I'm going back to college after a 2 year hiatus. A little background info- I want to be a doctor and I have photographic memory. I love biology and I'm excellent at remembering anatomy and chemistry info by the ton. My problem is math. I remember steps to sample equations perfectly but if the numbers change, I can't do the problem. Math has always been my nemesis and I know I have to take calculus as part of my pre-med program. First, I have to take prerequistics at community college for a semester. I know I need a tune up math class, or I'll never pass calculus. I took a test and I can either take adv. trig or pre-calc. I was okay at trig. in high school, but that was 5 years ago! And, I have never taken pre-calc. Which class is going to help me more?
2006-07-22 13:48:27 · 12 answers · asked by cookiesrme 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Medicine
based on what you said above, I think you can get along with pre calc and then take the calc. trig is very difficult. since you are going into biology you do not need trig.
2006-07-22 13:53:44 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Good question. You say you have a photographic memory, so would it be easy for you to memorize things like trig identities? If you can memorize these things easily, I say go with pre-calc. I never took a class dedicated to trig, but I have been able to survive calculus. Have you thought about maybe taking both?
2006-07-22 13:57:12 · answer #2 · answered by biogeek 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd say take pre calc because it is more geared toward math impaired students... I never took precalc.
You will learn all the basic tools that you will need to get through calculus when you eventually take it.
Talk to a councellor or a math department personel. Use the resources.
Remember this reality:
Mathematics is a description of how the mind works,
-Even moreso than psychology.
Good Luck
~steve~
2006-07-22 14:12:28 · answer #3 · answered by SageTumbleWeed 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A Precalc course almost always includes trig (analytical trig anyway), there's no way you can do the year of calculus required without some trig because the second semester includes Techniques of Integration, a lot of which has to do with trig identities.
2006-07-22 14:12:15 · answer #4 · answered by RH 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you know what a quadratic function is? If you can easily maneuvre a quadratic function with the quadratic formula, then pre-cal is fine. I would highly recommend not starting with trig given the length of time since you've had math. If you don't easily recall the quadratic equation, good chance you'd actually be better off starting with the class prior to pre-cal, which is usually called 1010.
2006-07-23 11:17:35 · answer #5 · answered by -superkid- 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pre-calc and then calc. Since you are going to be a little older than some of the people entering medical school, you don't need to waste time on classes that aren't going to help you with admissions.
2006-07-23 07:32:15 · answer #6 · answered by fightintxaggie98 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would go with pre-calc. You will be taking classes that require calculus and it is more important than advanced trig knowledge.
2006-07-22 13:58:13 · answer #7 · answered by polloloco.rb67 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I'm going to be taking pre-calculus honors in high school in my junior year so I really can't help. I suppose adv. trig would give you a better foundation?
2006-07-22 14:22:02 · answer #8 · answered by krazych1nky 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Calculus is by far the easiest, and if you have to take calculus anyway, than pre-calc is your only option. Good luck!!
2006-07-22 13:55:44 · answer #9 · answered by JosieLee 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go with the pre-calculus.
2006-07-22 14:00:35 · answer #10 · answered by fieldworking 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋