AP Calculus AB Syllabus

The material covered in this syllabus includes all topics as stated in the AP Calculus
course description.
Text book: Finney, Demana, Waits, and Kennedy, Calculus: Graphical, Numerical,
Algebraic, 3rd ed.,2007, by Pearson Education
Technology: Calculator required: TI-83+ or the TI-84 will be the ones used for
instruction. We will be integrating technology into each chapter.
1. They will be used in explorations of concepts.
2. Graphing functions and analyzing them to explain results and justify solutions.
3. Solving equations with numerical solutions.
4. Interpreting results.
Supplementary Materials:
AP CD by College Board and ETS, Version 1.01, 2000
Barton, Brunsting, Diehl,Hill,Tyler,Wilson, AP Test Prep Series AP Calculus, by Pearson
Education, 2007, first edition
Released problems from previous A.P. Calculus exams
The objectives of this course include:
Successful completion of the A.P. Calculus exam
Learning of calculus by applying the rule of four, that is using analytic,
numerical, graphical, and verbal methods of representing problems;
Learning an appreciation for the beauty and power of calculus
Learning the written and oral communication of mathematics using accepted
terms and notation.
The syllabus (which follows a block schedule, 70 minutes every day) on the following
pages is used for the AP Calculus course:
Trimester grades are determined through:
Homework(as listed in the syllabus),
In-class work (as listed in the syllabus)*
Quizzes 1 or 2/chapter
Chapter tests
*The In Class work allows for both collaborative problem solving and individual
problem solving using oral and/or written presentations.
The final semester grade is determined by :
Trimester Grade 80%
Final exam 20%.

The Next few pages give an outline of the subjects taught, assignments given, and the
pace at which the class will proceed.
Unit 1: Prerequisites for Calculus
1.1 Lines: Increments, Slope of a Line, Parallel and Perpendicular Lines,
Equations of Lines, Applications.
Tech: Use regression equation analysis to make predictions about linear functions
Timeline: 2 days
Assignment Given:
Day 1: QR (quick review) 1-9, EX (exercise) 3-36 by 3s, 57
Day 2: EX 37-41, 44, 45, 47-52, 54, 56
1.2 Functions and Graphs: Functions, Domain and Ranges, Viewing and
Interpreting Graphs, Even and Odd Functions, Piece-wise Functions, Absolute
value Function, Composite Function.
Tech: Develop graph viewing skills to see important characteristics of graph.
Graphing piece-wise functions.
Timeline: 3 days
Assignment Given:
Day 1: QR 1-12, EX 3-33 by 3s, 39, 41
Day 2: EX 1, 2, 4, 22, 26, 26, 34, 42, 43, 45, 48, 57-62
Day 3: EX 51, 55, 56, 67-72
1.3 Exponential Functions: Exponential Growth, Exponential Decay,
Applications, The Number e.
Tech: Comparing bases of exponential functions. Finding zeros graphically.
Timeline: 2 days
Assignment Given:
Day 1: QR 1-9, EX 2-12 even, 13-21, 23, 26, 27, 29
Day 2: EX 1-4, 32, 33, 35, 37, 41-48
1.5 Functions and Logarithms: One-to-One Functions, Inverses, Logarithm
Functions, Properties of Logarithms, Applications.
Tech: Exploration to support the Product Rule. Y = ln ax, y = ln x, and y = ln axln x. Graph for various a values and see how the first two are related.
Timeline: 2days
Assignment Given:
Day 1: Quiz 1.1-1.3, QR 1-4, 7-10
Day 2: EX 3-24 by 3s, 33, 34, 39, 42, 43, 45, 48, 52-57

1.6 Trigonometric Functions: Radian Measure, Graphs, Periodicity, Even and

Odd, Transformations, Inverses.
Timeline: 2 days
Assignment Given:
Day 1: QR 1-9, EX 3, 6, 9, 11, 15, 18, 50-55
Day 2: EX 1-4, 21, 27-30, 32-34, 36, 37, 39, 46
Chapter Review
Timeline: 2 days
Assignment Given:
Day 1: EX 3, 9, 13, 15-20, 23, 26, 29, 31, 33-35, 37, 41, 43, 45,
51, 58, 67-70
Day 2: In Class Review
Chapter 1 Test
Timeline: 1 day
Unit 2: Limits and Continuity
2.1 Rates of Change and Limits: Average and Instantaneous Speed, Definition
of Limit, Properties of Limits, One and Two-sided Limits, Sandwich Theorem.
Tech: Sandwich Theorem explorations using x^2, -x^2, sin 1/x, to visualize the
limit as x approaches 0 of x^2*sin 1/x.
Timeline: 3 days
Assignment:
Day 1: EX 1-35 odd, 42, 44
Day 2: EX 37-43 odd, 45-51, 54, 59, 60, 63, 65-70
Day 3: EX 55, 57, 61, 64, QR 2.2 1-10
2.2 Limits Involving Infinity: Finite Limits, Sandwich Theorem, Infinite Limits,
End behavior Models, Seeing Limits as x Approaches Infinity.
Timeline: 2 days
Assignment Given:
Day 1: EX 3-33 by 3s, 55, 56, 59-64
Day 2: EX 35-44, 68, 69, Quiz 2.1-2.2
2.3 Continuity: At a Point, Continuous Functions, Algebraic Combinations,
Composites, Intermediate Value Theorem for Continuous Functions.
Timeline: 2 days
Assignment Given:
Day 1: QQ (quick quiz) pg. 77, QR 1-10, EX 1, 2, 3-21 by 3s,
19,37-39
Day 2: EX 24, 25, 27, 30, 33-36, 41-51, 56-59
2.4 Rates of Change and Tangent Lines: Average Rates of Change, Tangent to
a Curve, Slope of a Curve, Normal to a Curve, Speed Revisited.

Timeline: 3 days
Assignment Given:
Day 1: QR 1-10, EX 1-9, 19, 21
Day 2: EX 11-17 odds, 23, 35-40
Day 3: EX 28, 20-32, 35-40
Chapter Review
Timeline: 2 days
Assignment Given:
Day 1: EX 1-23 odd, 25, 33, 34, 37-41, 43, 47
Day 2: In Class Review
Chapter 2 Test
Timeline: 1 day
Unit 3: Derivatives
3.1 Derivatives of a Function: Definition of Derivative, Notation, Relationship
between f and f, Graphing derivative from Data, One-sided, Derivatives.
Tech: Using grapher to see the relationship between f and f. Using Data to graph
the derivative.
Timeline: 2 days
Assignment Given:
Day 1: EX 3-19 odd, 14, 16, 33, 35, 43
Day 2: EX 21-31 odd, 36-41, revisit 43
3.2 Differentiability: How f(a) Might Fail to Exist, Differentiability Implies
Local Linearity, Derivative on Calculator, differentiability Implies Continuity,
Intermediate Value Theorem for derivatives.
Tech: Students investigate differentiability by graphing different types of
functions and zooming in on specific points to see if a function is differentiable at
that point. Using NDERIVE to calculate the derivative.
Timeline: 2 days
Assignment Given:
Day 1: QR 1-10, EX 1-19 odd, 47
Day 2: EX 21-35 odd, 40-45
3.3 Rules for Differentiation: Positive Integer Powers, Multiples, Sums, and
Differences, Products and Quotients, Negative Integer Powers of x, Second and
Higher Order Derivatives.
Timeline: 3 days
Assignment Given:
Day 1: QR 1-10, EX 1-9 odd, 41, 42, 53-58
Day 2: EX 11-39 odd. 38, 40, 48 QQ (quick quiz) 1-4

3.4 Velocity and Other Rates of Change: Instantaneous Rates of Change,

Motion along a Line, Sensitivity to Change, Derivative in Economics.
Tech: Model horizontal Motion and seeing motion on their Graphing calculators.
Timeline: 3 days
Assignment Given:
Day 1: Quiz 3.1-3.3, QR 1-10, EX 1-9 odd, 31,32
Day 2: EX 10, 14, 51, 16, 18, 19, 21, 24, 25, 27, 39
Day 3: EX 34, 36, 38, 40-46, 48
3.5 Derivatives of Trigonometric Functions: Derivative of Sine and Cosine
Functions, Simple Harmonic Motion, Jerk, Derivatives of other basic Trig
Functions.
Timeline: 3 days
Assignment Given:
Day 1: QR 1-10, EX 1-11 odd, 33 Write out problem 1ab from
1999, 2abc from 1997
Day 2: EX 13-31 odd, 37, 40-43
Day 3: EX 44-49, write out 2ab, 3c from 2000
3.6 Chain Rule: Derivative of Composite Function, Outside-Inside Rule,
Repeated Chain Rule, Slopes of Parameterized Curves, Power Chain Rule.
Timeline: 3 days
Assignment Given:
Day 1: QR 1-7, EX 3-21 by 3s, write out 6 from 1996
Day 2: EX 24-36 by 3s, 56, 62, 70, 72, 73
Day 3: QQ 1, 2, 4, QR p.170 1-10
3.7 Implicit Differentiation: Implicitly Defined Functions, Lenses, Tangents,
and Normal Lines, Derivative of Higher Order, rational Powers of Differentiable
Functions.
Timeline: 3 days
Assignment Given:
Day 1: Quiz 3.4-3.6, EX 3-21 by 3s, write out 3 from 1995
Day 2: EX 24-42 by 3s, 54, write out 5a from 2005B
Day 3: EX 59-61, 63, 64, QR 1-10 from 3.8
3.8 Derivatives of Inverse Trig. Functions: Derivative of Inverse Functions,
Derivative of Arcsine, Arctangent, Arc secant, Other three.
Timeline: 1 day
Assignment Given:
Day 1: EX 3-27 by 3s, 30, 35-40
3.9 Derivative of Exponential and Logarithmic Functions: Derivative of e^x,
a^x, ln x, log x, Power Rule for Arbitrary Real Powers.
Timeline: 3 days
Assignment Given:

Day 1: QR 1-10, EX 3-21 by 3s,

Day 2: EX 24-39 by 3s, 45, write out 5 from 2000
Day 3: EX 51-53, 56- 62, QQ 1-4, Review EX 1-23
Chapter 3 Review
Timeline: 2 days
Assignment Given:
Day 1: EX 31-39 odd, 45-47, 59, 61, 62, 65, 71
Day 2: In class review
Chapter 3 Test
Timeline: 1 day
Assignment Given:
Day 1: Test, p. 193 EX 1-5, 11
Unit 4 Applications of Derivatives
4.1 Extreme Values of Functions: Absolute Extreme Values, Local Extreme
Values, Finding Extreme Values.
Timeline: 3 days
Day 1: QR 1-12, EX 7-17 odd, 31-34,43
Day 2: EX 19-29 odd, 51
Day 3: EX 35-41 odd, 44-50
4.2 Mean Value Theorem: Mean Value Theorem, Physical Interpretation, Inc.
and Dec. Functions, Other Consequences.
Timeline: 2 days
Assignment Given:
Day 1: QR 1-10, EX 1-11 odd
Day 2: EX 12-14,15-33 odd, 37, 43, 45-47, 51-56
4.3 Connecting f and f with the graph of f: First Derivative Test for Local
Extrema, Concavity, Points of Inflection, Second Derivative Test for Local
Extrema, Learning about functions from Derivatives.
Timeline: 4 days
Assignment Given:
Day 1: QR 1-10, EX 1-15 odd, 51-56
Day 2: EX 18-36 by 3s, 41,42,47,48
Day 3: EX 2,16,22,39,45-47,51,52, 55-60
Day 4: QQ 1-4, write out 4abc from 2003, write out 1abcd from
1996
4.4 Modeling and Optimization: Examples from Mathematics, Examples from
Business and Industry, Examples from Economics, Modeling Discrete
Phenomena with Differentiable Functions.
Timeline: 3 days

Assignment Given:
Day 1: Quiz, QR 1-10, EX 2,8,20,27,31,36,40,41
Day 2: EX 3,10,12,18,22,23,39
Day 3: EX 47,49,50-56
4.5 Linearization and Newtons Method: Linear Approximation, Newtons
Method, Differentials, Estimating Change with Differentials, Absolute, Relative,
and Percentage Change, Sensitivity to Change.
Tech: An exploration is done investigating local linearity, by zooming in and
having the function become its tangent line.
Timeline: 3 days
Assignment Given:
Day 1: Expl 1, QR 1-6, EX 3,5,7
Day 2: EX 8,13,19,22,25,28,31, write out 2ac from 2001, 4all from
2001, 6all from 2006, 1abcd from 1996
Day 3: EX 34-40, QR 1-6 from 4.6
4.6 Related Rates: Related Rates Equations, Solution Strategy, Simulating
Related Motion
Timeline: 3 days
Assignment:
Day 1: EX 1,2,3-24 by 3s,42,47, 5b from 2007, 6 from 2007
Day 2: EX 8,11,13,29,34-40
Day 3: QQ 2,3, 5 from 2002, 4 from 2004
Chapter 4 Review
Timeline: 2 days
Assignment:
Day 1: EX 1,3,5,13,17,23,27,31-35,49,57,62, 6 from 2006
Day 2: Review in Class
Chapter 4 Test
Timeline: 1 day
Assignment:
Day 1: Test, EXPL 1 p.267
Unit 5 The Definite Integral
5.1 Estimating with Finite Sums: Distance traveled, Rectangular Approximation
Method, Volume of a Sphere, Cardiac Output.
Tech: Students input a program that calculates the Area under a curve using
rectangles from left, right, and midpoints.
Timeline: 3 days
Assignment:
Day 1: QR 1-10, EX 1-8,10,13-15
Day 2: EX 16,18,20-22,24,25,30
Day 3: EX 28,31-36, QR 1-10 5.2, EXPL 1 and 2

5.2 Definite Integrals: Riemann Sums, Terminology and Notation of Integration,

Definite Integral and Area, Constant Functions, Integrals on a calculator,
Discontinuous Integrable Functions.
Tech: The use FINT to evaluate definite integrals numerically.
Timeline: 2 days
Assignment:
Day 1: EX 1-35 odd, 51-55
Day 2: EX 36-55, QR 1-10 5.3
5.3 Definite Integrals and Antiderivatives: Properties of Definite Integrals,
Average Value of a Function, Mean Value Theorem for Definite Integrals,
Connecting Differential and Integral Calculus.
Timeline: 2 days
Assignment:
Day 1: EX 1,3,4,6-8,10,11,14,15,18,19,40,41
Day 2: EX 22,23,27-36,45-51, QQ 1-4, 5 from 2007
5.4 Fundamental Theorem of Calculus: Part1, Graphing Integral from a to x of
f(t)dt, Part 2, Area Connection, Analyzing Antiderivatives Graphically.
Tech: 2 explorations involving calculator. First graphs FINT and setting your
viewing window to the appropriate levels. 2nd, verifying the first part of the
Fundamental Theorem of Calculus to verify that NDERIVE(FINT(f(x))) = f(x)
Timeline: 4 days
Assignment:
Day 1: QR 1-7, EX 1-4, 4ab from 2006
Day 2: EX 6-30 by 3s
Day 3: EX 33-51 by 3s, 57-69 odd, 72-74
Day 4: EX 58-70 evens, FTC practice Multiple choice
5.5 Trapezoidal Rule: Trapezoidal Approximation, Other Algorithms, Error
Analysis.
Timeline: 3 days
Assignment:
Day 1: QR 1-10, EX 1,2, Trap Worksheet
Day 2: EX 4,7,9-11,31-36,39, 4 from 2000
Day 3: EX 10, QQ 1-3, Review 3,5,9
Chapter 5 Review
Timeline: 2 days
Assignment:
Day 1: EX 10,13-19,25,29,33,39,45,56,58-60, 4abc from 1997, 5
a-d from 1998, 2 from 2005, 5 from 2005
Day 2: Review In Class
Chapter 5 Test
Timeline: 1 day

Assignment:
Day 1: Test, QR 1-11 odd, 2,4 from 2005B
Unit 6 Differential Equations and Mathematical Modeling
6.1 Slope Fields and Eulers Method: Differential Equations, Slope Fields,
Eulers Method.
Timeline: 2 days
Assignment:
Day 1: EX 3-24 by 3s, 25-28 QR evens EXPL 1
Day 2: EX 29032,35-40,49-52,55,56-64
6.2 Antidifferentation by Substitution: Indefinite Integral, Leibniz Notation and
Antiderivatives, Substitution in Indefinite Integrals, Substitution in Definite
Integrals.
Timeline: 3 days
Assignment:
Day 1: QR 1-10, EX 1-15 odd, 6 from 2005B
Day 2: EX 18-26 even, 27-39 by 3s, 78,79
Day 3: EX 44,47-49,52,54,57,60,67,71-76
6.4 Exponential Growth and Decay: Separable Differential equations, Law of
Exponential Change, Continuously Compounded Interest, Radioactivity,
Modeling Growth with Other bases Newtons Law of Cooling.
Timeline: 3 Days
Assignment:
Day 1: QR 1-10, EX 3-12, 49,50,57
Day 2: EX 15-42 by 3s, 2,3 from 2002
Day 3: EX 49-52, 2 from2003, 2 from 2004B
6.5 Logistic Growth: How Populations Grow, The Logistic Differential
Equation, Logistic growth Models.
Timeline: 2 days
Assignment:
Day 1: QR 1-4, EX 1-4
Day 2: EX 5,12,13,15,16,19,20, 6 from 2005
Review for Chapter 6
Timeline: 2 days
Assignment:
Day 1: EX 1-5,8,13,23,27,31,35-42,56,57
Day 2: Review in Class
Chapter 6 Test
Timeline: 1 day
Assignment:

Day 1: Test, QR 1-5

Unit 7 Applications of Differentials
7.1 Integral As Net Change: Linear Motion revisited, General Strategy,
Consumption Over Time, Net Change from Data, Work.
Timeline: 2 days
Assignment:
Day 1: QR 6-10, EX 1-11 odd
Day 2: EX 12-22,27,28
7.2 Areas in the Plane: Areas Between Curves, Area Enclosed by Intersecting
Curves, Boundaries with Changing Functions, Integrating with Respect to y,
Saving Time with Geometry Formulas.
Timeline: 5 days
Assignment:
Day 1: EX 24,31-36 QR 1-10, 25,26,37
Day 2: Cooperative Problems
Day 3: EXPL 1, EX 3-11 odd
Day 4: EX 12-42 by 3s,46,53,54
Day 5: EX 46,48 Essay Questions, 1ab from 2001
7.3 Volumes: Volume As an Integral, Square Cross Sections, Circular Cross
Sections, Cylindrical Shells, Other Cross Sections
Timeline: 6 days
Assignment:
Day 1: QR 1-10, EX 1-11 odd,63,64
Day 2: EX 16,19,22,23,27,29,39-45 odd,49,1 from 2005B,2-14
even
Day 3: EX 63-68,p.411 1,3,4
Day 4: Multiple Choice Practice
Day 5,6: Practice Essay Problems
Chapter 7 Review
Timeline: 1 day
Day 1: 1-21 odd,53-55 as write-outs
Chapter 7 Test
Timeline: 1 day
Assignment:
Day 1: Test

Review for AP Test 3 weeks

After AP test
LHopitals Rule For Partial Fraction(1 week