AP Calculus BC

Class Fri. 1/27 and Test Tue. 1/31

2012-01-27T12:12:00.001-05:00

We spend Friday's class on problems from past AP exams. If you were absent, you can get these problems from the AP site linked in the right column:

2005 AP Calculus BC problem 2 (polar curve)
2002 AP Calculus BC problem 3 (parametric roller-coaster)
2009 AP Calculus BC problem 3 (parametric diver)
2007 AP Calculus BC problem 3 (two polar curves)

On Tuesday we will have a test on Chapter 10 (parametric, vector, and polar functions).

HW due Fri. 1/27

2012-01-26T12:11:00.001-05:00

If you missed class, do 10.3 exercise 73 first. It contains the two curve length formulas we developed in class.

The homework is:

Find the total length of the polar curves from each of the 10.3 exercises 11-19 odd. Compute using both of the curve length formulas from class, and confirm that your answers agree.
10.3 exercises 67-70, 72, 74.

HW due Thu. 1/26

2012-01-25T12:28:00.002-05:00

10.3 exercises 39-42, 43-59 odd, 63, 64, 66.

Upcoming: Ch. 10 test on Tuesday 1/31.

HW due Wed. 1/25

2012-01-24T12:26:00.004-05:00

10.3 exercises 1-37 odd and 71.

HW due Tue. 1/24

2012-01-20T13:36:00.003-05:00

During Friday's class we worked on past AP exam problem 2004 BC3.

The homework is:

10.2 exercises 57, 59, 60, 61, 62.
Problem handout "Parametric equations and vector functions in 3-D"

HW due Fri. 1/20

2012-01-19T14:35:00.002-05:00

10.2 exercises 1-21 alternating odd, 27-49 odd, 57, 59, 60.

HW due Thu. 1/19

2012-01-18T14:36:00.002-05:00

10.1 exercises 1-33 odd, 35-40, 43, 50.

HW due Wed. 1/18

2012-01-17T09:23:00.000-05:00

Read "Normal Probabilities" on pp. 422-424.
Do 7.5 exercises 27-33 (all).

Class Fri. 1/13 and Test Tue. 1/17

2012-01-13T13:40:00.002-05:00

In class Friday, we did page 405 Exploration 2 and section 7.3 exercises 55-61 odd.

Tuesday 1/17 we’ll have a test on sections 7.2-7.4.

HW due Fri. 1/13

2012-01-11T09:15:00.001-05:00

7.4 exercises 1-21 odd, 22-24, 34, 37.

HW due Wed. 1/11

2012-01-10T08:26:00.000-05:00

7.3 exercise 33, 35-38, 44, 46, 47, 50, 51, 65-68, 70-73, 74a.

Upcoming: Test Tue. 1/17 on sections 7.2-7.4.

HW due Tue. 1/10

2012-01-06T13:31:00.004-05:00

7.3 exercises 11-31 odd, 45, 48, 49.

For those who were absent from Friday's class: Read section 7.3 except for the section "Cylindrical Shells" from p. 401 bottom to p. 403 middle. You will not need the cylindrical shells method to do this assignment. We will cover that method at our next class.

HW due Fri. 1/6

2012-01-05T06:36:00.000-05:00

7.3 exercises 1-10, 39-44.

HW due Thu. 1/5

2012-01-04T11:14:00.002-05:00

7.2 exercises 1-41 odd, 44, 47, 49, 56, 57. You must find at least half of the needed integrals analytically, may do the rest numerically using fnInt.

No HW due Wed. 1/4

2011-12-23T11:15:00.000-05:00

There's no homework over the vacation.

HW due Fri. 12/23

2011-12-22T11:14:00.000-05:00

Finish the computer lab from today's class, "Calculus using Wolfram Alpha."

No HW due Thu. 12/22

2011-12-21T12:49:00.001-05:00

There is no homework tonight. Remember to go to computer lab 700 for Thursday's class.

Class Tue. 12/20 and Test Wed. 12/21

2011-12-20T12:49:00.000-05:00

Tuesday in class we worked on two more past AP problems: 2002 #5 and 2002 (Form B) #5.

Wednesday’s test is on Chapter 6 (Integrals and Differential Equations).

HW due Tue. 12/20

2011-12-16T12:48:00.000-05:00

Finish this set of four problems from past AP exams, begun in class: 2004 (Form B) BC5, 2005 BC4, 2006 (Form B) BC5, 2007 (Form B) BC5.

HW due Fri. 12/16

2011-12-15T11:11:00.001-05:00

6.5 exercises 23-35 odd, 36, 41, 44, and pick one of {45, 47}.

Upcoming: Chapter 6 Test on Wed. 12/21. Computer lab in room 700 on Thu. 12/22.

HW due Thu. 12/15

2011-12-14T10:56:00.001-05:00

6.5 exercises 1-21 odd, 43
6.2 exercises 81-84
6.5 exercise 46

HW due Wed. 12/14

2011-12-13T11:02:00.001-05:00

6.4 exercises 1, 3-11, 13, 31, 32, 41-43.

HW due Tue. 12/13

2011-12-09T15:01:00.001-05:00

6.3 exercises 1-19 odd, 25, 27, 29-32, 34, 35, 41, 43, 47, 51-54.

HW due Fri. 12/9

2011-12-08T17:13:00.002-05:00

6.2 exercises 39-65 odd, 67-69, 77, 79, 80; optional: 81-84.

HW due Thu. 12/8

2011-12-07T15:00:00.000-05:00

6.2 exercises 1-37 odd.

HW due Wed. 12/7

2011-12-06T12:05:00.001-05:00

6.1 exercises 25-32, 35-40, 41-49 odd, 50, 52, 55, 57, 62, 64.

Also, try at least one of the available slope field generator programs: web site linked from the right column of this site, and/or the calculator program distributed in class.

HW due Tue. 12/6

2011-12-02T00:00:00.000-05:00

Read pp. 321-322 and do 6.1 exercises 1-19 odd, 21-24.

Class Thu. 12/1 and Test Fri. 12/2

2011-12-01T00:00:00.000-05:00

In class Thursday, we did 5.4 exercises 9-20.
Friday there will be a test on Chapter 5 (except skipped parts of 5.1 and 5.5) plus section 7.1.

HW due Thu. 12/1

2011-11-30T11:30:00.001-05:00

5.5 exercises 1, 3, 5, 7, 9-12, 30, 33, 35, 36.
7.1 exercises 27, 34.

Upcoming: Test Friday on Chapter 5 (except skipped parts of 5.1 and 5.5) plus section 7.1.

HW due Wed. 11/30

2011-11-29T12:19:00.001-05:00

7.1 exercises 1, 3, 4, 9-24, 28, 33, 35, 36. If any needed definite integral value cannot be found analytically, use fnInt on your calculator.

Class work Wed. 11/23

2011-11-23T10:55:00.001-05:00

We did these problems in class on Wednesday: 5.4 exercises 57, 58, and 59; AP 1999 BC 5. If you didn’t already finish these problems, finish as homework due Tuesday 11/29.

Upcoming: Test Friday 12/2 on Chapter 5 plus section 7.1.

HW due Wed. 11/23

2011-11-22T12:14:00.001-05:00

5.3 exercises 19-29 odd, 31-36.
5.4 exercises 27-47 odd, 63, 64.

HW due Tue. 11/22

2011-11-18T13:29:00.001-05:00

5.3 exercises 1-13 odd, also 8, 15-18, 37-42, 47-50.
5.4 exercises 1-7 odd.

HW due Fri. 11/18

2011-11-17T08:35:00.001-05:00

5.2 exercises 1, 3, 5, 11-29 odd, 33, 35, 37, 39, 47-56.

HW due Thu. 11/17

2011-11-16T09:03:00.001-05:00

Get the Rectangle Approximation program (from class handout) into your calculator. Use it to repeat the rectangle approximations from class, using 100 rectangles instead of 4 rectangles.
Read section 5.1 but may skip the part about volume.
5.1 exercises 1-8, 9-12 (using calculator program), 15, 17, 19.

HW due and Quiz on Wed. 11/16

2011-11-15T12:17:00.001-05:00

Finish these problems begun in class on Tuesday: 4.6 exercises 28, 30, 31, 33, 34, 39, and 41-45.

We'll begin class Wed. 11/16 with a one-problem quiz on 4.6 (related rate problems).

HW due Tue. 11/15

2011-11-10T11:56:00.003-05:00

The homework is 4.6 exercises 11, 13, 15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23a, 25, 27.

We'll begin class Wed. 11/16 with a one-problem quiz on 4.6 (related rate problems).

HW due Thu. 11/10

2011-11-09T11:01:00.000-05:00

Read section 4.6 on related rate problems, and do 4.6 exercises 1, 3, 5, 6, 8, and 9.

Test Wed. 11/9

2011-11-08T10:53:00.000-05:00

Test on sections 4.1-4.5 and 8.1.

HW due Tue. 11/8

2011-11-04T00:00:00.000-04:00

8.2 exercises 33-47 (all)

Upcoming: Test Wed. 11/9 on sections 4.1-4.5 and 8.2.

HW due Fri. 11/4

2011-11-03T12:00:00.002-04:00

We jumped ahead to Chapter 8 to cover L’Hopital’s Rule. The homework is 8.2 exercises 1-16, 27-29, 32, 49, 53, 55, 60, 69.

Upcoming: Test Wed. 11/9 on sections 4.1-4.5 and 8.2.

HW due Thu. 11/3

2011-11-02T21:11:00.001-04:00

4.5 exercises 35-44, 46-53. (We worked on 35, 41, and 49 in class already.) Change from differential notation to delta notation where needed (for example, change every dx to delta-x).

HW due Wed. 11/2 (originally due Tue. 11/1)

2011-10-28T04:44:00.003-04:00

In the packet "3.9 Linear Approximations and the Derivative," do exercises 1-17.

HW due Fri. 10/28

2011-10-27T08:49:00.002-04:00

4.4 exercises 31, 33, 35, 36, 37, 39, 41, 46, 47, and 48.

HW due Thu. 10/27

2011-10-26T11:22:00.002-04:00

4.4 exercises 1, 5, 7, 9, 15, 17, 20, 22, 26, 27, 30.

Make sure you bring your textbooks to class tomorrow.

Class Tue. 10/25 and HW due Wed. 10/26

2011-10-25T12:30:00.000-04:00

Read section 4.2 then do 4.2 exercises 3, 5, 9, 11, 15-37 odd, 45, 47, 48, 50, 62.

HW due Tue. 10/25

2011-10-21T13:32:00.001-04:00

4.3 exercises 5-21 odd, 22, 25, 27, 29, 30, 33, 36, 37, 39, 41-48, 49, 51, 53.

Please remember to bring your books to class on Tuesday.

HW due Fri. 10/21

2011-10-20T11:45:00.002-04:00

4.1 exercises 19-29 odd, 33, 37, 41, 43, 51-54.
Read section 4.3 to mid-p. 207.
4.3 exercises 1-4, 23, 24.

HW due Thu. 10/20

2011-10-19T13:25:00.001-04:00

Read section 4.1 carefully, then do exercises 1-17 odd.

Class Tue. 10/18 and Test Wed. 10/19

2011-10-18T12:25:00.002-04:00

In class Tuesday we worked on these additional problems on implicit differentiation: 3.7 exercises 49, 50, 51, 53, 57, 58.

Wednesday there will be an end-of-chapter test covering sections 3.5-3.9.

HW due Tue. 10/18

2011-10-14T11:33:00.002-04:00

3.9 exercises 43-48
Extra problems 1-3 on today's handout.

Upcoming: Test Wed. 10/19 on sections 3.5-3.9.

HW due Fri. 10/14

2011-10-13T02:15:00.000-04:00

3.9 exercises 1-33 odd, 49-51, 53-55, 64.

Upcoming: Test Wed. 10/19 on sections 3.5-3.9.

HW due Thu. 10/13

2011-10-12T11:20:00.001-04:00

Do page 166 exploration 1.
Calculate the derivatives of the inverse cosine, inverse cotangent, and inverse cosecant functions.
Do 3.8 exercises 1-27 odd, 28, 29, 31, 47-49.

HW due Wed. 10/12

2011-10-11T11:11:00.000-04:00

3.7 exercises 1-43 odd.

Class work Thu. 10/6

2011-10-06T09:59:00.002-04:00

You had our class period Thursday to work on 3.6 exercises 58-69. If you did not finish, do so Thursday night or Friday so that you will not have homework on the holiday weekend.

HW due Thu. 10/6

2011-10-05T13:33:00.001-04:00

3.6 exercises 21-49 odd, 50-56.

HW due Wed. 10/5

2011-10-04T12:21:00.000-04:00

Read pages 148-150 about the Chain Rule (derivative formula for composites), then do 3.6 exercises 1-19 odd.

HW due and Test on Tue. 10/4

2011-09-30T00:00:00.000-04:00

Finish whatever you have remaining of this assignment from Friday’s class: 3.5 exercises 1-23 odd, 27-39 odd, 40-43.
Test Tuesday on sections 3.1-3.5.

new URL for my top-level page

2011-09-29T14:57:00.000-04:00

If you're ever looking for my top-level page, its URL has been changed. Here's the new URL: http://lhsteacher.lexingtonma.org/kelly/

No HW due Fri. 9/30

2011-09-28T00:00:00.000-04:00

There is no homework due to the religious holiday, but if weren’t in class on Wednesday, you missed doing 3.5 exercises 24-26 and 51.

HW due Wed. 9/28

2011-09-27T11:50:00.002-04:00

Finish this assignment begun in class: 3.4 exercises 1, 3, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 18, 19-31 odd, 32-38 even, 47, 49.

Upcoming: Test Tuesday 10/4 on sections 3.1-3.5.

HW due Tue. 9/27

2011-09-23T00:01:00.000-04:00

3.3 exercises 33-43 odd, 44-47, 49, 51, 55-58.

HW due Fri. 9/23

2011-09-22T09:39:00.002-04:00

3.3 exercises 1-31 odd

HW due Thu. 9/22

2011-09-21T11:35:00.000-04:00

3.2 exercises 1-35 odd, 36-39. Do not use the calculator nDeriv command before exercise 27.

HW due Wed. 9/21

2011-09-20T11:32:00.003-04:00

3.1 exercises 18, 20-27, 29-32, 42, 44.

HW due Tue. 9/20

2011-09-16T05:54:00.000-04:00

Read section 3.1, then do exercises 1-11 odd and 13-17.

Test Fri. 9/16

2011-09-14T11:10:00.000-04:00

Test on Chapter 2.

Class Wed. 9/14

2011-09-14T00:00:00.000-04:00

Today's class activity is a spreadsheet lab called "Bicycle Rides." Here are all the files you will need for the lab. You will be able to finish most or all of this lab during the class period, but whatever work remains should be done as homework.

HW due Wed. 9/14

2011-09-13T11:20:00.005-04:00

2.4 exercises 1-31 odd.

Upcoming: Wednesday we'll have a computer lab in room 700. Friday we’ll have our test on Chapter 2.

HW due Tue. 9/13

2011-09-09T10:59:00.002-04:00

2.3 exercises 1, 5, 9, 11, 14, 15, 17, 19, 23-33 odd, 37, 41-44, 47, 49, 51, 54, 59-62, 64.

HW due Fri. 9/9

2011-09-08T07:05:00.001-04:00

2.2 exercises 3, 5, 9-12, 13-33 alt. odd, 35-38, 39-47 odd, 49-52 all (ignore directions, just use the 1/x substitution technique), 53, 55, 58, 63, 65-71.

HW due Wed. 9/7

2011-09-06T04:35:00.000-04:00

2.1 exercises 1-4, 5-33 alt. odd, 35-42, 49-57 odd, 63, 64, 71, 73.

First week of school

2011-08-31T21:01:00.000-04:00

During our first two classes on Wed. 8/31 and Thu. 9/1, our class got acquainted and began to discuss what calculus is. In particular, we examined the notions of average rate of change and instantaneous rate of change, and how these concepts are related using limits.

There will not be any mathematical homework until after Labor Day Weekend. However, there are the following tasks to complete this week:

Get the usual school supplies needed for any math class.
Send me an e-mail introducing yourself. (See class handout for details.)
Be ready to receive e-mail that's sent to your FirstClass account. (See class handout for two ways to do this.)
Read the Course Guide.

About college recommendations

2011-06-14T06:53:00.001-04:00

If you are in the Class of 2012 and want me to write one of your college recommendations, see this information page on recommendations. The first step is to complete a brief survey and give it to me by June 22. Next, bookmark that page and return to it in September for instructions about what you'll need to do in the fall. If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail me over the summer.

Project due Tue. 6/21

2011-06-09T06:51:00.000-04:00

The class is working in groups on another pair of projects from Contemporary Calculus (8.7 and 8.9). On Tue. 6/21 each group will present its project work to the rest of the class.

Project due Thu. 6/9

2011-06-01T00:50:00.001-04:00

The class is working in two groups on projects from the Contemporary Calculus (projects 8.2 and 8.5 were chosen). All class time and homework time from Tue. 5/31 to Wed. 6/8 will be put into working on these projects. On Thu. 6/9 each group will present its project work to the rest of the class.

No HW due Fri. 5/27 or Tue. 5/31

2011-05-26T00:46:00.002-04:00

There's no homework due either of these days. Friday in class we'll select the group projects that we'll begin on Tue. 5/31.

Final Exam Wed. 5/25 and Thu. 5/26

2011-05-24T00:45:00.001-04:00

The final exam will be given in two parts: free response on Wed. 5/25, multiple choice on Thu. 5/26.

no HW due Tue. 5/24

2011-05-20T08:21:00.000-04:00

There's no homework this weekend. The final exam is upcoming on Wed. 5/25 and Thu 5/26.

Test Fri. 5/20

2011-05-19T00:01:00.000-04:00

Test on multivariable calculus unit (handout sections 13.1/3/4/6/8/9).

HW due Thu. 5/19 and Class work on Thu. 5/19

2011-05-18T00:01:00.003-04:00

In handout packet "13.9 Applications of Extrema..." do problems 1, 3, 5, 9, 10, 14, 15, 19, 21, 22. [You can save the last three problems for during class on Thursday.]

HW due Wed. 5/18

2011-05-17T10:57:00.000-04:00

In handout section "13.8 Extrema of Functions of Two Variables," problems 1-13 odd, 21, 23, 26, 31, 33, 41, 42, 45, 46, 47.

HW due Tue. 5/17

2011-05-13T13:21:00.000-04:00

In the handout section "13.6 Directional derivatives and gradients": read the rest of the section, and do exercises 44-52, 55-63 odd, 64, 73.

Upcoming: Test Fri. 5/20 on multivariable calculus.

HW due Fri. 5/13

2011-05-11T04:52:00.001-04:00

There's no class on Thursday. Homework due Friday is: in handout section "13.6 Directional derivatives and gradients," read through mid-page 935, and do exercises 1-8, 13-18, 21-24, 27, 28, 39, 40a, 41a, 42a, 43a.

HW due Wed. 5/11

2011-05-11T04:51:00.001-04:00

The homework is selected problems from handout section 13.4, as listed in the packet (see the insert page immediately before the 13.4 exercises).

HW due Tue. 5/10

2011-05-06T00:02:00.000-04:00

In the handout section "13.3 Partial Derivatives," do exercises 1-4, 5-29 odd, 35, 37-40, 45, 47, 90, 91.

HW due Fri. 5/6

2011-05-05T00:01:00.000-04:00

In the handout section "13.1 Introduction to Functions of Several Variables," do exercises 31, 33, 35, 37, 43 (skip confirming), 45-48, 49-59 odd, 63-66.

HW for 4/30 - 5/5

2011-04-29T08:17:00.001-04:00

Your only homework for this interval is to study for the AP exam, which is on Wednesday 5/4 at 7:30 a.m. (Provided you are taking the exam, you will not have class on Wednesday.)

Optionally, if you're looking for some further free-response problems to try, see the 2010 Form B problems on the AP site. We haven't done any of the problems from that set.

HW due Fri. 4/29

2011-04-28T08:16:00.000-04:00

Tonight’s homework is to finish the set of 6 free response problems from the 2010 AP Calculus BC exam, which we began in class.
Friday's class will be an open question-and-answer session. Please bring at least one good question to ask, related to anything in the AP curriculum.

HW due Thu. 4/28

2011-04-27T08:16:00.002-04:00

Tonight’s homework is to finish this set of past AP problems begun in class, which focus on finding lengths, areas, and volumes in parametric, polar, and rectangular forms: 2009 BC3, 2009 (Form B) BC 4, 2005 (Form B) BC 6, 2008 (Form B) BC1, 1996 BC6, and 2007 BC1. (You can get all of these except the 1996 from the official AP site.)

HW due Wed. 4/27

2011-04-26T11:21:00.002-04:00

Tonight’s homework is to finish this set of past AP problems begun in class, which focus on (1) key theorems about functions and derivatives; (2) integrating rates to find net changes: 2007 AB 3, 2005 BC 3, 2006 BC 2, 2007 BC 2, 2005 BC 5.

No HW due Tue. 4/26

2011-04-15T06:00:00.000-04:00

There's no homework over the vacation, but in case you wish to try a second full AP exam for additional practice, I am handing out the entire 2003 AP Calculus BC exam.

HW due Fri. 4/15

2011-04-14T05:58:00.000-04:00

In the handout "11.10 Second-order differential equations: oscillations" do problems 1-11 odd and 13-23 (all).

HW due Thu. 4/14

2011-04-13T05:57:00.000-04:00

In the handout packet "11.6 Applications and Modeling" do problems 1, 4-8, 12-14, 21-24.

HW due Wed. 4/13

2011-04-12T07:59:00.000-04:00

Finish the set of past AP problems focused on solving differential equations: 2006 (Form B) BC 5, 2006 AB 5, 2006 BC 5,2007 (Form B) BC 5, 2007 (Form B) AB 5.

HW due Tue. 4/12

2011-04-08T09:58:00.001-04:00

Finish this set of past AP problems begun in class, which focus on rates, related rates, and linear approximations: 2007 BC5, 2007 (Form B) BC3, 1991 AB6, 2009 (Form B) AB1, 2008 (Form B) BC2, and and 1996 AB6. [All except the 199x problems may be downloaded from the official AP site linked in the right column. You'll need to get those ones from me on paper.]

Starting next week, several of our class periods will begin with a single problem from a past AP exam taken as a quiz.

HW due Fri. 4/8

2011-04-07T11:17:00.001-04:00

Do these problems from past AP exams, focusing on derivatives and extrema: 2007 AB6, 2007 (Form B) BC4, 2008 (Form B) BC5, and 2009 (Form B) BC5.

Starting next week, several of our class periods will begin with a single problem from a past AP exam taken as a quiz.

HW due Thu. 4/7

2011-04-06T13:28:00.000-04:00

Spend your homework time tonight reviewing the one topic from the year that you need to review most.
Bring your completed practice AP exam to class Thursday for scoring.

HW due / classes on Tue. 4/5 and Wed. 4/6

2011-04-01T14:05:00.000-04:00

Over two homework assignments plus two class periods, you will complete the entire 2008 AP Calculus BC exam as a practice exam. See the class handout for the expected timetable for completing the work. The whole exam should be finished by the end of class on Wednesday 4/6.

Class Thu. 3/31 and Test Fri. 4/1

2011-03-31T13:11:00.000-04:00

During Thursday's class we worked on past AP exam problems 2005 (Form B) BC3, 2007 (Form B) BC6, and 2008 (Form B) BC6. These can be downloaded from the AP site.

Friday 4/1, we will have our end-of-unit test on series (Chapter 9, plus section 8.3, plus handout packets 10.3-10.4).