IB Mathematics SLII/AP Calculus AB Name:

Prerequisite Skills Block: Date:

Welcome to Calculus! You will find that most calculus concepts are not difficult to grasp; however, solving
calculus problems requires strong algebra and trigonometry skills. If you are weak in these areas, you will perform
poorly on assessments despite having a solid understanding of calculus. It is therefore crucial that you brush up on
these skills. You will be expected to know how to solve the following problems WITHOUT A CALCULATOR from
DAY ONE.
Directions: Complete the following problems on separate paper. Work neatly and circle your final answers. This
assignment will be collected the first week of school. Solutions will be available on Ms. Krummel’s YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/MichelleKrummel .

Greek letters commonly used in calculus

1. In the left column, write the symbol corresponding to each letter. Words beginning with capital letters correspond
to the symbol for the captial letter. In the right column, write the name of each symbol, using a capital letter
for symbols that correspond to captial letters.

alpha ∆

beta π

Delta α

delta δ

epsilon Σ

theta β

pi 

Sigma θ

Factoring

2. 9x2 − 16y 2 = 6. x4 − 10x2 + 9 = 10. x + ay + x2 − a2 y 2 =

3. x2 − (x + h)2 = 7. 2x2 − x − 6 = 11. 3x3 (x − 7)3 + 4x2 (x − 7)4 =

4. x2 − 12xy + 36y 2 = 8. 8x3 − 27y 3 = 12. 5x2/3 − 4x1/3 =
5. 20 − x − x2 = 9. (x + h)3 − x3 = 13. x(x + 3)−1/2 + 2(x + 3)1/2 =

Simplifying Fractions
√
x2 + 3x x2 + x − 6 2x − x+3 a− √b x+y
14. = 16. = 18. = c 22. 1 1 =
20. =
x2 x+3 x c x + y
√ b x
ab2 − ba2 x2 + 2x − 4 1+ 1 c − 2√ c 23. =
15. = 17. √ = 19. x−1
= 21. √ = 1− 1
a−b x x ( c)2 (1+ xy )
Functions and Equations
√
24. If f (x) = x3 + 5x − 1, then f (1) − f (0) = 1+ 2
34. Rationalize the denominator of √ .
1− 2
25. If f (x) = x2 − 3x + 1, then f (x + h) − f (x) =
1 f (x + a) − f (x) 35. Write the equation of the line passing through points
26. If f (x) = , then = (1, 5) and (7, 12).
2x a
√ f (x + h) − f (x)
27. If f (x) = x + 5, then = 36. Write the equation of the line passing through the point
h (2, −4) and parallel to the line 6x + 2y = 11.
28. Solve for a: 3x3 a + 9x2 y − 4a − 2 = 0.
37. Write the equation of the line passing through the point
29. Solve 4x(10 − 2x) + (10 − 2x)2 = 0.
(2, −4) and perpendicular to the line 6x + 2y = 11.
30. Solve 12x = x2 .
38. Explain the difference between the reciprocal of x2 and
2x4 + 3x3 − x2 − 1
31. Use long division to rewrite . the inverse of x2 .
x−2
32. Find the exact solutions of x3 + x2 − 4x + 2 = 0. 39. Find f (g(x)) if f (x) = x2 + 3x and g(x) = 2x − 3.
1 1 2
33. Solve + + 2 = 0. 40. Solve 3x2 + 24x − 12 = 0 by completing the square.
x−1 x+1 x −1

Formulas

41. A rectangle has dimensions x × y. The perimeter of the rectangle is 16. Find the area of the rectangle as a
function of x.
42. Find the area of an equilateral triangle with perimeter 18.
43. Two sides of an isosceles triangle are length x. If the perimeter of the triangle is 50, find the area of the triangle
as a function of x.
44. A cylindrical soup can has a volume of 2 in3 . If the radius of the base is x inches, find the surface area of the
can (including the top and bottom) as a function of x.
45. A woman 5 ft tall stands x feet away from a 20-ft high lamppost. Find the length of the woman’s shadow in
terms of x.
46. Find the distance from the origin to the point (x, y) on the line y + 2x = −5, as a function of x.

Inequalities and Piecewise Functions

2
f (h) − f (0) 2x − x x+1
47. If f (x) = |x|, then = 51. Solve < 0.
h x
48. Solve x2 − 4x − 12 > 0. 52. Solve |15x + 8| ≤ 3.
49. Solve (x + 2)(1 − x) < 0. 53. Solve |15x + 8| > 3.

50. Solve 3x3 − 9x2 − 30x ≤ 0. 54. If x = y 2 − 1, solve for y.

Graphing Functions

55. Sketch the graph of y = −(x + 3)2 . 57. Sketch the graph of y = |x + 3| + 5.
√
56. Sketch the graph of g(x) = x − 2 − 1. 58. Sketch the graph of f (x) = −x3 + 2.
59. Identify all intercepts, removable discontinuities (holes) and asymptotes for the function:

x2 + 3x + 2 x 2x2 − 6x − 8
(a) y = (b) y = (c) y =
4x2 − 4 x2 − 3x − 4 x−4

Exponents, Exponential and Logarithmic Functions

x2 − x 65. If f (x) = ex − 3x, then f (ln 2) =

60. Simplify .
x1/2
√
x1/2 (8x3 ) − (x4 + 3)x−1/2 66. If g(x) = ln x + x, then g(e2 ) =
61. Simplify .
x
62. Simplify e−x (2ex + e2x ). 67. If ln y = x + 2, solve for y.

63. Simplify −e−x (ex + 1)2 + 2e−x (ex + 1)(ex ). 68. If 100 = 24e5k , find the exact value of k.
x 2 x x
2x(e + 1) − 6xe (e + 1)
64. Solve = 0. 69. Simplify ln(x + 1) − 2 ln(x − 1).
(ex + 1)4

Trigonometry
 √   
70. arcsin (0) = 76. arcsin − 23 = 83. arccos − √12 = 89. arctan (1) =

71. arcsin 21 =


77. arcsin (1) = √  90. arctan (−1) =
3
84. arccos 2 =
72. arcsin − 12 =

 
78. arcsin (−1) =  √  91. arctan √13 =
 
79. arccos (0) = 85. arccos − 23 =
73. arcsin √12 = 
1

92. arctan √ =
80. arccos 12 =


86. arccos (1) = − 3
 
74. arcsin − √12 = √

81. arccos − 12 =


87. arccos (−1) = 93. arctan 3 =
√    √

3
75. arcsin 2 = 82. arccos √12 = 88. arctan (0) = 94. arctan − 3 =

95. State the domain and range for the following functions

(a) f (x) = sin x (c) f (x) = tan x (e) f (x) = cos−1 x

(b) f (x) = cos x (d) f (x) = sin−1 x (f) f (x) = tan−1 x

96. Pythagorean Identities

(a) sin2 x + cos2 x = (b) tan2 x + 1 = (c) cot2 x + 1 =

97. Even/Odd Properties

(a) sin(−θ) = (b) cos(−θ) = (c) tan(−θ) =

98. Double-Angle Formulas and Power-Reducing Formulas

(a) sin 2θ = (b) cos 2θ = (c) sin2 θ = (d) cos2 θ =

99. Solve 4 cos(4x) + 2 = 0.

√
100. Solve 3 tan2 (2x) = tan(2x).
√
101. Substitute u = 2 sin x into the radical 4 − u2 and simplify.
√
102. Substitute u = 3 tan θ into the radical 9 + u2 and simplify.
 Are you ready to LATEX?
If you’d like to get a head start, please access the Canvas course at

https://cms.instructure.com/courses/140017

and begin working through the tutorials.

School email: [email protected]

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