HONORS CALCULUS      

Benchmarks                    Content                        Resources                                Assessment

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to prepare students for college calculus.  Course material is presented geometrically, numerically, analytically, and verbally to enhance student understanding of the basic concepts of calculus.  Topics covered include: rates of change, limits, techniques of differentiation and integration, and an introduction to differential equations.  Practical applications will be stressed throughout the course. A graphing calculator is required.

PREREQUISITE: Completion of precalculus and trigonometry with a grade of “B” or better.

TEXTS:  Applied Calculus. 1999, Hughes-Hallet, Gleason, Lock, Flath et al.  

CURRENT SYLLABUS

BENCHMARKS:  The students will be able to:

            1.     Use linear, exponential, polynomial, logarithmic and trigonometric functions to model natural phenomena.

2.     Approximate slope using secant lines.

3.     Interpret the derivative as an instantaneous rate of change and the slope of a curve. 

4.     Estimate the values of a function using the derivative.

5.     Interpret the second derivative in terms of concavity.

6.     Define the derivative using the theory of limits and continuity.

7.     Find derivatives of a variety of functions.

8.     Use critical points to describe the shape of a function.

9.     Define the integral as a limit of Riemann sums.

10. Find definite and indefinite integrals.

11. Find and use partial derivatives.

12. Apply differentiation and integration to practical problems.

 

COURSE CONTENT:

 

Unit 1       Linear Functions

                  Exponential Functions

                  The Natural Logarithm & the Number e

                  Polynomial Functions

                  Trigonometric Functions

 

Unit 2       Instantaneous Rate of Change

                  The Derivative at a Point

                  The Derivative Function

                  The Second Derivative

                  Marginal Cost & Revenue

 

Unit 3       Accumulated Change

                  Right and left-hand sums

                  The Definite Integral

                  Fundamental Theorem of Calculus

 

Unit 4        Derivative Formulas

                  The Chain Rule

                  The Product & Quotient Rules

                  Derivatives of  Periodic Functions              

 

Unit 5        Local Maxima & Minima

                  Inflection Points

                  Optimization: Profit & Revenue

                  Optimization

                  Elasticity of Demand

 

Unit 6        Average Value

                  Consumer and Producer Surplus

                  Present and Future Value

                  Antiderivatives            

 

Unit 7        Functions with Two Variables

                  Contour Diagrams

                  Partial Derivatives

                  Critical Points and Optimization

 

Unit 8        Differential Equations

                  Slope Fields

                  Exponential Growth and Decay

 

RESOURCES:

1.     Textbook

2.     Teacher-prepared materials

3.     Graphing calculator

4.     Computer

 

ASSESSMENTS:

1.     Tests

2.     Quizzes

3.     Class work

4.     Homework

 

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