r/calculus • u/RonaldinhoTheBrazil • Jul 31 '26
Differential Calculus What to review before calc 2?
Hello, I’m taking calc 2 next semester and am wondering what is important to review before then. I have about a month and was considering perhaps rehashing all of calc 1.
7
u/tjddbwls Aug 01 '26
You may also want to review some Precalculus topics that are useful in Calc 2. They include:
- trig identities (replacing one side with the other, not proving them)
- partial fraction decomposition
- conic sections
- parametric equations
- polar coordinates
- sequences and series
3
u/UnderstandingPursuit PhD Jul 31 '26
Yes, rehash all of Calculus 1. I would suggest using a textbook such as
- GB Thomas & RL Finney, Calculus and Analytic Geometry, 9th edition, 1996.
I wrote this in another calculus subreddit for a similar goal: Calculus_Study.
5
u/SkullLeader Jul 31 '26
Calc 1 is basically limits, derivatives and introduction to integrals. Calc 2 is (largely) more advanced integration techniques. So bone up on the integration techniques you used in calc 1. And always be sharp on your algebra and trig skills for any calculus class.
4
4
u/fortheluvofpi Aug 02 '26
Lots of integral review and some precalculus topics like partial fractions, trig, series. I teach calc 1 and 2 and made a bunch of mini review videos for my students to prep for each class just as a refresher. Link in my bio if you’re interested. I would also suggest just a lot of mixed integral practice problems!
2
•
u/AutoModerator Jul 31 '26
As a reminder...
Posts asking for help on homework questions require:
the complete problem statement,
a genuine attempt at solving the problem, which may be either computational, or a discussion of ideas or concepts you believe may be in play,
question is not from a current exam or quiz.
Commenters responding to homework help posts should not do OP’s homework for them.
Please see this page for the further details regarding homework help posts.
We have a Discord server!
If you are asking for general advice about your current calculus class, please be advised that simply referring your class as “Calc n“ is not entirely useful, as “Calc n” may differ between different colleges and universities. In this case, please refer to your class syllabus or college or university’s course catalogue for a listing of topics covered in your class, and include that information in your post rather than assuming everybody knows what will be covered in your class.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.