The word “algorithm” can sometimes seem like a word designed to scare people away from math classes, much like the words “calculus”, “Fourier transform”, or “engineering exam”.

Falling just a little behind in math class can have a snowball effect, making each new concept even more difficult to master.

The College Board offers four Advanced Placement classes in math: AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Statistics and – the newest – AP Precalculus. Successful completion of an AP math class is ...