Calculus AB course guide

Calculus is a fun course that beautifully unites many of the topics of previous mathematics courses to generate two new mathematical tools: the derivative and the anti-derivative. With these new tools we will be able to study and describe an impressive variety of mathematical and physical situations. This course prepares students to take the Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus AB exam, giving students the opportunity to test out of a semester of college-level calculus. For information about AP, including old exams, goals, and outlines, consult the AP links on the course webpage. The LHS Program of Studies describes the course as follows:

Prerequisite: Final grade of B in Hon Pre-Calculus
This is an introductory college-level course in differential and integral calculus including an introduction to limits and continuity, the derivative, applications of the derivative, the anti-derivative, calculation of integrals, and applications of integration. Analytic geometry of the conic sections is included, as is differential equation solution of first order separable equations. Applications are primarily to geometry and physics. The Advanced Placement Calculus AB exam is expected of all students in this course.

We will use the text Finney, Demana, Waits, Kennedy, Calculus: Graphical, Numerical, Algebraic. Since this course requires extensive graphing calculator problem solving, students will be required to have a good, modern graphing calculator. A TI-83 (or TI-83 Plus) is strongly recommended. If for any reason you are unable to acquire a calculator, the Math Department offers a TI-83 Loaner Program and we can loan you a calculator for the year. If you think you might be interested in borrowing a calculator, please contact me as soon as possible. Certain more computer-like calculators are not allowed during tests because they would give an unfair advantage. Here is the status of some popular calculator models; inquire if you need to know about any models not on this list.

	allowed	not allowed
for class tests	TI-82, TI-83, TI-84, TI-85, TI-86, HP-28, HP-38	TI-89, TI-92, HP-48, HP-95
for AP exam	TI-82, TI-83, TI-84, TI-85, TI-86, TI-89 HP-28, HP-38, HP-48	TI-92 HP-95

Some helpful information about TI graphing calculators can be found at http://education.ti.com/.

A solution manual containing detailed problem solutions will be available on reserve in the LHS library and the Math Help Room. Students may wish to purchase their own copy of the Student's Solution Manual directly from the publisher's website. The solution manual can be a powerful resource if used as an aid appropriately. However, consider this caveat from a previous student of this course before you purchase:

"This course was difficult for me b/c I did not feel prepared enough & I didn't know "what I was getting into." I think the homework would have been more useful if I did not own a solutions manual - it became my enemy!"

If I ever feel that you have violated this basic tenet I will ask you to briefly stay after class to discuss the issue. If necessary, I will ask you to stay after school (during Z block) to discuss the issue further. Such action will generally be followed by parental and administrative notification. Actions that I consider disrespectful include tardiness, belligerence, excessive talking, or any other inappropriate or childish action.

For all classes you should bring you calculator. I will occasionally ask you to bring you textbook as well. When I ask you to bring it, bring it.

Tests and major quizzes (80%). A Chapter test will be given at the end of each chapter and a major quiz may be given in the middle of any chapter. Major quizzes generally count as approximately half of a chapter test. You should anticipate a major quiz or test every couple of weeks. I generally do not allow retakes of tests. This policy will be further detailed in class at an appropriate time.

Homework (20%). The homework grade is composed of handed in homework, homework checks, and pop or small quizzes. You should expect some type of homework assessment each week. On a pop homework check, forgetting your homework is not an excuse.

The cumulative final exam in this class will count for 20% of the total final grade.

Whenver you are absent, it is your responsibility to find out what you have missed. I will provide reasonable support to help you catch up. If you are absent the day of a test you will be required to make arrangements to make up that test on the day your return. Failure to make up work in a responsible manner will displease me. If at all possible you should contact me ahead of time to make arrangements. I check email frequently and often that is the best way to inform me that you will be absent. My email address is below.

My office is located in room 713, the math department office area. The best way to contact me outside of class is to either email me at my school address: tkresser@sch.ci.lexington.ma.us or just drop by my office.

I generally keep very open and flexible office hours. I'll post a schedule of my free blocks in 816 early in the year. I encourage you to come see me whenever you are unclear about the homework or the lectures. This is a very challenging course; you do not want to get behind. I'd like to help you if you'll let me know you're struggling.