AP 2020 Sample Questions
AP 2020 Sample Questions
AB and BC Exam
Questions
The sample exam questions that follow illustrate the relationship between the course
framework and the AP Calculus AB and BC Exams and serve as examples of the types
of questions that appear on the exams. After the sample questions is a table that
shows which skill, learning objective(s), and unit each question relates to. The table also
provides the answers to the multiple-choice questions.
Section I: Multiple-Choice
PART A (AB OR BC)
Graphing calculators are not permitted on this part of the exam.
1 − cos 2 (2 x )
1. lim =
x→0 (2 x )2
(A) 0
1
(B)
4
1
(C)
2
(D) 1
2
x for x < −1
f (x ) = 2
x − 3 for − 1 ≤ x ≤ 2
4 x − 3 for x > 2
3. The table above gives values of the differentiable functions f and g and their
derivatives at selected values of x. If h is the function defined by
h(x) = f(x)g(x) + 2g(x), then hʹ (1) =
(A) 32
(B) 30
(C) -6
(D) -16
dy
4. If x3 - 2xy + 3y2 = 7, then =
2 dx
3x + 4 y
(A)
2x
2
3x − 2y
(B)
2x − 6 y
2
3x
(C)
2x − 6 y
2
3x
(D)
2 − 6y
n
6 6k
(B) lim ∑
k =1 n n
n →∞
n
4 4k
(C) lim ∑ 2+
n →∞
k =1 n n
n
6 6k
(D) lim ∑ 2+
k =1 n n
n →∞
O 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Graph of g
7. The figure above shows the graph of the continuous function g on the interval
x
[0, 8]. Let h be the function defined by h(x) = ∫ g (t ) dt . On what intervals is h
3
increasing?
(A) [2, 5]only
(B) [1, 7]
(C) [0, 1] and [3, 7]
(D) [1, 3] and [7, 8]
x
8. ∫ 1 − 9x 2
dx =
1
(A) − 1 − 9 x 2 + C
9
1
(B) − ln 1 − 9 x 2 + C
18
1
(C) arcsin(3x ) + C
3
x
(D) arcsin(3x ) + C
3
x
–3 –2 –1 1 2 3
–1
–2
–3
9. Shown above is a slope field for which of the following differential equations?
dy y − 2
(A) =
dx 2
dy y 2 − 4
(B) =
dx 4
dy x − 2
(C) =
dx 2
dy x 2 − 4
(D) =
dx 4
10. Let R be the region bounded by the graph of x = ey, the vertical line x = 10, and
the horizontal lines y = 1 and y = 2. Which of the following gives the area of R?
2
∫ 1e
y
(A) dy
e2
(B) ∫ e ln x dx
2
(C) ∫ (10 − e y )dy
1
10
(D) ∫ (ln x − 1)dx
e
x
–4 –3 –2 –1 O 1 2 3 4
–1
–2
–3
–4
Graph of f
11. The graph of the function f is shown in the figure above. The value
of lim+ f ( x ) is
x →1
(A) -2
(B) -1
(C) 2
(D) nonexistent
12. The velocity of a particle moving along a straight line is given by v(t) = 1.3tln
(0.2t + 0.4) for time t ≥ 0. What is the acceleration of the particle at time t = 1.2?
(A) -0.580
(B) -0.548
(C) -0.093
(D) 0.660
15. Honey is poured through a funnel at a rate of r(t) = 4e-0.35t ounces per minute,
where t is measured in minutes. How many ounces of honey are poured through
the funnel from time t = 0 to time t = 3?
(A) 0.910
(B) 1.400
(C) 2.600
(D) 7.429
x 2 5
f(x) 4 7
fʹ(x) 2 3
16. The table above gives values of the differentiable function f and its derivative fʹ
at selected values of x.
5 5
If ∫ f ( x )dx = 14, what is the value of ∫ x ⋅ f ′( x ) dx ?
2 2
(A) 13
(B) 27
63
(C)
2
(D) 41
18. A curve is defined by the parametric equations x(t) = t2 + 3 and y(t) = sin (t2).
d2 y
Which of the following is an expression for in terms of t ?
dx 2
(A) -sin (t )
2
20. Let f be the function defined by f(x) = e2x. Which of the following is the
Maclaurin series for fʹ, the derivative of f ?
x2 x3 xn
(A) 1 + x + + ++ +
2! 3! n!
2x 2
2x 3
2x n
(B) 2 + 2 x + + ++ +
2! 3! n!
(2 x )2 (2 x )3 (2 x )n
(C) 1 + 2 x + + ++ +
2! 3! n!
2(2 x )2 2(2 x )3 2(2 x )n
(D) 2 + 2(2 x ) + + ++ +
2! 3! n!
x
O
21. The figure above shows the graph of the polar curve r = 2 + 4sin θ. What is the
area of the shaded region?
(A) 2.174
(B) 2.739
(C) 13.660
(D) 37.699
22. The function f has derivatives of all orders for all real numbers. It is known that
12 3
f (4) ( x ) ≤ and f (5) ( x ) ≤ for 0 ≤ x ≤ 2 . Let P4 ( x ) be the fourth-degree
5 2
Taylor polynomial for f about x = 0. The Taylor series for f about x = 0 converges
at x = 2. Of the following, which is the smallest value of k for which the Lagrange
error bound guarantees that f (2) − P4 (2) ≤ k ?
25 3
(A) ⋅
5! 2
25 12
(B) ⋅
5! 5
24 3
(C) ⋅
4! 2
24 12
(D) ⋅
4! 5
t (hours) 0 2 4 6 8 10 12
R(t) (vehicles per hour) 2935 3653 3442 3010 3604 1986 2201
x
O 1 2 3 4
Graph of f´
2. The figure above shows the graph of fʹ, the derivative of a twice-differentiable
function f, on the closed interval [0, 4]. The areas of the regions bounded by the
graph of fʹ and the x-axis on the intervals [0, 1], [1, 2], [2, 3], and [3, 4] are 2, 6, 10,
and 14, respectively. The graph of fʹ has horizontal tangents at x = 0.6, x = 1.6,
x = 2.5, and x = 3.5. It is known that f(2) = 5.
(a) On what open intervals contained in (0, 4) is the graph of f both decreasing
and concave down? Give a reason for your answer.
(b) Find the absolute minimum value of f on the interval [0, 4]. Justify your
answer.
4
(c) Evaluate ∫ f ( x ) f ′( x )dx .
0
(d) The function g is defined by g(x) = x3 f(x). Find gʹ (2). Show the work that
leads to your answer.
(a) Write an equation for the line tangent to the curve at the point (2, -7).
(b) Find the y-coordinate of the position of the particle at time t = 4.
(c) Find the total distance traveled by the particle from time t = 1 to time t = 4.
(d) Find the time at which the speed of the particle is 2.5. Find the acceleration
vector of the particle at this time.
Free-Response
Question Skills Learning Objective Unit
CHA-2.D, CHA-3.A,
1.D, 1.E,
1 CHA-3.C, CHA-3.F, 2, 4, 6, 8
2.B, 3.F
CHA-4.B, LIM-5.A
1.C, 1.E,
FUN-3.B, FUN-4.A,
2 2.B, 2.E, 2, 5, 6
FUN-5.A, FUN-6.D
3.B, 3.E
1.C, 1.D,
3 CHA-3.G, FUN-8.B 9
1.E, 2.B
1.D, 1.E,
LIM-7.A, LIM-7.B,
4 3.B, 3.D, 10
LIM-8.D, LIM-8.G
3.E
Scoring Guidelines
Part A (AB or BC): Graphing Calculator Required
t (hours) 0 2 4 6 8 10 12
R(t) (vehicles per hour) 2935 3653 3442 3010 3604 1986 2201
1. On a certain weekday, the rate at which vehicles cross a bridge is modeled by the differentiable function R for
0 ≤ t ≤ 12, where R(t) is measured in vehicles per hour and t is the number of hours since 7:00 a.m. (t = 0).
Values of R(t) for selected values of t are given in the table above.
(a) Use the data in the table to approximate Rʹ(5). Show the computations that lead to your answer. Using correct
units, explain the meaning of Rʹ(5) in the context of the problem.
(b) Use a midpoint sum with three subintervals of equal length indicated by
12
the data in the table to approximate the value of ∫ R(t )dt . Indicate units of measure.
0
(c) On a certain weekend day, the rate at which vehicles cross the bridge is modeled by the function H defined by
H(t) = -t3 - 3t2 + 288t + 1300 for 0 ≤ t ≤ 17, where H(t) is measured in vehicles per hour and t is the number of
hours since 7:00 a.m. (t = 0). According to this model, what is the average number of vehicles crossing the bridge
per hour on the weekend day for 0 ≤ t ≤ 12?
(d) For 12 < t < 17, L(t), the local linear approximation to the function H given in part (c) at t = 12, is a better model
for the rate at which vehicles cross the bridge on the weekend day. Use L(t) to find the time t, for 12 < t < 17, at
which the rate of vehicles crossing the bridge is 2000 vehicles per hour. Show the work that leads to your answer.
(a) Use the data in the table to approximate Rʹ (5). Show the computations that lead to your answer.
Using correct units, explain the meaning of Rʹ (5) in the context of the problem.
(b) Use a midpoint sum with three subintervals of equal length indicated by the data in the table to
12
approximate the value of ∫0 R (t ) dt . Indicate units of measure
(c) What is the average number of vehicles crossing the bridge per hour on the weekend day
for 0 ≤ t ≤ 12.
12 − 0
∫0 H (t ) dt = 2452 1.D 4.C
Definite Answer
Answer with supporting work 1 point
integral
1.E
(d) Use L(t) to find the time t, for 12 ≤ t ≤ 17, at which the rate of vehicles crossing the bridge is 2000 vehicles
per hour. Show the work that leads to your answer.
Slope 1 point
L(t ) = H (12) − H '(12) (t − 12)
1.E 4.E
H (12) = 2596′, H ′(12) = −216
x
O 1 2 3 4
Graph of f´
2. The figure above shows the graph of fʹ, the derivative of a twice-differentiable function f, on the closed interval [0, 4].
The areas of the regions bounded by the graph of fʹ and the x-axis on the intervals [0, 1], [1, 2], [2, 3], and [3, 4] are
2, 6, 10, and 14, respectively. The graph of fʹ has horizontal tangents at x = 0.6, x = 1.6,
x = 2.5, and x = 3.5. It is known that f(2) = 5.
(a) On what open intervals contained in (0, 4) is the graph of f both decreasing and concave down? Give a
reason for your answer.
(b) Find the absolute minimum value of f on the interval [0, 4]. Justify your answer.
4
(c) Evaluate ∫ f ( x ) f ′( x )dx .
0
(d) The function g is defined by g(x) = x3 f(x). Find gʹ (2). Show the work that leads to your answer.
(a) On what open intervals contained in (0,4) is the graph of f both decreasing and concave down?
Give a reason for your answer.
4
(c) Evaluate ∫0 f ( x )f ′( x ) dx
x =4 Antiderivative of the 1 point
2
4 1 2
form a [f ( x )]
∫0 f ( x )f ′( x ) dx = 2 (f ( x )) x =0
1.C
(d) Find g′ (2). Show the work that leads to your answer.
Answer 1 point
2.B
3. For 0 ≤ t ≤ 5, a particle is moving along a curve so that its position at time t is (x(t), y(t)). At time t = 1, the particle is at
dx t dy cos t
position (2, -7). It is known that = sin and =e .
dt t +3 dt
(a) Write an equation for the line tangent to the curve at the point (2, -7).
(b) Find the y-coordinate of the position of the particle at time t = 4.
(c) Find the total distance traveled by the particle from time t = 1 to time t = 4.
(d) Find the time at which the speed of the particle is 2.5. Find the acceleration vector of the particle at this time.
(a) Write an equation for the line tangent to the curve at the point (2, −7).
(2, − 7) is y = −7 + 6.938 ( x − 2) .
(c) Find the total distance traveled by the particle from time t = 1 to time t = 4.
The total distance traveled by the particle from time Answer 1 point
t = 1 to time t = 4 is 2.469. 1.E 4.E
(d) Find the time at which the speed of the particle is 2.5. Find the acceleration vector of the particle at this
time.
The acceleration vector of the particle at time t = 0.415 is: Acceleration vector 1 point
x ′′( 0.415) , y ′′( 0.415) = 0.255, −1.007 ( or 0.255, −1.006 ) . 1.E 4.E
x
(c) Let h be the function defined by h( x ) = ∫ f (t )dt . Write the first three nonzero terms and the general term of the
0
Maclaurin series for h.
(a) Use the ratio test to determine the interval of convergence of the Maclaurin series for f. Show the work
that leads to your answer.
∞ k +1
( −1)
When x = 1, the series is ∑ . This series converges by the Analysis and interval of 1 point
k =1 k2 convergence 3.D
alternating series test.
1 1
(b) Show that this approximation differs from f by less than .
4 500
3 Uses third term as error 1 point
1 bound
1 15 4
3.D
f − < =
1
4 64 9 576
Error bound 1 point
1 1
< 3.E
576 500
(c) Write the first three nonzero terms and the general term of the Maclaurin series for h.