Math is one subject that dominates the student’s career life from the bottom to higher learning institutions. While the basic math approaches may be the same, doing college math may require a student to take another approach to ensure they succeed throughout their course and career as a whole.
Therefore, having a good math foundation right from high school is one significant factor that helps students tackle college math questions easily.
So, are you almost joining college, or are you a college student struggling with math? Probably, you aren’t the only one. This guide will help you explore how to study math in college and excel without a lot of struggling. Keep reading.
What is considered college level math?
College level math is a study criterion designed like stepping stones. The success of the course ahead depends on the previously covered course. For instance, succeeding in Algebra two will depend on the foundation you had when doing Algebra one. Similarly, the success of trigonometry relies on the foundation you had with Algebra two in that manner.
This simply implies that as a student, you have a clear understanding of a given math course or subject before you move to the next concept. So, starting from high school, students ought to take several math courses to understand the very basic math concepts as they advance to college level math.
However, if you always struggled with math in high school, it shouldn’t discourage you from pursuing your career dreams. You can always opt for a career offering non-credit pre-college math and achieve your career goals.
Levels of math in college
The different math levels or courses help students who major in mathematics, sciences, engineering, math education, actuarial science, statistics, economics, accounting, and business courses.
Therefore, the levels of math in college include the following:
Algebra 1
Also known as college algebra, it is the basic foundation of handling all college math problems. The description of the course depends on the institute’s preferences, but the context is the same.
While you may assume you know the course right from high school, there are slight variations because you will need to explore advanced algebraic equations and how to use graphs to solve complex math problems.
Algebra 2
This is the second math college level. To solve problems under Algebra 2, you will need to review the skills and knowledge from Algebra 1.
The topics under Algebra 2 are a bit complex, and they include the following:
- Functions-linear
- Radical
- Quadratic
- Exponential
- Logarithmic & their graphs
- Rational expressions
- Solving quadratic equations
Trigonometry
Trigonometry, the third level of college math, is all about studying sides and angles. Here, you will encounter the following topics:
- Angle measurement
- Right triangle trigonometry
- Graphs of trigonometric functions
- Oblique triangles
- Exponential & logarithmic functions
Geometry
This course involves studying the dimensions, sizes, position angles, and shapes of objects. In the beginning, you will learn how to apply geometric principles when solving numerical questions.
As you advance in geometry, you will learn Euclidean and non-Euclidean geometries.
Precalculus
Precalculus is a college-level math course for the degree requirement before the student proceeds to different math levels in college.
To attend a precalculus course, you must have a grade of C or pass well in algebra 2.
The basic foundation of this course relies on the skills acquired from college algebra & trigonometry and graphing functions.
Calculus
Simply described, calculus involves studying change rates of quantities and volume, area, and length of different objects.
When compared to other course levels, calculus is the most complex one. However, with an easy and positive approach with lots of commitments, the course is manageable.
What math classes are required in college
Deciding on the easiest math class in college can be challenging, especially when you have plans to advance your career.
However, most colleges will require you to have adequate knowledge and skills in algebra 1, algebra 2, and geometry for basic courses.
Some advanced courses will require you to have skills in trigonometry or pre-calculus, as covered above.
Note: the bottom line when choosing math classes for college is to ensure you meet all the basic requirements and that the course aligns with your personal interests and your academic profile.
Conclusion
Studying math and doing college math homework may seem a hard task to accomplish. However, understanding the basic principles that define different math courses and levels in college is the key to unlocking an easy experience with college math.
