AP Calculus BC : AP Calculus BC

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Calculus BC

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Example Questions

Example Question #11 : Polar Form

Calculate the polar form hypotenuse of the following cartesian equation:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In a cartesian form, the primary parameters are  and . In polar form, they are  and 

 is the hypotenuse, and  is the angle created by .

2 things to know when converting from Cartesian to polar.

You want to calculate the hypotenuse, 

Solution:

 

Example Question #1 : Graphing Polar Form

Graph the equation  where .

Possible Answers:

R_cosx_1

R_cos2x

R_sinx

R_cosx

Faker_cosx

Correct answer:

R_cosx

Explanation:

At angle  the graph as a radius of . As it approaches , the radius approaches .

As the graph approaches , the radius approaches .

Because this is a negative radius, the curve is drawn in the opposite quadrant between  and .

Between  and , the radius approaches  from  and redraws the curve in the first quadrant.

Between  and , the graph redraws the curve in the fourth quadrant as the radius approaches  from .    

Example Question #2 : Graphing Polar Form

Draw the graph of  from .

Possible Answers:

R_cosx_1

R_cos2x

R_sin2x

R2_cos2x

R_sin2x

Correct answer:

R_cos2x

Explanation:

Because this function has a period of , the x-intercepts of the graph   happen at a reference angle of  (angles halfway between the angles of the axes).  

Between  and  the radius approaches  from .

Between  and , the radius approaches  from  and is drawn in the opposite quadrant, the third quadrant because it has a negative radius.

From  to  the radius approaches  from  , and is drawn in the fourth quadrant, the opposite quadrant. 

Between  and , the radius approaches  from .

From  and , the radius approaches  from .

Between  and , the radius approaches  from . Because it is a negative radius, it is drawn in the opposite quadrant, the first quadrant.

Then between  and  the radius approaches  from  and is draw in the second quadrant.

Finally between  and , the radius approaches  from .                  

Example Question #1 : Derivatives Of Polar Form

Find the derivative of the following function:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The derivative of a polar function is given by the following:

First, we must find 

We found the derivative using the following rules:

Finally, we plug in the above derivative and the original function into the above formula:

 

 

Example Question #12 : Polar Form

What is the derivative of ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In order to find the derivative   of a polar equation , we must first find the derivative of  with respect to  as follows:

 

We can then swap the given values of  and  into the equation of the derivative of an expression into polar form:

Using the trigonometric identity , we can deduce that . Swapping this into the denominator, we get:

Example Question #31 : Parametric, Polar, And Vector Functions

What is the derivative of ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In order to find the derivative   of a polar equation , we must first find the derivative of with respect to  as follows:

We can then swap the given values of  and  into the equation of the derivative of an expression into polar form:

Using the trigonometric identity , we can deduce that . Swapping this into the denominator, we get:

Example Question #1 : Vector Form

Find the vector form of  to .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

When we are trying to find the vector form we need to remember the formula which states to take the difference between the ending and starting point.

Thus we would get:

Given  and  

In our case we have ending point at  and our starting point at .

Therefore we would set up the following and simplify.

 

 

Example Question #63 : Vectors & Spaces

Given points  and , what is the vector form of the distance between the points?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In order to derive the vector form of the distance between two points, we must find the difference between the , and  elements of the points.

That is, for any point 

 and ,

the distance is the vector 

.

Subbing in our original points  and , we get:

Example Question #113 : Linear Algebra

Given points  and , what is the vector form of the distance between the points?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In order to derive the vector form of the distance between two points, we must find the difference between the , , and elements of the points.

That is, for any point and , the distance is the vector .

Subbing in our original points  and ,  we get:

Example Question #101 : Vector

The graph of the vector function can also be represented by the graph of which of the following functions in rectangular form?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We can find the graph of  in rectangular form by mapping the parametric coordinates to Cartesian coordinates :

We can now use this value to solve for :

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