Notice we didn't say "without really trying." Like chess and sports, mathematics takes practice, and the more the better. You won't learn to play well just by watching. As with other games, you have to master the rules, goals, skills, and strategies. We don't pretend it is easy, but every one of you is able to do well, have fun, and participate in a great intellectual adventure.
The challenges. Even if you have had calculus in high school - about half of you fall into that category - it is likely to be different in college. We will move three times as fast as most high school courses. We will expect you to think critically and creatively, and to remember what you learned in algebra and trigonometry. Some test questions will be quite challenging. You may use an advanced software package for assignments. The grading scale may seem tough. There has been little grade inflation at Georgia Tech, and there is not a lot of partial credit. Also, most of you were near the top of your high-school class, and the pace and competition here are likely to be greater. Fortunately, this is understood by upper division instructors, employers, and graduate schools, and a C from Tech will get you farther than an A from a great many schools. The average grade in a calculus class here is usually a C (not just this section, but all sections). It is a respectable grade, and not something to be very discouraged about. On the other hand, it doesn't come for free, and, normally, a few people in the class get a D or an F. Grades of B and particularly A require superior understanding of the material.
Help for the perplexed. We want you to learn and to do as well as you can! The School of Mathematics provides many sources of help, and encourages you to use them. Firstly, the teaching assistant and I will have office hours. If you come to my office hour with a question, a miracle will happen - you yourself will go to the blackboard and answer it. Past students have found this extremely useful. Graduate students in the School of Mathematics staff a walk-in clinic called the Math Lab. and the library will have upper division students available at other times for help. The hours for these tutorial programs will be announced early in the term. Private tutoring is often available through the mathematics office, and there are other tutoring programs outside the mathematics department, for example for athletes.
Some Tips.
We are here to help you learn, and if you really want to, you can succeed at calculus, which will open many doors for you in science, engineering, and business.