To prepare for Calculus I, here are some suggestions from Tami Matsumoto's web pages:
    1. Take this sample (unofficial) calculus readiness exam.
      Go to: http://mdtp.ucsd.edu/test_new/?show_instructions=3
      Read the directions before you start.
      There are 40 questions and you should use pencil and paper to work the problems (Don't try to do them all in your head).
      When you finish the test, it will tell you which you got right/wrong and what the correct answers are. You also get scores separated out into topic areas, to help you decide what to review.



    2. Look over the lists on these pages and when you come across something you feel un-confident about, add it to your list of things to review:

    3. Go to the 'Visual Calculus' website at: http://archives.math.utk.edu/visual.calculus/
      Just look at the Pre-Calculus stuff, but check it out! There are modules for all kinds of useful stuff!!


    4. Off the top of my head, these are things important to review:
      • Radicals, expressions involving radicals
      • How to type complicated things into your calculator (like messy rational functions, for example)
      • Domains of functions, and, in particular, when there are problems with a domain
      • Even Functions, Odd Functions (what are they, how can you tell, what happens in the graph, what happens algebraically)
      • General geometry formulas: Perimeters, Areas, Volumes of simple solids
      • Reading graphs
      • Lines, slopes, equations of lines, getting an equation from two points
      • Roots of functions
      • Absolute Value equations and inequalities
      • The main things to review, for starters, are functions, function operations (esp. function composition), function inverses, function behavior, graphs of functions, and "average rate of change."
      • Special families of functions you should know the characteristics of
      • Trig function definitions -- unit circle model, and right triangle model
      • Trig function values for the basic angles
      • Trig identities
      • Interval Notation

    5. Look over Chapter 1 of the calculus textbook: Calculus - Early Transcendentals  by James Stewart (see link below).

      I would recommend, as preparation for the course, a thorough review of all the material in Chapter 1. See what is there, and then review the corresponding parts in your algebra book, when applicable. Note that the text comes with a CD that has helpful information for the exercises which have squares around the problem number.

      Chapter 1 in our text is considered review for this course.
      Assess and inform yourself, using the Chapter 1 Tutorial Quizzes at the Companion Website: http://www.brookscole.com/cgi-wadsworth/course_products_wp.pl?fid=M20b&product_isbn_issn=0534393217&discipline_number=1)


    6. Also, San Jose State has some assessment tests broken out into categories. Check them out: http://www.math.sjsu.edu/~valdes/calc_place/home.html


    7. And for MORE FUN: These "Mathlets" are excellent Java Applets that are fun to play with as you review. Look over the "Precalculus" section of applets for your reviewing! http://cs.jsu.edu/mcis/faculty/leathrum/Mathlets/topframe.html


  1. And for MORE FUN: http://cs.jsu.edu/mcis/faculty/leathrum/Mathlets/topframe.html These "Mathlets" are excellent Java Applets that are fun to play with as you review. Look over the "Precalculus" section of applets for your reviewing!