Calculus AB AP

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PREREQUISITE: Pre-calculus
DESCRIPTION: The curriculum of AB is specified by the College Board and agrees with the curriculum of the first one and one-half semesters of calculus in most colleges. AB calculus does not include the reteaching of pre-calculus in that the students are expected to have retained this information. Some review material will be available if needed. The student who takes this course should do so with the attitude of taking the AP test and receiving college credit. Suggested PSAT Score - 54 Math.
CONTENT:
  • Elementary functions - properties of functions, properties of particular functions, limits, continuity, statements and applications
  • Differential calculus - the derivative, applications of the derivative
  • Integral calculus - antiderivatives, applications of antiderivatives, techniques of integration
    • HOMEWORK: Homework is assigned daily and requires more time and thinking than any previous math course. Homework is collected in notebook form.
    PROJECTS: A weekly project called a "problem session", consisting of three questions taken from previous AP exams, is assigned every week. Students generally take from one to two hours to complete the problems.
    TESTS: Two or possibly three tests per six weeks period.
    SPECIAL SUPPLIES: Graphing calculators are required.
    DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AB AND BC CALCULUS: In the two calculus courses designated by the College Board, the letters AB, BC refers to the three sets of topics, the A topics which are primarily Pre-calculus concepts, the B topics which are the integral and differential calculus, and the C topics which include polar coordinates, sequences and series, vectors and an introduction to differential equations. The AB course does primarily the B topics with a small amount of review in the A topics, while BC does the B and C topics. Basically AB covers one-third less material than BC, and as a result concepts can be absorbed at a somewhat slower rate than BC.
    HONORS: The course is designed with the expectation that the student will take the AP test at the end of the year. Students who have successfully completed the course and have achieved at least a 4 or a 5 on the AP test are prepared as well as their counterparts in college. They are ready to take the second semester of calculus as the first course in mathematics in college.
    MISCELLANEOUS: A practice AP exam is given on a Saturday morning in late April. Participation is not required but it is highly recommended.
    SPECIAL NOTE: Students who take AB Calculus should enjoy math. There is too much time and effort involved in the course for anyone who dislikes math to take it!