Calculus 1, 2 and 3 compared: the whole sequence on one page

Calculus 1 (Math 165) covers limits, derivatives and integration up to the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus. Calculus 2 (Math 265) continues with advanced integration, differential equations, series, and parametric and polar curves. Calculus 3 (Math 365) moves to several variables: vectors in space, partial derivatives, multiple integrals and vector calculus.

It depends on what you find hard. Calculus 2 is the longest, with 62 instructional hours across 10 chapters, and asks for many techniques, such as integration methods and convergence tests for series. Calculus 3 asks you to picture curves, surfaces and vector fields in three dimensions. See Calculus 2 vs Calculus 3.

The Calculus 3 syllabus lists Math 165: Calculus 1 and Math 265: Calculus 2 (or equivalent) as prerequisites, so take both first, here or at another college. The Calculus 2 syllabus lists no prerequisite but calls the course a continuation of Calculus 1. You can try free Calculus 2 lessons to see where you stand.

Calculus 1: NCCRS recommends 4 semester hours, upper division, in Calculus among other subjects. Calculus 2: NCCRS recommends 4 semester hours, lower or upper division, in Calculus among other subjects. Calculus 3: NCCRS recommends 4 semester hours, lower division, in Calculus among other subjects.

Calculus 1: Calculus, Mathematics, Computer Science, Economics, or as a general education math elective. Calculus 2: Calculus, Mathematics or Computer Science. Calculus 3: Calculus, Business Administration, Business Management, Economics, Accounting, Liberal Arts, or as a General Education Elective. Your college decides which requirement each one fills.

Calculus 1: 8 chapters and 49 instructional hours. Calculus 2: 10 chapters and 62 instructional hours. Calculus 3: 7 chapters and 46 instructional hours. All three are self-paced, so you finish as fast or as slow as you want.

Each ends with 100 multiple-choice questions, worth 25% of the course grade; Calculus 1 after 8 chapters, Calculus 2 after 10.

All three syllabi list Hoffman, Dale. Contemporary Calculus. Bellevue College, Washington State Colleges, with other references.

No: none of the three is on the ACE list. Calculus 1 has an NCCRS recommendation for 4 semester hours in Calculus; Calculus 2 has an NCCRS recommendation for 4 semester hours in Calculus; Calculus 3 has an NCCRS recommendation for 4 semester hours in Calculus. Not being on the ACE list never means not recommended for credit.

Yes: the Calculus 1 syllabus opens after a free sign-in. It lists all 8 chapters, the grading and the credit recommendation, so you can send it to your registrar.

UPI Study sends it for you. Once Calculus 1 shows 100% complete, pay the $20 transcript on your Student Dashboard (www.upistudy.com/enrollments, "Get your transcript"); the dashboard then takes you straight to the transcript request, where you enter your college's address, and UPI Study emails it to them. Check spam for the confirmation email.

ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities. Search your school in Find My College and ask your registrar which courses Math 165, Math 265 and Math 365 would count as. It helps to name the subject: NCCRS recommends Calculus 1 in Calculus and Calculus 2 in Calculus.