Cornell MATH 1120: Calculus II

MATH 1120 continues Cornell's standard calculus sequence — integration techniques, applications of integrals, sequences and series, and an introduction to parametric and polar topics. It follows MATH 1110 for science, economics, and pre-health students.

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What makes it hard

Two distinct walls: integration techniques demand pattern recognition that only volume builds — knowing which method fits which integral — and the series unit (convergence tests, Taylor series) is conceptually unlike anything before it. Students who scraped through Calc I on weak fundamentals usually hit the harder wall here.

What you'll cover

• Techniques of integration
• Applications of integration
• Improper integrals
• Sequences and series
• Convergence tests
• Taylor and power series

The MATH 1120 study guide

How to study for Cornell MATH 1120, step by step.

1
Do mixed integral sets from week one
Technique selection — knowing whether an integral wants substitution, parts, or partial fractions — is MATH 1120's first prelim skill, built only by large volumes of mixed practice, never by topic-sorted homework alone.
2
Keep Calc I skills warm
Integration punishes weak differentiation and algebra twice as hard. A short weekly refresher on derivatives and algebraic manipulation prevents old gaps from resurfacing on new material.
3
Give the series unit double runway
Sequences and series is a conceptual leap unlike anything before it. Start reading ahead before the unit opens, and accept that convergence reasoning needs more sittings than computation ever did.
4
Build a convergence-test decision chart
One page: each test, its conditions, and the series shapes it handles. Practice classifying series rapidly with the chart, then without it — the prelims test the choice as much as the execution.
5
Build the reps on a Fennie Daily Plan
Upload your MATH 1120 syllabus and Fennie schedules daily mixed-technique practice paced to the prelims, with the series unit given extra runway and quizzes generated from your actual course content. Free to start.
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How Fennie helps with MATH 1120

Fennie's Daily Plans build the integral-pattern reps MATH 1120 actually requires — daily mixed-technique practice paced to the prelims, with the series unit given the extra runway it deserves. Chat through which convergence test applies and why, the exact decision skill series prelim questions test.

FAQ

Is MATH 1120 harder than MATH 1110?

Most students say yes. Integration techniques require recognizing which method fits each problem — a skill only built by volume — and the sequences and series unit is a conceptual leap that catches even students who did fine in Calc I.

How do I study for MATH 1120 series?

Build a decision chart of convergence tests and practice classifying series rapidly before computing anything — the choice of test is the exam skill. The series unit is more logic than computation, so it rewards conceptual understanding over formula drilling.

Does MATH 1120 count for engineering?

The engineering track uses MATH 1910/1920 instead. MATH 1120 serves science, economics, and pre-health students; verify your degree audit, since engineering programs generally require the 1910/1920 sequence.

Pass MATH 1120 with a plan, not a cram

Upload your MATH 1120 materials and Fennie generates a Daily Plan paced to your deadline — plus chat, flashcards, and quizzes built from the actual course content.

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More Cornell courses

MATH 1110 — Calculus I

MATH 1110 is Cornell's standard Calculus I — limits, derivatives, applications of differentiation, and an introduction to integration — taken by students across the sciences, economics, and pre-health tracks. It's the entry to the calculus sequence for those not on the engineering math track.

MATH 1910 — Calculus for Engineers

MATH 1910 is Cornell's first engineering calculus course — single-variable differentiation and integration with an emphasis on applications, plus an introduction to infinite series and differential equations. It's a required gateway for the College of Engineering, faster-paced than the standard MATH 1110/1120 track.

MATH 1920 — Multivariable Calculus for Engineers

MATH 1920 is Cornell's multivariable calculus course for engineers — vectors and geometry of space, partial derivatives, multiple integrals, and vector calculus including line and surface integrals and the theorems of Green, Stokes, and the divergence theorem. It follows MATH 1910 in the engineering sequence.

MATH 2940 — Linear Algebra for Engineers

MATH 2940 is Cornell's linear algebra course for engineers — systems of linear equations, matrices, vector spaces, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, orthogonality, and applications including differential equations. It's a required engineering course usually taken alongside or after the calculus sequence.