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AP Calculus BC

Advanced Calculus: From Series to Vectors

Extends Calculus AB to include sequences, series, and polar coordinates.

Academic Level

College-Level

Subject Area

Math & CS

Course Rigor

Advanced

Governed By

College Board

Course Overview

What You Will Learn

Mastery of derivatives, integrals, and power series for complex and parametric functions.

Course Overview

Why Choose This AP Course

The most advanced high school math course, providing significant college credit and engineering prep.

Critical Thinking

Technical Skills

Problem Solving

Academic Growth

Colaboration

Career Readiness

Prerequisites

Deductive Reasoning

Proof-based thinking

Required

Precalculus

Foundational math

Required

Grit

Handling complex problem sets

Recommended

AP Calculus AB

Covers first 8 units

Recommended
Key Learning Outcomes

Analyze polar functions

Use Taylor and Maclaurin series

Evaluate vector functions

Understand limits and continuity

Solve complex derivatives

Apply advanced integration

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Course Framework

Structure & Assessment

Units 1–10 covering AB topics plus BC topics

1

45 multiple-choice questions (105 mins)

2

6 free-response questions (90 mins)

3

High computational intensity

4

Duration

Full academic year

Scoring

AP scale 1–5

Grading Basis

Calculator and Non-calculator sections

Strategies for Success

Syllabus

You'll start to explore how limits will allow you to solve problems involving change and to better understand mathematical reasoning about functions.

Unit 1

Limits and Continuity

You'll explore convergence and divergence behaviors of infinite series and learn how to represent familiar functions as infinite series. You'll also learn how to determine the largest possible error associated with certain approximations involving series.

Unit 10

Infinite Sequences and Series

You'll apply limits to define the derivative, become skillful at determining derivatives, and continue to develop mathematical reasoning skills.

Unit 2

Differentiation: Definition and Fundamental Properties

You'll master using the chain rule, develop new differentiation techniques, and be introduced to higher-order derivatives.

Unit 3

Differentiation: Composite, Implicit, and Inverse Functions

You'll apply derivatives to set up and solve real-world problems involving instantaneous rates of change and use mathematical reasoning to determine limits of certain indeterminate forms.

Unit 4

Contextual Applications of Differentiation

After exploring relationships among the graphs of a function and its derivatives, you'll learn to apply calculus to solve optimization problems.

Unit 5

Analytical Applications of Differentiation

You'll learn to apply limits to define definite integrals and how the Fundamental Theorem connects integration and differentiation. You'll apply properties of integrals and practice useful integration techniques.

Unit 6

Integration and Accumulation of Change

You'll learn how to solve certain differential equations and apply that knowledge to deepen your understanding of exponential growth and decay and logistic models.

Unit 7

Differential Equations

You'll make mathematical connections that will allow you to solve a wide range of problems involving net change over an interval of time and to find lengths of curves, areas of regions, or volumes of solids defined using functions.

Unit 8

Applications of Integration

You'll solve parametrically defined functions, vector-valued functions, and polar curves using applied knowledge of differentiation and integration. You'll also deepen your understanding of straight-line motion to solve problems involving curves.

Unit 9

Parametric Equations, Polar Coordinates, and Vector-Valued Functions

Strategies for Success

Study & Success Tips

Analyze polar functions

Tip 4

Use Taylor and Maclaurin series

Tip 3

Apply advanced integration

Tip 2

Solve complex derivatives

Tip 1

Understand limits and continuity

Tip 6

Evaluate vector functions

Tip 5

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