VHS Catalog 12-13


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Course Title:
Calculus Honors Section AD: An Introduction
Course Code:
nitrocal
MA NCES Code:
02110
Discipline:
Mathematics
Grade Level:
07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12
Level:
Honors, Pre-AP
Offering:
Repeated Semester (Fall: 25 Seats; Spring: 25 Seats; )
Duration:
15 weeks
Prerequisites:
Geometry, Algebra 2, Trigonometry, access to a graphing calculator and experience using it.
Additional Requirements:
Accredited by:
Certified by NCAA for initial-eligibility (VHS School Code: 221356); Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools; Northwest Accreditation Commission
Course Requires a Media Kit to be Shipped to Students:
No
Course Requires a Media Kit to be Purchased by Course Sponsor
(see additional details below):

No
Description:
Note: This course is intended to teach and reinforce crucial academic skills to help students strengthen their background in the subject area prior to taking an advanced level course.

Math is HOT! One of the most popular movies of 1998,"Good Will Hunting," was a story about a math nerd who solves the problem and gets the girl. Wall Street relies on complicated formulas from calculus to predict trends and forecast the likelihood of financial success based on many factors. Books about mathematics and numbers are flying off the shelves at bookstores across the country. A major fragrance manufacturer is busy developing a fragrance for men called "pi." What could explain this mysterious phenomenon? According to National Public Radio, smart is in and so is the study of mathematics.

Introduction to Calculus is designed for students interested in college mathematics and particularly those who can't commit to a full year of study during their senior year. This semester-long course will cover limits, continuity, derivatives and their applications. We will examine the finer points of calculus and look at its specific applications to business and finance along the way.

**Please Note: This course may not be appropriate for students with specific accessibility limitations as written. Please refer to the VHS Handbook policy on Special Education/Equity for more information on possible modifications. If you need additional assistance, please let us know at service.goVHS.org.

*This course may be appropriate for Gifted and Talented middle school students that meet all course prerequisites.*


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MediaKit Contents:

Syllabus:
Week 1: Fundamental Skills for Calculus
Getting to know each other, recall some math skills learned in previous courses, and get familiar with the course.

Week 2: A review of functions.
Get to know each other and to review.

Week 3: An introduction to limits.
Explore the concept of limits.

Week 4: Continuity
A look at the definition, properties, and geometric representation of functions that are continuous and discontinuous.

Week 5: Secants and tangents and lines, oh my.
A look at one interpretation of the derivative of a function at a point.

Week 6: Exponents, Radicals and the Power Rule.
Rules for solving exponents and finding the derivatives by Power rule.

Week 7: Reversing exponential Functions.
Simplification of logarithms, exponents and their derivatives, finding inverses.

Week 8: Driving Your Quad Over The Line.
Solving Quadratic Equations and finding the derivative of polynomials using sum and difference rules.

Week 9: Factors And The Product Rule.
Chain rule and Product rule for finding the derivatives, solving Quadratics by Factorization.

Week 10: Use Your DQ Derivative Quotient
Rational functions and introduction of Quotient rule for finding their derivatives.

Week 11: Trig Functions And Their Derivatives.
Guide to trigonometric functions and finding their derivatives.

Week 12: Good Golly Geometry
Step into Geometry with areas, volumes and more of derivatives.

Week 13: Rates Of Change
More about derivatives and their applications in finding rates of change.

Week 14: Other Uses Of Derivatives
Cost, revenue and profit analysis, just some of the applications od derivatives to business and economics.

Week 15: Wrapping it Up
Final exam, final thoughts about the course.


Course Objectives:
This course follows the Topical Outline and objectives of the College Board as described for the first semester of Calculus AB.
A complete listing is available online at www.collegeboard.org.

Students will:
analyze graphs geometrically and analytically
estimate and calculate limits of functions
describe asymptotic behavior in terms of limits involving infinity
determine continuity geometrically and in terms of limits
compute the derivative at a point
describe and analyze rates of change
compute the derivative of a function
analyze the derivatives of trigonometric functions
apply the derivative to optimization, related rates, and marginals
interpret the derivative as a rate of change
compute the derivative through a variety of methods



This catalog description was last modified on 05/23/2012


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