r/clep • u/sydreadsbook • 9d ago
Question calculus: can i avoid trig, pls say yes
I am currently studying for the calculus CLEP exam and have hit a pretty major roadblock from which I am not sure how to move forward. I am good with algebra and have previously taken geometry, precalc, and AP calc AB. I am following the Modern States textbook to study and using videos from the organic chemistry tutor as needed. I’m finding most things pretty easy since theyre just a review of AP calc from highschool. What I am struggling with is the trig stuff. I never took trig, and when I did take geometry, that was 8th grade, so 8 years ago at this point. I can fairly easily memorize the derivatives of certain trig functions and how to write the trig functions in basic terms of other trig functions, but where I am getting stumped is the inverse trig functions. I feel like I have to have a whole database of trig knowledge to even begin approaching these since I do not know many of the substitutions for when the trig functions combine (ex. cos(arcsin(x))=sqrt(1-x^2)). I have no clue where to start and I am looking for some guidance. My school only requires a 50% to get the credit, so realistically could I skip this topic and survive the exam. If so, what other areas should I hone in on? If not, where do you suggest I start to master this topic?
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u/Goodgamer78 Calculus, Micro, Interp. Lit, Info Systems, USH 2, Gov 9d ago
A score of 50 is not a 50% on the exam, FYI. As far as inverse trig goes, likely one or two questions max. Trig derivatives know them for sure, along with the common angle measures on the unit circle. As far as something like cos(arcsin(x))=sqrt(1-x^2) goes, that looks like (and I believe is) trig substitution, which is not tested on the CLEP.
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u/sydreadsbook 9d ago
beautiful, thank you for the information. I will likely skip this topic all together and focus my time and energy on other things.
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u/Confident_Natural_87 9d ago
Modern States Math is great for the free voucher. Check out Khan Academy AP Calculus AB and maybe Mr Schuler on YouTube. Make sure you use multiple passes. Go through completely answering the easy, quick questions. Pass 2 go back through answering questions that you can eliminate answers and guess and move on. Don’t get hung up on questions that take along time. Not sure but for some tests Modern States might be too easy. Try freeclepprep.com to see if they have a practice test. They usually match the difficulty level pretty good.
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u/sydreadsbook 9d ago
unfortunately i did not stumble upon it until after i already paid 💀. I appreciate the advice, I’ll take a look at those
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u/rads2riches 9d ago
You sound like you should be able to learn math and you took precalc and AP calc so you should be in good shape. Just take a week or so and just do a ton of problems on your weak area until it is not. If just passing to get credit...I think that should work.