2022.11.04 Friday / Published in NEWS, news & event

An Introduction to AP – AP Calculus

AP Calculus

AP Calculus AB and AP Calculus BC focus on students’ understanding of calculus concepts and provide experience with methods and applications. The Math problems are being expressed graphically, numerically, analytically, and verbally. The connections among these representations are important.

Teachers and students should regularly use technology (Graphic Display Calculator) to reinforce relationships among functions, to confirm written work, to implement experimentation, and to assist in interpreting results.

Mr. Ramanathan Kasi AP Calculus Teacher: Math and Alphabets are our two eyes.

AP Calculus AB Course overview

AP Calculus AB focuses on topics that are taught in the college-equivalent first-semester calculus class. This AP course culminates in an AP Exam that’s designed to test your understanding of the theoretical basis of course content and your ability to solve problems by applying your knowledge and skills.

AP Calculus BC Course overview

AP Calculus BC focuses on topics covered in both first- and second-semester calculus classes. It explores the same concepts and applications of AB, only it adds a few new topics. In other words, AP Calculus BC covers more content than AP Calculus AB, though both courses require you to apply the same skills.

Mathematical Practices for AP Calculus

The Mathematical Practices for AP Calculus capture important aspects of the work that mathematicians engage in

Reasoning with definitions and theorems

Connecting concepts

Implementing algebraic processes

Connecting multiple representations

Building notational fluency

Communicating

Unit Guides

UNIT 1: Limits and Continuity

UNIT 2: Diﬀerentiation: Definition and Fundamental Properties

UNIT 3: Diﬀerentiation: Composite, Implicit, and Inverse Functions

UNIT 4: Contextual Applications of Diﬀerentiation

UNIT 5: Analytical Applications of Diﬀerentiation

UNIT 6: Integration and Accumulation of Change

UNIT 7: Diﬀerential Equations

UNIT 8: Applications of Integration

UNIT 9: Parametric Equations, Polar Coordinates, and Vector-Valued Functions (BC only)

UNIT 10: Infinite Sequences and Series (BC only)

Class Insight

Two of our G10 students aged 15 are taking Calculus BC (aim for 17-19 students) this year. They are now learning Unit 9: Parametric Equations, Polar Coordinates, and Vector-Valued Functions.

As a formative assessment and a review of what they have already learned, in this class the teacher provided students an interesting class activity.

Students had to find and pair function graphs and their derivative graph, as well as the descriptions of the graphs.

Assessment and Exam

The AP Calculus AB and BC Exams assess student understanding of the mathematical practices and learning objectives outlined in the course framework. The exams are both 3 hours and 15 minute long and include 45 multiple-choice questions and 6 free-response questions.

From AP to DP

A 2015 study by the Educational Policy Improvement Center revealed that students viewed AP only as a means to obtain college credit in high school, while the DP is considered a holistic programme that develops strong life-long learners.

At BIS, students have the opportunity to take AP classes in G9 and G10, which lays a solid academic foundation for them before entering into a rigid two-year Diploma Programme. A solid mathematical theory foundation and the real-situation problem-solving skills students gain in AP will definitely enlighten their DP years and in their higher education stage.