   Learning Calculus for free?
  First: thank you for your time.Second:I'm looking to learn calculus this summer before I take it next year. I want to learn as much about it, and get as comfortable with it as possible, to get "ahead of the game" when in school next year. I've found a few sites with examples, but most are not helpful in that they either don't explain what it is I'm supposed to do, what it is I'm learning, or their examples are trivial. I understand that it is improbable/impossible to replace a classroom when learning, and that is not what I'm trying to do. I'm just trying to find something that will help me learn this stuff NOW, so I can focus on other areas during the school year. Furthermore, I have no money at all with which to spend on classes at a community college or on books, so basicly I'm looking for good, free, websites to visit. I remember seeing one link here that was very helpful, but alas I've lost it and can't find it. I'm sorry for posting what is probably the thirteen billionth post asking for help in learning calculus, but searching without knowing what exactly to search for is almost impossible.   
  www.wikipedia.comwww.mathworld.com   ;  You would be surprised how much one of those $19.99 Idiot books contain.The price was right for myself.The aforementioned websites were also integral.   ;Visual Calculus. Saved my ass in Calculus I a couple semesters ago.   ;  I got some background math from Barnes&Noble. You can visit these bookstores (found across the USA, so shouldn't be a problem for you), sit down in one of their plush chairs, grab a book, and study! I didn't pay one shiny cent, and I really benefitted. They play some nice music in the background, as well. (Not exactly my type, but its nice ambient music). Most if not all have a Starbucks inside as well.Give your library a visit; some of those 40-year old books still teach the fundamentals.fyi, I will be taking calculus next year as well. ;)   ;  Here you can learn cal I II III, linear alg and diff equ:http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/AllBrowsers/1314/1314.aspeverything is explained clearly with lots of worked out examples.I highly recommend it.   ;Quote:Original post by daniel_i_lHere you can learn cal I II III, linear alg and diff equ:http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/AllBrowsers/1314/1314.aspeverything is explained clearly with lots of worked out examples.I highly recommend it.That's the site I was looking for! Thanks! Quote:Visual Calculus. Saved my ass in Calculus I a couple semesters ago. Looks nice, I'll give it a look.Quote: www.wikipedia.comwww.mathworld.com Mathworld has never really been too helpful to me, I don't know why, but I'll give it another shot. Wikipedia I've looked at but it seems like it was written for math profs [grin]. Quote:You would be surprised how much one of those $19.99 Idiot books contain. Quote:I got some background math from Barnes&Noble... I can't drive, so BN is out of the question (I love that place otherwise [grin]). Also, the only local bookstore doesn't have any books on calc that I've seen [sad]. Thanks guys!   ;  Don't forget to check with your library on book availability.Safari might have some online books for you as well, if you have a credit card for the trial/subscription.   ;  I highly recommend the following two books for teaching one's self calculus. I personally used the first to teach myself calculus the year before I took it in HS, and after seeing it here have recommended the second to others taking calculus and they've found it extremely helpful.Calculus Made Easy: Being a Very-Simplest Introduction to Those Beautiful Methods of Reckoning Which Are Generally Called by the Terrifying Names of the Differential CalculusElementary Calculus: An Approach Using Infinitesimals;Quote:Original post by tabyThe aforementioned websites were also integral.Haha, Integral - was that planned? ;)Seriously though, wikipedia is probably as good a place to start as anywhere.  You are probably best starting off by learning about differentiation since it's conceptually a little simpler, then move on to integration and more complex differential equations.Unfortunately, calculus introduces a few bits of new notation to maths which does make it all the more helpful to have someone standing there explaining it.You might find this vaguely helpful: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DerivativeHope you get it all worked out!   