- Plano East
- Calculus AB
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About the AP Calculus
AP Calculus AB and AP Calculus BC focus on students’ understanding of calculus concepts and provide experience with methods and applications. Through the use of big ideas of calculus (e.g., modeling change, approximation and limits, and analysis of functions), each course becomes a cohesive whole, rather than a collection of unrelated topics. Both courses require students to use definitions and theorems to build arguments and justify conclusions. The courses feature a multi-representational approach to calculus, with concepts, results, and problems expressed graphically, numerically, analytically, and verbally. Exploring connections among these representations builds an understanding of how calculus applies limits to develop important ideas, definitions, formulas, and theorems. A sustained emphasis on clear communication of methods, reasoning, justifications, and conclusions is essential. Teachers and students should regularly use technology to reinforce relationships among functions, confirm written work, implement experimentation, and assist in interpreting results.
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Standard Day in my Class
Each day, the student is to be present in class prepared for the activity of the day. If the student is absent, It is the responsibility of the student to get any missing papers or worksheets upon returning to class.
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Grading
The nine weeks grades will be computed as follows:
- 40% Daily Work (includes classwork, quizzes, and homework)
- 60% Tests (includes unit tests and six weeks tests)
The semester grade is calculated using:
50% - 1st Nine Weeks
50% - 2nd Nine Weeks
Progress Reports will be sent out to all students at least twice during each nine-week period. Students and parents can keep track of their grades via the internet site: Parent Portal
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Prerequisites
Before studying calculus, all students should complete the equivalent of four years of secondary mathematics designed for college-bound students: courses that should prepare them with a strong foundation in reasoning with algebraic symbols and working with algebraic structures. Prospective calculus students should take courses in which they study algebra, geometry, trigonometry, analytic geometry, and elementary functions. These functions include linear, polynomial, rational, exponential, logarithmic, trigonometric, inverse trigonometric, and piecewise-defined functions. In particular, before studying calculus, students must be familiar with the properties of functions, the composition of functions, the algebra of functions, and the graphs of functions.
Students must also understand the language of functions (domain and range, odd and even, periodic, symmetry, zeros, intercepts, and descriptors such as increasing and decreasing). Students should also know how the sine and cosine functions are defined from the unit circle and know the values of the trigonometric functions within the first quadrant of the unit circles and their multiples. Students who take AP Calculus BC should have basic familiarity with sequences and series, as well as some exposure to parametric and polar equations.
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Supplies
Each student will be expected to bring the following to class each day:
- Notebook / paper / binder
- Pencil
- Graphing calculator (TI-84 preferred; TI-89 not allowed)
- Recommended students buy one
- Plano East Math department will have a limited supply for students to checkout; students are to provide their own batteries for the calculators. If lost, stolen, or damaged, there is a $100 replacement fee.
- Desmos app may be downloaded for classwork and homework, but may not be used on tests and exams.
- Wabbitemu (ti-84 emulator for android devices only)
- PESH Calculator Checkout
- 1 box of tissue paper
- Textbook: either digital or print
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Textbook
Larson's Calculus program has a long history of innovation in subject teaching. It has been widely praised by a generation of students and teachers for its strong and effective pedagogy that responds to the needs of a wide range of teaching and learning styles. Each degree is just one component of a comprehensive calculus program that carefully integrates and coordinates printing, media, and technology products for teaching and learning.
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Spring Units
Analytical Applications of Differentiation
Students will be able to …
Integration and Accumulation of Change
Students will be able to …
Applications of Integration
Students will be able to …
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Absences
A calendar with all assignments and test dates will be given to students at the beginning of each topic.
Students are responsible for making up all the work as soon as possible following an absence.
For field trips or other authorized school activities, it is the student’s responsibility to prepare assignments on time.
A maximum of 2 weeks following a test will be allowed for make-ups; after the two weeks, it will be a ZERO.
If a student misses only the day before a test, he/she will take the test as scheduled since no new material is covered.
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Makeups
Makeup is done in rooms B1-162.
You MUST have a photo ID to make up a test. (Student ID or Driver’s license are both acceptable.)
Sign up to schedule your makeup test.
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Tutorials
There are several opportunities throughout the week to attend. I will be available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays after school 4:15 - 5:00 and during 0 hours 8 - 8:30 every day I am on campus. If these times are not the best times for you, please see me so we can schedule a better time
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Retest/Optional Test
Students will NOT retest in Calculus.