Teaching Strategies

Applications
Chinese students, who are the main audience at the location of my school, have built a strong
foundation in algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and pre-calculus at this stage of their education.
They experience little to almost no difficulty in understanding mathematical concepts. A second
textbook is added to provide students with more real-life applications which are commonly
ignored in local curriculum.

Calculator
My students use Casio fx-9750GII.

References
Major textbook
Ron, Larson. Bruce, H. Edwards. Calculus of a Single Variable: Early Transcendental Functions,
5ed. Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning, 2011.

Other textbook
Bill, Armstrong. Don, Davis. Brief Calculus, Solving Problems in Business, Economics, and the
Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2ed. Pearson Education Asia Limited, 2003.

AP Calculus AB Course Outline

Chapter 1 Preparation for Calculus
(September Week 1&2&3)
Presenting a function verbally, numerically, analytically, and graphically
Intercepts and symmetry of a graph
Introduction to mathematical models
Average rates of change
Essential functions: linear functions, polynomials, power functions, rational functions,
algebraic functions, trigonometric functions, exponential functions, logarithmic
functions, and inverse trigonometric functions
Concepts related to a function: symmetry, odd and even functions, combinations of
functions, composite functions and inverse functions
The use of a graphing calculator 1: graphing functions

Chapter 2 Limits and Their Properties

(September Week 4 October Week 1&2)

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Comparison of problem solving between without calculus and with calculus

Introducing the tangent line problem
Introducing the area problem
Understanding limits from a numerical table
Understanding limits from a graph
Evaluating limits analytically
Basic limits
Limit of a polynomial
Limit of a rational function
Limit of a composite function
Limit of transcendental function
Strategies for evaluating limits: dividing out technique, rationalizing technique, the
squeeze theorem, and limits involving trigonometric functions
One-sided limits
Understanding continuity from a graph
Different types of discontinuity from a graph
Formal definition of continuity
Properties of continuity
The intermediate value theorem
Understanding infinite limits from a graph
Vertical asymptotes
Properties of infinite limits
Term Test 1

Chapter 3 Differentiation
(October Week 3&4 November Week 1&2)

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Approaching the slope from a graph

Approaching the slope as a limit
Calculating the derivative from the definition as a limit
Understanding of differentiability intuitively from a graph
Understanding differentiability formally as a limit
Differentiation rules
Derivative of a constant function
The power rule
The constant multiple rule
The sum rule
The difference rule
The product rule
The quotient rule
Derivative of exponential functions
Derivative of logarithmic functions

10. Derivative of trigonometric functions

11. Derivative of inverse trigonometric functions
12. The chain rule
Implicit and explicit relations
Implicit differentiation
Derivatives of inverse functions
Related rates
Newtons method
The use of a graphing calculator 2: finding derivatives

Chapter 4 Applications of Differentiation

(November Week 3&4 December Week 1)

1.
2.
3.

1.
2.
3.

Absolute maximum and absolute minimum

Relative maximum and relative minimum
Critical numbers
Rolles theorem
The mean value theorem
Increasing and decreasing functions
The first derivative test
Concavity and points of inflection
The second derivative test
Ending behavior of a function
Limits at infinity
Infinite limits at infinity
Horizontal asymptotes
Curve sketching and graph analyzing
Solving problems involving optimization
Differentials
Tangent line approximations
Error propagation
Calculating differentials
Term Test 2

Chapter 5 Integration
(December Week 2&3&4 January Week 1)

Antiderivatives
Basic integration rules
Initial conditions and particular solutions
Approximating the area of a plane region
Upper and lower sums
Riemann sums
Definite integrals

Properties of definite integrals

The fundamental theorem of calculus
The mean value theorem for integrals
Average value of a function
The second fundamental theorem of calculus
Net change theorem
Integration by substitution
The trapezoidal rule
Simpsons rule
Integration involving logarithmic functions
Integration of trigonometric functions
Integration involving inverse trigonometric functions
The use of a graphing calculator 3: calculating integrals

Chapter 6 Differential Equations

(January Week 2&3)

General and particular solutions

Slope fields
Eulers method
Introducing differential equations
Population growth and decay
Separation of variables
Homogeneous differential equations
Applications: wildlife population, finding orthogonal trajectories, modeling advertising
awareness, modeling a chemical reaction, modeling population growth, and modeling
hybrid selection
Logistic differential equation
First-order linear differential equations
Bernoulli equation
Term Test 3

Chapter 7 Applications of Integration

(January Week 4 February 1&2)

1.
2.
3.
4.

Calculating the area between two curves

Integration as an accumulation process
Finding volumes
The disk method
The washer method
Solids with known cross sections
The shell method
Arc length

Area of a surface of revolution

Work done by a constant force
Work done by a variable force
Mass
Center of mass

Chinese New Year Holiday

(February Week 3&4)
Chapter 8 Integration Techniques, LHopitals Rule, and Improper Integrals
(March)

1.
2.
3.

1.
2.

Review of basic integration rules

Integration by parts
Tabular method
Trigonometric integrals
Powers of sine and cosine
Powers of secant and tangent
Sine-cosine products with different angles
Trigonometric substitution
Partial fractions
Integration by tables
Reduction formulas
Rational functions of sine and cosine
Indeterminate forms
0/0
/

3. 0
1
4.
5. 00

6.
LHopitals Rule
Improper integrals
Term Test 4

Study Month for the AP Exam (April)

Projects
(May Week 3&4 June Week 1&2) (After the AP Exam)
Selected projects from Brief Calculus, Solving Problems in Business, Economics, and
Social and Behavioral Sciences

 Course Examination