AP Calculus AB : AP Calculus AB

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Calculus AB

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Example Questions

Example Question #316 : Integrals

Use the trapezoidal approximation to solve the definite integral, and find the difference between it and the actual integral:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The trapezoidal approximation to definite integrals is given by

Using this formula for our integral, we get

Actually integrating, we get

The rule used for integration is

The difference between the approximation and the actual answer is

Example Question #316 : Integrals

Approximate the value of  using a trapezoidal sum with step size . How far away is this approximation from the actual value of the integral above?

Possible Answers:

6

10

5

4

2

Correct answer:

4

Explanation:

Trapezoidal sums are found by creating trapezoids whose left and right end points are on the specified function, and whose widths are the step size. We then sum up their areas by remembering that the area of a trapezoid is the base times the average of the heights.

 

Thus, the calculation of the trapezoidal sum for this example would be 

A more simplified version would be given by 

Which evaluates to 

 

The actual answer is found by evaluating the definite integral given, which would just be given by 

 

The difference between the approximation and the the true answer is thus 

Example Question #163 : Functions, Graphs, And Limits

Consider the function .  Which Reimann sum calculation would give the best approximation of the integral from  to ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The mid-point Reimann sum is given by this formula:

, where , and  is the number of 

intervals.  Thus, if the region from  to  is divided into twenty intervals,  and .  For ten intervals,  and .  For five internals,  and .  The higher the number of intervals, the more precise the estimation.  Thus, when  (and hence ), the estimation is the most accurate.  

Example Question #164 : Functions, Graphs, And Limits

Wolframalpha--plot_piecewisexxlt03-x0ltxlt213-xxgt2--2013-09-10_1008

What is the  ?

Possible Answers:

Does not exist

Correct answer:

Explanation:

For this value, the Limit Laws can be applied: 

Example Question #31 : Limits Of Functions (Including One Sided Limits)

                                                                Discgraph

True or false: In the above graph of , the value of  is 3.

Possible Answers:

False: Both the left and right limits are three, but the regular limit isn't.

False: The left and right limits exist, but exactly one of them isn't three.

False: We can't take the limit where the function isn't defined.

False: The left and right limits exist, but neither of them is three.

True: The removable discontinuity does not affect the limit, and the right and left limits evaluate to 3.

Correct answer:

True: The removable discontinuity does not affect the limit, and the right and left limits evaluate to 3.

Explanation:

Removable discontinuities don't affect the limiting process. The limit process is essentially saying "As you get arbitrarily close to , the function is getting arbitrarily close to ." As you can see, whether or not the function is defined at  is irrelevant, because we're want to look at values close to it, but never exactly at .

Graphically, we can see that the left and right limits are both three. If you trace the graph from either the left or right of , you will end up at .

By definition, if both the right and left limit evaluate to the same thing, the actual limit must agree. It's not possible for both of them to be three, but for the limit to disagree with them (at least in a two dimensional graph!)

Thus the correct answer is that the limit exists, and is three.

Example Question #32 : Limits Of Functions (Including One Sided Limits)

                                                     

Discgraph

In the above graph of , evaluate the following limits:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

A right limit is found graphically by starting at a point to the right of the specified x value and tracing along the graph to the left until you hit the specified x. Regardless of whether or not the function is defined, or perhaps if its defined, but not where your finger ends up, your finger should be at the limit. This is because limits don't concern themselves with what happens at the specified x value. For right limits, we're essentially asking "If I get arbitrarily close to  from the right, what is  getting close to?"

The same holds true for left limits, but you approach them from the other side.

In this problem,  is a right limit. Following the above method, we find that as we approach  from the right, we end up at . Similarly,  is a left limit. Approaching  from the left, we see that we arrive at .

Lastly, a regular limit is defined when both the right and left limits are defined and equal. In this case, the right limit is 5 and the left limit is 3, so the regular limit does not exist 

Example Question #1 : Understanding The Limiting Process.

Find the derivative. 

y = sec (5x3)

 

 

Possible Answers:

y' = sec(5x3)tan(5x3)

y' = –csc(5x3)cot(5x3)(15x2)

y' = sec(5x3)tan(5x3)(15x2)

y' = –sec(5x3)tan(5x3)(15x2)

y' = –csc(5x3)cot(5x3)

Correct answer:

y' = sec(5x3)tan(5x3)(15x2)

Explanation:

The derivative of the function y = sec(x) is sec(x)tan(x). First take the derivative of the outside of the function: y = sec(4x3) : y' = sec(5x3)tan(5x3). Then take the derivative of the inside of the function: 5x3 becomes 15x2. So your final answer is: y' = ec(5x3)tan(5x3)15x2

Example Question #2 : Understanding The Limiting Process.

Find the slope of the tangent line to the graph of f at x = 9, given that f(x) = –x+ 5√(x)

Possible Answers:

18

–18 – (5/6)

18 + (5/6)

–18

–18 + (5/6)

Correct answer:

–18 + (5/6)

Explanation:

First find the derivative of the function.

f(x) = –x2 + 5√(x)

f'(x) = –2x + 5(1/2)x–1/2

Simplify the problem

f'(x) = –2x + (5/2x1/2)

Plug in 9. 

f'(3) = –2(9) + (5/2(9)1/2)

= –18 + 5/(6)

Example Question #2 : Understanding The Limiting Process.

Find the derivative

(x + 1)/(x – 1)

Possible Answers:

(–2)/(x – 1)2

(x + 1) + (x – 1)

1

(–2)/(x + 1)2

(–2)/(x – 1)

Correct answer:

(–2)/(x – 1)2

Explanation:

Rewrite problem. 

(x + 1)/(x – 1)

Use quotient rule to solve this derivative. 

((x – 1)(1) – (x + 1)(1))/(x – 1)2

(x – 1) – x – 1)/(x – 1)2

–2/(x – 1)2

Example Question #3 : Understanding The Limiting Process.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Use the chain rule and the formula

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