AP Calculus BC

Course Description:
The curriculum for this elective Advanced Placement course is developed from the ​College Board AP Curriculum for BC
Calculus​. AP Calculus BC is roughly equivalent to both first and second semester college calculus courses. Students will
be exposed to and practice skills related to: extension of the content learned in AB to different types of equations (​polar,
parametric, vector-valued​) and new topics (​Euler’s method, integration by parts, partial fraction decomposition, and
improper integrals​); introduces the topic of ​sequences and series​; topics in differential and integral calculus (limits,
derivatives, definite integrals, the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, and series); a variety of representations (graphically,
numerically, analytically, and verbally) and to make connections amongst these representations; how to use technology
(solve problems, experiment, interpret results, and support conclusions). Grades are determined by formative questions
and summative exams. Successful completion of the AP Exam in Calculus BC, a score of 3 will result in college credit
earned for Calculus AB and a score of 4 or 5 will result in college credit earned for Calculus BC. This information in this
course overview outlines what students should understand and be able to do by the end of two trimesters.

Mastery Standards:
As written from College Board AP Curriculum for Calculus BC

Limits
Students must have a solid, intuitive understanding of limits and be able to compute one-sided limits, limits at infinity, the
limit of a sequence, and infinite limits. They should be able to apply limits to understand the behavior of a function near a
point and understand how limits are used to determine continuity.

Standard 1: Students will understand that the concept of a limit can be used to understand the behavior of functions.

Standard 2: Students will understand that continuity is a key property of functions that is defined using limits.

Derivatives
Students should be able to use different definitions of the derivative, estimate derivatives from tables and graphs, and
apply various derivative rules and properties. Students should also be able to solve separable differential equations,
understand and be able to apply the Mean Value Theorem, and be familiar with a variety of real-world applications,
including related rates, optimization, and growth and decay models.

Standard 3: Students will understand that the derivative of a function is defined as the limit of a difference quotient and
can be determined using a variety of strategies.

Standard 4: Students will understand that a function’s derivative, which is itself a function, can be used to understand the
behavior of the function.

Standard 5: Students will understand that the derivative has multiple interpretations and applications including those that
involve instantaneous rates of change.

Standard 6: Students will understand that the Mean Value Theorem connects the behavior of a differentiable function
over an interval to the behavior of the derivative of that function at a particular point in the interval.

Integrals and the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus

Students should be familiar with basic techniques of integration, including basic antiderivatives and substitution, and
properties of integrals. Students should also understand area, volume, and motion applications of integrals, as well as the
use of the definite integral as an accumulation function. It is critical that students understand the relationship between
integration and differentiation as expressed in the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus.

Standard 7: Students will understand that antidifferentiation is the inverse process of differentiation.

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Standard 8: Students will understand that the definite integral of a function over an interval is the limit of a Riemann sum
over that interval and can be calculated using a variety of strategies.

Standard 9: Students will understand that the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, which has two distinct formulations,
connects differentiation and integration.

Standard 10: Students will understand that the definite integral of a function over an interval is a mathematical tool with
many interpretations and applications involving accumulation.

Standard 11: Students will understand that antidifferentiation is an underlying concept involved in solving separable
differential equations. Solving separable differential equations involves determining a function or relation
given its rate of change.

Series
Students should be familiar with various methods for determining convergence and divergence of a series, Maclaurin
series for common functions, general Taylor series representations, radius and interval of convergence, and operations on
power series. The technique of using power series to approximate an arbitrary function near a specific value allows for an
important connection back to the tangent-line problem.

Standard 12: Students will understand that the sum of an infinite number of real numbers may converge.

Standard 13: Students will understand that a function can be represented by an associated power series over the interval
of convergence for the power series.

Unit Description of Unit and Learning Targets

Unit 1: Limits and Continuity Students will…….

Essential Questions: Learning Targets:

● Can change occur at an instant? ● Understand limit notation and can evaluate limits graphically,
● How does knowing the value of a numerically, and algebraically.
limit, or that one does not exist, help ● Understand definition of continuity and can remove
you make sense of interesting discontinuities.
features of functions and graphs? ● Interpret limits involving infinity, asymptotic behavior, and
using the squeeze theorem.
● Draw conclusions about a functions behavior on an interval
using Intermediate Value Theorem and Extreme Value
Theorem.

Unit 2: Differentiation: Definition and Students will...

Basic Derivative Rules
Learning Targets:
Essential Questions: ● Find average and instantaneous rates of change and evaluate
● How is the average rate of change the derivative of a function at a point.
related to instantaneous rate of ● Be able to write an equation of a line using a derivative.
change? ● Recognize alternate notations for derivatives and can use
● How are derivatives related to rules to compute basic derivatives.
continuity and the tangent line on a ● Connect limits to notions of continuity and differentiability of a
curve? function.
● Apply the product and quotient rules.

Unit 3: Differentiation: Composite, Students will...

Implicite, and Inverse functions.
Learning Targets:
Essential Questions: ● Be able to apply the chain rule.

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 ● How are derivatives used to analyze ● Compute derivatives of the remaining trigonometric functions.
the behavior of functions? ● Compute and use derivatives of implicitly defined function.
● How is implicit differentiation used in ● Calculate higher order derivatives and derivatives of inverse
finding derivatives? functions.

Unit 4: Contextual Applications of Students will...

Derivatives
Learning Targets:
Essential Questions: ● Interpret meaning of derivative in context
● How does velocity and acceleration ● Connect position, velocity (speed), and acceleration to the
relate to derivatives? appropriate derivative equation and apply in context.
● What does it mean when your limit is ● Solve related rates problems.
indeterminate? ● Understand the concept of local linearity and can use it to
● Why does the derivative of an construct a tangent line approximation.
indeterminate limit work to help find ● Use derivatives and L’Hopital’s Rule to evaluate Indeterminate
the limit? limits.

Unit 5: Analytic Applications of Students will...

Differentiation
Learning Targets:
Essential Questions: ● Draw conclusions about a functions behavior using the mean
● How can the derivative give us value theorem and extreme value theorem.
enough information to explain the ● Use the first and second derivative tests to determine
behavior of the original function? properties of functions.
● Sketch graphs of functions and their derivatives.
● Solve optimization problems.

Unit 6: Integration & Accumulation of Students will...

Change
Learning Targets:
Essential Questions: ● Use numerical approximation to find the area under a curve
● How are geometry area formulas (Trapezoidal Rule or Riemann Sums)..
used to estimate area using limits? ● Use Fundamental Theorem of Calculus to evaluate definite
● How do integrals relate to real world integrals.
applications involving area. ● Interpret behavior of accumulating function involving area
● What type of functions require a more under a curve.
advanced method to integrate? ● Find antiderivatives and indefinite integrals using basic rules
● Is there a function I will never be able and notation.
to integrate without technology? ● Integrate using advanced methods need when finding the
antiderivative from a chain rule (substitution, long division, and
completing the square)
● Recognize and use Advanced integration techniques
(integration by parts; linear partial fractions; improper
integrals).

Unit 7: Differential Equations Students will...

Essential Questions: Learning Targets:

● How do differential equations help ● Verify solutions of differential equations.
explain rates of change? ● Reason and work with slope fields.
● How are slope fields used to explain ● Find general and particular solutions using separation of
rates of change. variables.
● Understand the relationship between exponential models and
differential equations.
● Understand the relationship between logistic models and
differential equations.

Unit 8: Applications of Integration Students will...

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 Essential Questions: Learning Targets:
● How are volumes evaluated using ● Find the area between 2 curves expressed as functions of x or
integrals. y.
● How can definite integrals be used to ● Find the volume with cross sections involving geometric
solve accumulation functions. shaped slices.
● Find the volume using Disk or Washer method given a
function that revolves around any axis.
● Find the average value of a function on an interval.
● Use integrals
○ To connect position, velocity and acceleration.
○ In an applied context using the accumulating function
and definite integrals.
● Use integrals to find arc length and distance traveled on a
smooth curve.

Unit 9: Parametric Equations, Polar Students will...

Coordinates, and Vector-Valued Functions.
Learning Targets:
Essential Questions: ● Apply the following with parametric equations:
● How is motion analyzed using ○ Define and differentiate
parametric and vector equations? ○ Find the 2nd derivative
● How is slope and area measured in a ○ Find the length of curves
polar coordinate system? ● Apply the following with vector-valued functions:
○ Define and differentiate.
○ integrate
● Apply the following to Polar Form
○ Define and differentiate
○ integrate
● Solve motion problems using parametric and vector-valued
functions.
● Understand Polar Form and can find the area of a region
bounded by 1 or 2 polar curves.

Unit 10: Infinite Sequence and Series Students will...

Essential Questions: Learning Targets:

● What do values from sequences and ● Define convergent and divergent infinite series.
series tell me in application ● Apply all the tests to determine convergence or divergence:
situations? ○ Geometric
● In what situations would convergence ○ Nth term
be an important issue? ○ Integral test
○ P-series (Harmonic series)
○ Comparison tests
○ Alternating Series Test
○ Ratio Test
● Determine absolute or conditional convergence and find the
alternating series error bound.
● Find the Taylor Polynomial Approximations of functions and
apply the Lagrange Error Bound.
● Find the radius and interval of convergence of a power series.
● Find the Taylor or Maclaurin Series for a function.
● Represent functions as a power series.

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