The Stuyvesant High School Online Course Guide

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Who should take this course?
Students with a strong background and interest in mathematics and a math average of at least the mid 90's. Since BC calculus provides a more theoretical development of the calculus than AB Calculus and includes the additional topic of series, BC Calculus is designed for students who wish to continue their education in mathematics, whether as math or science majors.

What will we be studying?
Calculus is the mathematics of change and therefore has applications to all field of endeavor, including the natural sciences, social sciences, economics, and business. In this course the concept of approaching a target (the limit) is used to develop the operators of instantaneous rate of change (the derivative) and the area under a curve (the definite integral). The relationship of the derivative and the definite integral is demonstrated by proving one of the most beautiful theorems in all of mathematics, the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus.

How is the course taught?
With the teacher's guidance there is an emphasis on the discovery of concepts, derivation of theorems, and applications, so that students have both a solid theoretical foundation in calculus and appreciation of the usefulness of calculus. Problems from Part I and Part II of old BC Advanced Placement exams are reviewed throughout the year in order to prepare students to take the AP exam in May, so that students may obtain up to a full year of credit for calculus in college.

What are the completion requirements?
Homework is regularly collected and there are six major tests each term and a departmental final in the fall.

Are there any special demands, costs, etc.?
Everyone must have a TI-84 Plus graphing calculator or its equivalent. In preparation for the AP Exams in the Spring, some teachers may require students to purchase practice booklets. Also, there is a fee to take the AP Exam.

Details and pre/co-requisites:
This is a full year course and cannot be dropped mid-year. The pre or co-requisite is Pre-calculus, a year long course which contains the skills in operations with functions and graphing that are essential for success in calculus. Pre-calculus and calculus may be studied concurrently since topics are taught in pre-calculus earlier in the year than when they are needed in calculus.

Students in this course will be required to participate in the American Mathematics Competition, a 75 minute examination that is sponosored by the American Mathematical Association. This national examination will be administered during school hours and students will incur no expense for taking this examination. The 25 question short answer examination is offered on 2 grade levels. The AMC-10 is for students in the 9th and 10th grades while the AMC-12 is for students in grades 11 and 12.

Students who have already taken MM81/MM82 must have a minimum final grade of 90% in the courses, as well as a Math average of at least 94% and at least a 95% average on their Math Regents Examinations.

Strong Math students may opt to take MM81/MM82 or MM81H/MM82H as a co-requisite. Pre-calculus and calculus can be studied concurrently since topics are taught in pre-calculus earlier in the year than when they are needed in calculus. Students who wish to double up in mathematics must meet the following criteria:

Juniors must have a minimum 94% average in Mathematics, a minimum overall average of 92%, and a 95% on their Math Regents Examinations.
Seniors must have a minimumm 94% average in Mathematics, a minimum overall average of 90%, and a 95% on their Math Regents Examinations.

Students who double up in Pre-calculus and Calculus BC can anticipate 90 minutes of homework in Mathematics each day and may be required to take 2 Math tests on the designated Math test day.

Students who "double-up" in their Junior year are expected to enroll in Multivariate Calculus and Differential Equations in their senior year.

Please note: If you "double up", your requested program must be able to fit within the confines of a school day without the need to postpone any required courses. Required courses may not be postponed to make space for an elective course.