Math Resources

(updated Nov. 13, Dec. 29 to add Calculus Drill Resources)

Many students have questions about their preparation when entering a math and science heavy program. We’ve set a precalculus prerequisite for M&M so if you have any significant trouble with problems in algebra, geometry, or trigonometry, you will need to find time and resources to fill in this background. In our experience, students who can take advantage of the Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning (QuaSR) center (our math and science tutoring center) can make up for quite a bit of math gaps, so consider how you might adjust your schedule to utilize the QuaSR. Also, Krishna will have lots of available time during lunch and other breaks, is eager to support you in reviewing, and happy to provide supplemental lessons on precalculus topics as needed.

You can download some sections of our calculus textbook below. The Preview of Calculus whets your appetite for what is to come (spoiler alert! Calculus is awesome! and useful!). Chapter 1 reviews much of the material from precalculus (with the notable absence of right triangle trigonometry). If the material from Chapter 1 (perhaps not necessarily the material from section 1.7) is familiar to you, then you’re in good shape and should just work some problems from the Review at the end of the chapter to get yourself warmed up. If you find the material from Chapter 1 unfamiliar, please don’t panic! See below for many other resources.

Some algebra review materials (there are many other good sources available):

Precalculus review materials (including algebra, functions, and trigonometry):

  • Precalulus: An Investigation of Functions is a freely available book http://www.opentextbookstore.com/precalc/
  • I have modified a self-study course that include freely available open-source textbooks, interactive exercises, and targeted video lectures and examples. It is available at wamap.org; to access, Register as a new student (or Login if you already have a wamap account) and use the Course ID: 14851 and the Enrollment key: mnm1718. This is a very rich resource, and you can use it to do targeted review at any point you like over the year.
  • UC Irvine OpenCourseWare Pre-Calculus video lectures http://ocw.uci.edu/courses/math_1a1b_precalculus.html. The video lectures here are of a different quality than the ones available through the wamap course above.
  • Advice on how to learn, with particular relevance to learning math and science, based on up-to-date research in cognitive science and learning theory; free on-line course started on August 21 and you can just view lectures on your own by enrolling https://www.coursera.org/course/learning

Calculus Drill Resources

    • At WebAssign, you should be able to find Derivative Drills Practice, Anti-Derivative Drills Practice, Integration using Substitution Drills Practice, and Integration by Parts Drills Practice.
      • The due date for these is set far past the final day of the program, so you should be able to access them for a long time.
      • No points are assigned to these exercises, so they won’t confuse your other scores.
      • I’ve turned on answers, solutions, and Practice Another Version right away.
      • There are a ridiculous number of attempts available (not sure if that is a good idea or a bad idea, we’ll see).
      • There are tons of similar drill exercises available in many other places, just seek using your favorite search engine and you will find.
    • Some derivative and anti-derivative calculators that your classmates have suggested are below. These allow you to enter in any function you want, and also shows step-by-step how to find the derivative or anti-derivative.