Goals:

This class will introduce studentsto calculus and prepare them to take the Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus ABexam administered by the College Board. On completion of this course, studentswill

• understand how the concept of a limit provides the basis for operations in calculus.
• understand basic differentiation and be able to use it to solve a variety of problems.
• understand basic integration and be able to apply it to a variety of problems.
• understand the relationship between the derivative and the integral.
• be able to model a written description of a physical situation with a function, a differential equation or an integral.
• be able to use technology to help solve problems, interpret results and verify conclusions.

The AP Exam

• The AP Exam is given in early May.
• Success on the AP exam requires a high level of commitment throughout the year, probably significantly more than in any previous math class.
• Attached you will find a portion of the AP Course Description and the syllabus that we submitted to the College Board for this class. The complete document and much other material can be found on the College Board web site, www.apcentral.collegeboard.com.

Classroom Expectations:

• Come to class prepared - with assignments up to date, text, notebook, pencil and paper.
• Show enough work to explain your reasoning for all problems, even if you are using a calculator. Someone else reading your paper should be able to understand how you arrived at your solution. You will not get full marks for your homework unless you show your work.
• Homework will be due on a daily basis, as given on your assignment sheet. It will be graded on effort, completeness and correctness.

Homework:

• Daily assignments based recent lessons
• Weekly AP preparation packet

Tests:

• Unit tests will be cumulative.
• Tests and finals will include both multiple-choice and written-response questions.

Grading:

• Homework - about 20%
• Quizzes - about 20%
• Tests - about 30%
• Trimester final - about 30%

Text:

      Larson,R.E. and Edwards, B.H., Calculus of a Single Variable (AP Edition), 9^th ed., D. C. Brooks/Cole, 2006

Supplies:

• Notebook (spiral OK) for class notes. This book should be used only for your calculus notes. Quad-ruled is good because your notes will include diagrams and graphs.
• Pencil, pen, ruler, paper.
• Graphing calculator (TI-83 or equivalent)