>second time taking Calc I >go to every lecture, take detailed

Practice more.

should have re-taken precalc instead.

>>8466814
OP here, I got an A in precalc and had an A in this class until we got to optimization and related rates. I don't understand how to set these things up and the huge derivatives make solving for max/min/ inflection points impossible.

>>8466800
Take it at your local community college. I'm serious, its easier and it almost surely transfers.

>>8466820
Can you share an example you found difficult so that maybe we can help you? Also consider these questions: Have you isolated the skills you feel you are struggling with? Why is that the case(that you are struggling)? Have you done enough work? Relative to others, how are you doing? Do you feel like you were actually ready going into this class? Think meta-cognitively about it and get as much help from your lecturers.

>>8466800
I think what will help you OP is writing out each step of your work and explaining what you are doing. Put brackets around certain parts of your work to make it look simpler if that helps. Whenever a problem involves tricky algebra I always do each step by the book and double check what I'm doing is valid and logical. It's tedious, but it's a fool proof way to do math.