Understanding first, then technique
Calculus rests on algebra and trigonometry, so wobbly foundations show up quickly. When a student is struggling, I often find the trouble is algebraic, not calculus at all. I fix that, then we work on the new ideas.
AP Calculus BC is the toughest course in high school, right up there with Statistics. The second semester, with series and sequences, parametrics, polar and vectors, is where I see the most students struggle.
How I help
We build the idea behind each topic, such as what a derivative means before we compute one, then practice until the techniques are reliable. The Mean Value Theorem, for example, is much less mysterious when you see what it says about a graph.
There is no substitute for practice, and calculus demands a lot of it. I will tell you honestly what that looks like for your course.
Topics I work on most
- Limits and continuity
- Derivatives, rules, applications and optimization
- Integrals, the Fundamental Theorem and applications
- Techniques of integration
- Sequences and series (AP Calculus BC and Calculus II)
- Parametric and polar functions, vector-valued functions (BC)
Calculus III (multivariable) and differential equations are a different level. See my honest take on upper-level courses.
Short videos
Mean Value Theorem
Rates: In person $75/hour, remote $60/hour, first hour half off. Full rates and travel.