Helpful Hints for the AP Calculus Test 1.

) The first derivative can be represented by f (x), y , dy/dx, mtan or IROC (Instantaneous Rate of Change). AROC is the Average Rate of Change and is the slope of the secant line. 2.) f (x) = + means the curve is increasing 3.) f (x) = - means the curve is decreasing 4.) f (x) = 0 means there is PROBABLY a minimum or maximum 5.) ABSOLUTE minimums or maximums occur when f (X) = 0 or at the interval endpoints. 6.) The second derivative can be represented by f (x), y , d2y/dx2 7.) f (x) = + means the curve is concave upward 8.) f (x) = - means the curve is concave downward 9.) f (x) = 0 means there is PROBABLY a point of inflection. If there is a point of inflection, then f (x) = 0, but just because it equals zero doesnt guarantee a POI. 10.) f(f(x)) = f (x) If the f(x) curve is increasing then f(x) is (+) and f(x) is concave upward. If the f(x) curve is decreasing then f(x) is (-) and f(x) is concave downward. 11.) You need a point (x,y) and a slope (m) to find the equation of a tangent line. f (x) will give you the slope. 12.)

f(x)dx
a

is the area under the curve from x = a to b & = F(b)-F(a)

13.) Area above the X-axis is positive and area below the X-axis is negative. 14.) The Average value of a function on the interval [a,b] or the Average
1 Y value = b a f(x)dx a
b

15.) The Mean Value Theorem states that if a graph is continuous and differentiable on the interval [a,b], then there exists a c somewhere between a and b , such that f (c) = the slope of the secant line or f (c) = 16.) For a limit to exist, the limit from the left must equal the limit from the right. 17.) If a function is differentiable, the derivative from the left must equal the derivative from the right. 18.) Slope Fields are small tangent lines at a point. On the AP test youll be given dy/dx = an equation containing xs and ys. Youll also be given some points (x,y) and asked to plot the small tangent lines. Simply use the x and y values to solve for dy/dx and then sketch the small tangent lines.
f(b) f(a) ba