AP CALCULUS

Independent Study
INFORMATION
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

INSTRUCTORS

The AP Calculus Advancement Program is an

opportunity for students to advance a course level
by simple means. Students will be taught the
course material in preparation for the AP exam
come May. The general purpose of the program is
to encourage students to further themselves in the
field of mathematics as they continue on in their
education. Individualized instruction is provided.
The program is entirely free to those who meet
the prerequisites (see COURSE DESCRIPTION) at the
time of sign-ups some time in late November.

The AP Calculus Advancement Program is administrated and instructed by two highly qualified
individuals: Mr. Chirag Bharadwaj and Mr. Samir
Kamat. Mr. Bharadwaj and Mr. Kamat together
lead the program to help young students accrue
knowledge about the fundamentals of upper-level
mathematics. Their expertise will aid students in
understanding and applying concepts of Calculus
to real-world problems as well as acquiring an indepth knowledge of the basis of the entirety of
college-level mathematics. The program runs on
individual instruction to maximize knowledge.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

AP CALCULUSAB

The AP Calculus Advancement Program will be

held throughout the winter and the spring to prepare them for the AP Calculus Exam in May. Mr.
Bharadwaj and Mr. Kamat will periodically hold
informational sessions in the fall for updates on
the program and further information about the
six-month course. The students will be taught in
regular cycles in the main library during the winter and spring.

PREREQUISITE: This advancing course requires

the current enrollment in Honors Algebra II or
successful completion of Honors Algebra II.
Students must possess an in-depth knowledge of
algebra and trigonometry as well as a strong
willingness to learn.
AP CalculusAB will focus on and explore the
basic topics of differentiation and integration.
However, there will be a heavy emphasis on
graphing, interpretation of graphs, application,
theory, proofs, and topics involving multiple subjects to develop abstract thinking skills.
For a more complete list of topics, please refer to
the packet that accompanies this sheet.

TEXTBOOK
Cracking the AP Calculus AB & BC Exams, 2011
Edition by David S. Kahn.

A TI-84 graphing calculator is required at the

minimum, but a TI-89 graphing calculator is
highly recommended by the instructors.

Instructors will use select chapters from this textbook to teach students the course material. However, many topics will be taught without the use of
this textbook; thus, students must be prepared to
take detailed notes on lectures.

AP CALCULUSBC and
MULTIVARIABLE CALCULUS

Students must be warned that this is a serious

undertaking. Not all students are mentally and
emotionally ready for this course. In addition,
deficiencies in the first few chapters greatly hinder progress in subsequent chapters. This course
is far too fast-paced for re-teaching prerequisite
topics. Students who doubt themselves capable
of moving this fast should NOT join this course.

These two courses are not available as of yet in the

AP Calculus Advancement Program. However,
the instructors guarantee that by the 2012-2013
school year, these courses will be available in the
comprehensive program with guided instruction.

AP CALCULUS
Independent Study
SIGNING UP
Students who are interested in this course should read the following and complete the assignment given.
As instructors, we do not have the luxury of formally reviewing trigonometry and algebra material. We
will try to review it informally when we can, but this is not guaranteed. Therefore, it is up to the students
to catch-up on any material that they do not know by sign-up in late-November.
Students must possess a strong command of the following topics in addition to algebraic skills in order to
succeed in this course: Sequences and Series, Right Triangular Trigonometry, Circular Trigonometry, Exponential Functions, Analytic Trigonometry, Advanced Sequences and Series, and Basic Integration using Rectangular Blocks.
Although it may seem trivial, you will receive a grade for this class. Although it will not appear on your
transcript, consider it as an estimation of what might actually be your grade had you taken the course.
Therefore, absences hinder your progress and grade (we understand that most absences cannot be
avoided, but the simple fact is that when you miss a session, it affects your grade). Obligations involving
other AP courses will hinder your progress. We are aware that students have other interests and obligations outside of school (your parents, your family, your friends, your religion, your hobbies and clubs
all are important and must be part of the balance of your life, but you must work hard to stay in this
course nevertheless). Do understand, however, that our job is to train you the way a student in AP Calculus would be trained. This course involves a lot of maturity, dedication, and hard work on the part of the
student. We will approach students who are not doing well to suggest dropping out, as we have no time
to review prerequisite material and re-teach material we have already taught for those who fall behind.
Like all AP classes, the college exam given in May is graded on a 1 to 5 scale. 5 = mastery, 4 = highly
qualified, 3 = qualified, 2 = possibly qualified, and 1 = not qualified. Individual colleges decide
whether they will grant college credits for completing the AP course based on that performance.
For some reason, students find it more prevalent to focus on the grade rather than the course material.
While this course does not eliminate the grade parameter, there will also be off-topic instruction at certain
points to emphasize the importance of topics and learning the material rather than simply attending for
the grade. It is important that students develop abstract thinking skills. Therefore, there will be numerous
supplemental readings and in-class discussions on topics ranging from mathematics (why things work
the way they do) to philosophy (the impact of mathematics on society and interpretations of behavior).
You must be willing to develop outstanding independent study skills to do well in this challenging
freshman/sophomore level undergraduate mathematics course. Do not complain that the instructors do
not teach you material; you are responsible for studying the material on your own. There will be several
tests throughout the six-month period to help you register your knowledge. These tests are, by nature,
challenging, and are meant to help you develop a foundation in the annals of advanced mathematics. Do
not be alarmed if you do not finish a test; in fact, they are designed for you to be able to complete 2/3 of it
in the allotted time. This way, you will learn material even while taking the tests. However, when we review the tests, we will go over solutions in detail, including the problems that you did not get to.
Fill out the following information and return to Chirag Bharadwaj or Samir Kamat by November 30,
2011. Applications to the AP Calculus Advancement Program will not be considered after this date.
Student Name: _______________________________
Student Signature: ____________________________

Parent Signature: _____________________________

By signing this form, parents thereby endorse their
child in the program to further their knowledge.