<p>Hey guys I was wondering what you guys think are the best apps that will make my life easier on the Calc AB test.</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>Edit: I have a Ti 84 plus silver edition</p>
<p>Apps really aren’t very helpful for the AP test, since every feature that you’re allowed to use without showing work is already built into the calculator.</p>
<p>What are you allowed to use without showing work?? O.o my teacher never really explained that very well.</p>
<p>The only really useful app I’ve seen is one that does all the different Riemann Sums for you. </p>
<p>My teacher gave it to me but I’m sure you could search for it (or something similar) online.</p>
<p>people are getting a lil overboard here. you’re golden if you know how to integrate(the neat shading under a curve) and find the instantaneous rate aka slope and the solver function on the TI 83/84. you don’t need other programs. just practice the FRQ’s and u’ll see that a TI 83/84 is all you need</p>
<p>The four things you’re allowed to do on an AP Calculus test on the calculator without work:</p>
<p>(1) Given a set-up definite integral, find the solution.
(2) Given a function and an x-coordinate, find the value of the derivative at that point (using the nDeriv feature on the TI 83/84 series).
(3) Given a function, find the zeroes (using the graph feature). By extension, you can also use the calculator to find the intersection of two functions (since the intersection of f(x) and g(x) is equivalent to finding where f(x) - g(x) = 0). The Solver function on the TI-83/84 that Ren matches basically does the same thing as this. Ideally, students will indicate what they’re finding with some kind of statement like f(x) = g(x) at x = [solution 1] and x = [solution 2].
(4) Given a function and a particular domain and range, graph the function (they frankly don’t ask these much these days, but being able to meaningfully graph a function is often useful for some of the areas and volumes questions).</p>
<p>Other notes:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>If you do find a Riemann Sums program, keep in mind that you still have to show the calculations that are performed before getting the answers. I’ve heard of (but not seen) programs that actually show everything you write down there. Many Riemann sum questions are on the non-calculator section with somewhat simpler numbers to work with, and even if it is on the calculator section, you’ll want to make sure that you know how to work with the situation where the widths for the Riemann sums are uneven. A number of the questions in this section of the AP FRQ’s are given with tables, and those tables usually are not in uniform intervals of x. [2008 AB2(b) (with trapezoids), 2007 AB5(c) (non-calculator), 2006 AB4(b) (regular interval widths, but non-calculator), and 2005 AB3(b) (with trapezoids, calculator active) show that this question was tested in different ways each of the last four years. It was not on the 2004 AB exam on the FRQ’s.]</p></li>
<li><p>On the TI-83/84, fnInt() is more reliable as a calculation tool than using the integration feature under the “Calculate” menu when graphing. The nice thing about the integration feature for the graph is a visual confirmation that you’re finding the right area. But the TI-83/84 series doesn’t actually integrate, merely performing a number of Riemann sums, and the fnInt() command performs a Riemann sum with 100 times more rectangles than the “Calculate” menu counterpart. I have yet to see an AP exam solution that doesn’t match an fnInt() answer, but there have been a couple of places where the graph feature has been off at the third decimal place, and I don’t know that it’s guaranteed that the graders will (A) discover that you used the graphing integration feature and (B) that they’ll award you credit for doing it that way even if they do.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>hm^ actually personally i think the fnInt() was a bit more difficult because it lacks a visual perspective when you integrate,and there’s too many buttons to punch…the commas…the Y1,Y2 X’s…
but the integration under the “calculate” section isn’t 100% bulletproof either. if the curve is under the x axis, it becomes negative… so i would either use absolute value or take out that negative sign,then add the other part which is above the x axis… = area…</p>
<p>programs … you don’t need them… as long as you know what u’re doing~~</p>
<p>I do agree that the calculator integration feature is really nice to look at to get a visual picture of what you’re looking at. I use that in my classes to get students used to the idea of what you’re calculating in the earlier moments in time, and then transition for accuracy reasons later.</p>
<p>One other piece about the “calculate” section is that students have to realize that when they calculate an area between two curves, you actually have to draw the graph of (f(x) - g(x)) and calculate the area “under” that curve. But since the graph of (f(x) - g(x)) often looks substantially different than the original region between f(x) and g(x), that confuses some folks who relied on understanding the idea from the visual picture.</p>
<p>That was a very helpful list. thanks :)</p>
<p>if any1 has a program that integrates/differentiates for the ti84, can u send them to me? please pm me. Or if the calculator can already do it, how? :O</p>