Ohio State MATH 1172: Engineering Mathematics A
MATH 1172 is the accelerated second calculus course for engineering majors, combining integration techniques, sequences and series, and an introduction to multivariable ideas into one five-credit semester. It follows MATH 1151 and is a prerequisite gate for most of the College of Engineering's sophomore curriculum.
Fennie is independent and not affiliated with The Ohio State University. This is an unofficial study guide.
What makes it hard
The pace is the problem: 1172 covers most of Calculus II plus extra material, so a week of slipping behind equals two chapters of debt. Series convergence tests are the classic wall: students can compute integrals mechanically, but choosing the right convergence test requires judgment that only comes from volume of practice.
What you'll cover
- • Integration techniques (parts, partial fractions, trig substitution)
- • Improper integrals
- • Sequences and series convergence tests
- • Taylor and Maclaurin series
- • Parametric curves and polar coordinates
- • Introduction to vectors and 3D space
The MATH 1172 study guide
How to study for Ohio State MATH 1172, step by step.
- 1
Re-sharpen 1151 integration before week one
MATH 1172 assumes substitution and basic antiderivatives are reflexes. A few days of review before the semester saves weeks of compounding debt.
- 2
Never fall a lecture behind
This course covers Calc II plus extra material in one semester, so one lost week equals two chapters of debt. Daily problems are the price of admission.
- 3
Learn convergence tests as a decision tree
For every practice series, write which test you'd choose and why before computing anything. Exams grade fast, correct test selection more than long arithmetic.
- 4
Bring real questions to recitation
Recitation is where setup confusion gets fixed the week it appears instead of the night before the midterm. Come with specific problems, not general dread.
- 5
Drill old exams on a timer
Past departmental exams show you exactly how 1172 chains topics. Timed runs build the speed the real thing demands.
Today
Today's MATH 1172 plan
What a Fennie Daily Plan looks like for MATH 1172. Yours is built from your own syllabus and adapts every day to your deadlines and progress.
First plan free, no card required. Fennie is independent and unaffiliated with your school.
FAQ
Is MATH 1172 harder than MATH 1152?
Most students say yes. 1172 covers the 1152 material at a faster clip and adds vectors and 3D topics for engineers. The individual concepts aren't harder, but the compressed pacing makes falling behind much more expensive.
How do I study for series in MATH 1172?
Drill the convergence tests as a decision process, not a list. For every practice series, write down which test you'd pick and why before computing anything. Exams reward fast, correct test selection more than long computation.
What happens if I fail MATH 1172?
It delays the engineering course sequence, since sophomore engineering courses list it as a prerequisite. If you're trending toward failing at midterm, talk to your advisor early. Switching to the standard 1152 pace or withdrawing strategically usually beats a failing grade on the transcript.
More Ohio State courses
MATH 1151: Calculus I
MATH 1151 is Ohio State's standard first-semester calculus course, covering limits, derivatives, and an introduction to integration. It is required for most STEM, pre-med, and business-adjacent majors, which makes it one of the highest-enrollment courses on campus, taught in large lectures with recitation sections.
MATH 1148: College Algebra
MATH 1148 is Ohio State's college algebra course (functions, polynomials, rationals, exponentials, and logarithms) and the on-ramp to precalculus and the calculus sequence. Thousands of students take it every year, many placed there by the math placement test rather than by choice.
MATH 1149: Trigonometry
MATH 1149 covers trigonometric functions, identities, equations, and applications: the trig half of the precalculus preparation for MATH 1151. It's the standard route for students whose placement score clears algebra but not trig, and it runs every term at high enrollment.
MATH 1150: Precalculus
MATH 1150 is Ohio State's combined precalculus course, covering college algebra and trigonometry in a single five-credit semester as the direct on-ramp to MATH 1151. It's the compressed alternative to taking MATH 1148 and 1149 separately, which makes the pace its defining feature.