Calculus Review/Preview, Session 1

Schedule: We will meet for two weeks, five days a week, 1.5 hours per day. (15 hours total.)

Format: An intro course to prep for a semester of calculus, with lecture to cover concepts, and lots of class interaction and individual practice. We will learn concepts and practice them to attain the mastery we can in a short time, in preparation for a longer, graded course during a school year. No grading; homework is optional.

Cost: $275 per person for a group class of 4 or more students; $935 for one-on-one tutoring.

Payment options: Payments can be made via PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, cash, or check.

Materials: A graphing calculator like a TI-84, TI-89, HP Prime, or Casio is recommended. No text. We’ll use free worksheets on the Internet for homework and supplements.

For more details or to schedule a class, contact Michael by phone at 281-770-2276 or by email at michaelgold@goldams.com.

“This class was excellent! My daughter said “He is the best teacher ever! He actually explains why things work so you understand what’s going on instead of just memorizing it.” She took Calc 1 a year ago and wanted to review. She feels she understands it so much better now. She said they covered an entire semester in two weeks more in depth than her original college level class. She can’t wait to take the next level.”
–Danielle L., parent, about the Outschool class “Summer Calculus Review/Preview, Session 1,” 7 Aug 2021

Class Description

In this course, we will learn limits and derivatives, and their uses.

We will have a mix of lecture, Q&A, and in-class work. We will have some interactive lecture in which students practice concepts and techniques as we go. Everyone will get a chance to ask and answer questions, get feedback, and check their understanding.

You will get some class notes posted everyday on Outschool (you will need to take some of your own notes!), some optional extra reading for understanding, and lots of optional practice work. All classes on Outschool are recorded, so you can watch ones you might have to miss and watch class over again to take notes or review.

Prerequisites: geometry, algebra 1, algebra 2, and precalculus (including trig).

Topics covered

1. Limits
2. Derivatives
3. The derivative tests and graphing

Tentative schedule

Week 1
Day 1: math review; what is calculus; limits graphically; limits analytically; continuity, one-sided limit, infinite limit
Day 2: slope and rates of change; the concept of derivative; the basic derivative rules
Day 3: the basic derivative rules; the product rule and the quotient rule of derivatives
Day 4: the chain rule of derivatives
Day 5: implicit differentiation

Week 2
Day 6: related rates
Day 7: extrema; increasing, decreasing, concavity; Rolle’s Theorem & Mean Value Theorem
Day 8: first derivative test; second derivative test
Day 9: second derivative test; curve sketching
Day 10: optimization

Learning Goals

To understand the concept of limit.
To understand the concept of derivative.
To know the rules of derivatives.
To be able to analyze graphs using derivatives
To know how to solve problems using derivatives.
To be prepared for a year-long calculus course.
To understand how the derivative is useful to fields like physics, chemistry, and biology.
To learn some logic and thinking skills that will help all through life in all areas of life.

“My son has enjoyed this class and made friends as well as broadened his understanding of Calculus. I recommend this class.”
–Xaidie C., parent, about the Outschool class “Calculus, Semester 1,” 14 Jan 2022

“This was a great class. My son especially liked the focus on understanding the logic behind the math.”
-Xaidie C., parent, about the Outschool class “Calculus, Semester 2,” 28 Apr 2022

“Mr. Gold has been an outstanding calculus teacher for our son. He was genuinely invested in the students’ ability to both master the math and become more independent and philosophical thinkers. He always provided detailed, helpful feedback and consistently went the extra mile, giving plenty of his own time in overtime to ensure the material was understood. He definitely has our recommendation. Thank you!!”
–Michele, parent, about the Outschool class “Calculus, Semester 2,” 26 Apr 2022