<p>In the AP exams, is it necessary to use a programmable calculator? AP physics c :mech, AP physics c: e&m, ap chemistry, ap calculus bc, ap macroeconomics, ap microeconomics</p>
<p>For AP Calculus, you need a calculator that can perform the following four functions:</p>
<p>(1) Graph a function in a given window.
(2) Find the zeroes of a given function.
(3) Find the derivative of a given function at a given point.
(4) Find the definite integral of a given function on a given interval.</p>
<p>Since most of the calculators that perform these four features are programmable, the answer to this question is likely yes, although there may be a calculator that does these four things that are not programmable.</p>
<p>There is no calculator section on the micro/micro economics tests.</p>
<p>Having never once used a calculator to find a derivative of a function at a point, what would be an example for #3?</p>
<p>^ What calculator do you have?</p>
<p>You could do the vast majority of derivatives at a point without a calculator.</p>
<p>But for instance, if you didn't remember the prodcut rule, the derivative of f(x) = sin(x)*2^x at x = pi could be calculated using the nDeriv function in the [MATH] menu on the TI-83 or TI-84 models. The syntax is:</p>
<p>nDeriv(sin(x)*2^x,x,pi)</p>
<p>This woudl give you the value of the derivative at x = pi.</p>
<p>Or you can just graph sin(x)*2^x normally, and then go to CALC (2nd TRACE) and pick 6 (dy/dx) and then just type pi.</p>
<p>i have casio 9850GC plus</p>
<p>Thanks, mathprof. I suppose what I was trying to get at was: <opinion>The use of a calculator as in #3 mainly helps you learn how to use a calculator, and is not much help in learning calculus. </opinion></p>
<p>I've certainly done 1, 2, and 4 in "real life" (though usually on a computer of various types), but never #3.</p>
<p>How about you guys?</p>
<p>does this mean i need to purchase a programmable calculator fr my APs?
does my casio 9850gc plus have all the functions i need?</p>
<p>fignewton, I think the calculator for #3 is mostly a speed factor, not for additional understanding or ability. I suppose it could be useful for functions that you somehow knew how to put into the calculator but couldn't find a derivative for, though I'm blanking on any useful ones off-hand.</p>
<p>baseliner, the College Board website has a list of calculators that are both allowed and calculators that have all the required features ( AP</a> Central - Welcome to AP Central ), and your calculator is on the list with an asterisk, meaning that it is both allowed and has the necessary features for the AP Calculus exam.</p>
<p>I don't know how those features work on that particular brand of calculator, and I usually recommend that if you're going to have a calculator, it should be of the same series that the teacher has, unless you know about all the features on your calculator or can pick them up quickly.</p>
<p>UnleashedFury, I was at a workshop this summer and received a warning about using the graph screen. I can't remember whether it was for derivatives, integrals, or both, but it had to do with the level of tolerance being used for the functions. I tried looking it up on Google to see if I could find which one it was, and while I found the warning for integrals, I didn't find it for derivatives.</p>
<p>The reason has to do with the way the TI calculates both derivatives and integrals. The TI-83/84 model doesn't actually calculate the derivative or anti-derivative, it simply applies numerical approximation methods that are usually equally acceptable. For instance, for the derivative it calculates [f(x+0.001)-f(x-0.001)]/0.002 on the nDeriv menu (although you can change the 0.001 by applying a different value after the x = point). The fnInt feature uses Riemann sums with rectangles 100 times thinner than the integral of f(x) feature on the graph screen. What I don't know is the tolerance for dy/dx, and if it is different, it could potentially impact accuracy at the required number of decimal places.</p>
<p>(By the way, as a fun little side effect of how calculators work, try finding nDeriv(1/x,x,0). Symmetric quotients are fun when applied blindly.) :)</p>
<p>"Calculator memories will not be cleared. Students are allowed to bring to the exam calculators containing whatever programs they want. "</p>
<p>Will I be put at a disadvantage for not having any additional programs i want (my calc as no feature of connection with a comp etc). What type of programs are we talking about here? Programs that improve speed and accuracy or superfuous programs?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>Usually the programs have to do with calculating various formulas throughout calculus. Since the multiple choice usually chooses to put such calculations on the non-calculator section of the multiple choice, or tends to put them involving a variable in a non-standard location if on the calculator section of the multiple choice, it shouldn't make a difference there. Since the free response section requires work to be shown, simply showing the answer as most of these programs do would also not be sufficient.</p>
<p>While some students say it might improve speed and accuracy, you certainly don't need any calculator programs to be successful on the AP exam.</p>
<p>Thanks MathProf. I've noticed that the derivative or anti-derivative it tells me is sometimes off, and I never knew why. For instance, if the derivative is supposed to be 4, I'll sometimes get 3.999999998 or 4.000000001. I've become familiar enough with the calculator to know what it means, but I wouldn't recommend using that function if you haven't learned how to properly find these values or else you might get tripped up by things like that.</p>
<p>I don't think that it does anything differently for the nDeriv function though, because the graphs always come out looking sort of awkward compared with the real function, and the values are almost always off by a similar margin.</p>