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.
• You can find the AP Course Description and much other useful material 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
• Frequent AP practice questions

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, 9^th ed., Brooks/Cole, 2010

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)