Congratulations for enrolling in AP Calculus AB Honors for the 2015-2016 school year! You have a challenging year ahead of you. But with hard work, determination, and a positive attitude, it can become a very rewarding and enjoyable year.
Going into AP Calculus, there are certain skills that have been taught to you over the previous years that we assume you have. If you do not have these skills, you will find that you will consistently get problems incorrect next year, even though you may understand the calculus concepts. If is frustrating for students when they are tripped up by the algebra and not the calculus. This summer packet is intended for you to brush up and possibly relearn these topics.
We assume that you have the basic skills in algebra. For example, being able to solve equations, work with algebraic expressions, and basic factoring should now be a part of you. If not, you would not be going into AP Calculus. So, only the topics I see that students consistently do not have down in their basic skill set are included here. These are skills that are used continually in AP Calculus.
Each problem should be done in the space provided. If you are struggling with a topic, first look at the examples on my classroom website. If you still need more help, try to Google it. Don’t fake your way through these problems. As stated, students are notoriously weak in them, even students who have done well prior to AP Calculus.
This packet is due the first day your class meets in the second week of school (Monday, August 3 rd or Tuesday, August 4 th ).
It will be graded. You need to get off to a good start so spend some quality time on this packet this summer. Tear off the first sheet and return the remaining sheets stapled together. Be sure your name is on the packet. Work needs to be shown where necessary. Also do not rely on the calculator. More than half of your AP exam next year is taken without the calculator, so use paper and pencil techniques for the majority of the problems.
It is a mistake to start this now. Let it go until mid-summer. I want these techniques to be relatively fresh in your mind when school starts. However, do not wait to do them at the very last minute. These take time. If you do two concepts a day, the whole packet will take you about 10 days to complete.
If after consulting the examples and Google, you still have any questions about any of these problems or techniques used in solving them, PLEASE CONTACT ME: cqguth@avon-schools.org
. If you feel like you need face-to-face help and/or may need a tutor for the school year, please contact Cindy Ryan at cindy.ryan@yahoo.com
or 317-209-0441 (if you text, please remember to include your name). She will be available in July (via FaceTime) and throughout the school year (in person).
We will be using Texas Instruments ® TI-Nspire Touchpad CAS graphing calculators. You will be issued one on the first day of school (there will be a $25 rental fee as part of your book rentals). If you choose to purchase your own, please be sure to get one shown to the right
(the $25 rental fee will be removed from your book rentals). YOU MUST HAVE 4 AAA
BATTERIES WITH YOU ON THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.
I look forward to seeing you in the fall and hope you are able to benefit from the experience of taking an AP Math class and continue the success that has been associated with AHS’s AP Calculus program.
Enjoy your summer,
Mrs. Guth