mathematics cannot be done
randomly on the page—especially on a
test. And take that test with a good
pencil, have a spare, and an eraser.
Test yourself. After mastering
problems with your textbook closed,
move on to the next level by testing
yourself. You and a friend/study
group could make practice tests for
each other to do under time
constraints. Discuss your answers
and straighten out any errors. If
practice exams are available, do
them under a time limitation either
alone or with a friend/study group.
These exercises will give you an
indication as to whether you are
ready for an exam.
Read the test questions carefully.
Many points are lost by the failure to
read carefully. What are the units?
Is a method suggested? What is
really asked for? Some of the best
students underline the key phrases
of a test problem.
Our thanks to Russ Walker, teaching
professor, Department of
Mathematical Sciences, for his
contribution toward this Fast Fact.
cmu.edu/student-success
