MA 550:  AP Calculus AB  7^th hour
MA 575:  AP Calculus BC  3^rd hour
Course Syllabus
2012-13

Instructor:  Mr. Steven Krause     Phone: (414) 461-6000 ext 276
Texts:
    AB:    Single Variable Calculus: Early Transcendentals, 7th Edition  by James Stewart
    BC:    Calculus: Early Transcendentals, 7th Edition  by James Stewart
Required Materials:  Textbook, notebook, pocket folder, pencil, calculator.

Prerequisite:
You should have earned at least a B- in either MA 360 (Acc Adv Alg Trig) or in MA 410 (Precalculus) if you are in Calc AB. Likewise, you should have earned at least a B- in Calc AB if you are in Calc BC.

Note:  A scientific graphing calculator with trigonometric, exponential, and logarithmic functions is the minimum required.  The TI-83’s and TI-84’s are the recommended calculators for this class as we have this model for overhead demonstrations.  TI-92 calculators are not allowed for the AP Calculus test and are therefore not acceptable for this class either.  At this time we also prohibit the use of the TI-89. Other manufacturers are available, but knowledge of their use is up to the individual student and the instructor cannot assume support for their use. Computer Algebra Systems are not allowed.

General Course Expectations:
    This class is an upper division math course. It is a foundation to required collegiate math courses for vocations with high technical math skills. AB Calculus is equivalent to the first semester of a typical college calculus sequence, while BC Calculus is equivalent to the first two semesters. We expect students who enroll in this class to be self-motivated to work through some challenging mathematical ideas. We expect you to complete all problems assigned.

Grading Scale:

		100-93	A	92-90	A-
89-87	B+	86-83	B	82-80	B-
79-77	C+	76-73	C	72-70	C-
69-67	D+	66-63	D	62-60	D-
		59-0	F

Redo Policy: 
    You determine your grade by the number of points you earn. These will come from tests (on unit material as well as a comprehensive semester exam), quizzes, and worksheets. Practice problems from the book will not be directly graded and is not counted in the final grade. Quizzes may be retaken once within three days of the original quiz. A check of practice problems and a corrective are mandatory for retaking any quiz. You cannot redo unit or semester exams. Use assignments for their intended purpose. They are a measure of your knowledge and a place to learn from mistakes. Copying of someone else's work will do little to help you pass the unit tests.

Absences: 
    Every unit will begin with a calendar showing what section of the book will be covered on a particular day as well as what problems will be assigned from that section. Each unit is typically two to three weeks in length. If you have an excused absence, the responsibility still rests on you shoulders for making up the required work. If you are absent the day of a quiz or test, you are expected to take that quiz or test on the day of your return. The unit calendar is also available on the school’s website:

Electronic Grading:  
   Daily work will be posted within 2 or 3 days. Quizzes and tests will be posted within 1 week.

The Advanced Placement Exam
    There are two different exams that the College Board provides for advanced placement. They are referred to as AB and BC. You have many factors to sift through as you decide whether you will attempt the exam. First is the expense. The test costs roughly $90 to take, with no assurance except for your effort that it will provide any benefit to you. My argument against this obstacle is that the median tuition for taking a 3 credit class in college is $750. If you pass and your college provides you with advanced placement and credit, you will realize savings of $525 to your tuition bill. Check with your prospective colleges as to their policy for Advanced Placement credits.
    Some people worry that the test is too hard. The College Board provides a service to all the colleges and universities that when they say a person is qualified for advanced placement, their word is reliable. You will not earn advanced placement by coasting through this year. Consider yourself to have already started college. We will see many new ideas that will challenge your abilities. It is my experience that the test is fair and not purposely difficult. The College Board grades the test on a 5 point scale where scores of 3 or better generally qualify for advanced placement. To receive a 3 one must generally earn a 50% raw score.

AP Calculus Content
    The College Board determines the content of the classes. It is similar to the content of calculus offered by colleges and universities, although there is a wide variety in the way different schools will approach the subject. AP Calculus is increasingly adopting the techniques and methods of the “Calculus Reform” movement with its emphasis on multiple representations of ideas -- and the incorporation of technology.  (Graphing Calculators!)
    Calculus in college is usually a sequence of three semesters. You have the advantage of having the entire high school year to master the same material your friends from last year's senior class will have to master in one college semester. What we have to know by May, they have to know by December (except for BC). Communicate your pity if you have a chance to see them. 
    Our goal is to finish the course by mid-April. We will use the next weeks for a review before the exam. The end of the year is spent in preparation for the final exam.

Date of the EXAM:    8AM Wednesday, May 8, 2013.

More information on test dates for AP can be found at the link below.

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/cal.html

AB & BC Calculus Topics
Limits of Functions and Continuity of Functions of a Real Variable
Instantaneous Rate of Change and the Derived Function
Computational Rules for Derivatives
Applications of Differentiation
    Extreme Values of a Function
    Optimization
    Differential Estimation
    Related Rates        (AB First Semester)
Antiderivatives and Indefinite Integration
Riemann Sums and Area Under a Curve
Fundamental Theorems of Calculus
Applications of Integration
    Geometry Extensions of Area, Volume and Length
    Work
Integration Techniques        (BC First Semester & AB Second Semester)
Infinite Sequences and Series
Calculus of Parametric Equations
Calculus in Polar Coordinates
Calculus of Vector Valued Functions (BC Second Semester)

Web Resources

I.  www.mymlhs.org     You can retrieve from this webpage-
Family grade book access! Follow the link from the "Family Access" button.
Scanned copies of test reviews!
A copy of the chapter schedule!

II.  www.stewartcalculus.com

III. www.cengagebrain.com

IV.  www.wolframalpha.com

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