AP Calculus AB
AP Calculus AB is a college-level course that covers topics in differential and calculus. Students will to apply calculus concepts to real-world problems and develop their problem-solving skills. The course description a detailed outline of the topics covered, as well as information on the AP exam and scoring.
Tentative schedule: 32 classes: 16 Prof Lectures+ 16 TA sessions, 2 Free mock exams
Unit 1: Limits & Continuity
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How limits help us to handle change at an instant
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Definition and properties of limits in various representations
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Definitions of continuity of a function at a point and over a domain
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Asymptotes and limits at infinity
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Reasoning using the Squeeze theorem and the Intermediate Value Theorem
Unit 2: Differentiation: Fundamentals
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Defining the derivative of a function at a point and as a function
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Connecting differentiability and continuity
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Determining derivatives for elementary functions
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Applying differentiation rules
Unit 3: Differentiation: Composite, Implicit, and Inverse Functions
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The chain rule for differentiating composite functions
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Implicit differentiation
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Differentiation of general and particular inverse functions
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Determining higher-order derivatives of functions
Unit 4: Contextual Applications of Differentiation
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Identifying relevant mathematical information in verbal representations of real-world problems involving rates of change
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Applying understandings of differentiation to problems involving motion
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Generalizing understandings of motion problems to other situations involving rates of change
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Solving related rates problems
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Local linearity and approximation
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L’Hospital’s rule
Unit 5: Analytical Applications of Differentiation
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Mean Value Theorem and Extreme Value Theorem
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Derivatives and properties of functions
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How to use the first derivative test, second derivative test, and candidates test
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Sketching graphs of functions and their derivatives
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How to solve optimization problems
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Behaviors of Implicit relations
Unit 6: Integration and Accumulation of Change
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Using definite integrals to determine accumulated change over an interval
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Approximating integrals using Riemann Sums
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Accumulation functions, the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, and definite integrals
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Antiderivatives and indefinite integrals
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Properties of integrals and integration techniques
Unit 7: Differential Equations
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Interpreting verbal descriptions of change as separable differential equations
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Sketching slope fields and families of solution curves
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Solving separable differential equations to find general and particular solutions
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Deriving and applying a model for exponential growth and decay
Unit 8: Applications of Integration
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Determining the average value of a function using definite integrals
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Modeling particle motion
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Solving accumulation problems
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Finding the area between curves
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Determining volume with cross-sections, the disc method, and the washer method