How importance in calculus in high school?

KGB1337
Mon, 04 Jan 2010 20:08:56 +0000

Curriculum taken from my school’s program of studies:
BC CALCULUS 341 (H/AP)
Grade: 12 Grouping: Homogeneous
Prerequisite: B+ in Trigonometry/ Analytic Geometry (H) or approval by
Department Chairman
This is a rigorous course for those seniors who have successfully completed four
years of mathematics and who are willing to give the time and effort necessary to
master the study of calculus. The material covered in this course includes:
functions, limits, derivatives of algebraic and trigonometric functions,
integration, applications of differentiation and integration, methods of
integration, advanced topics in analytic geometry, hyperbolic functions,
advanced topics in polar coordinates, infinite sequences and series, Taylor
expansions of functions, and differential equations. The course closely follows
the recommendations for a B-C Advanced Placement program in Calculus.
Students who complete this course and score well on the Advanced Placement
exam can place out of a full year of college level calculus, thereby allowing them
to take sophomore calculus when they are freshman in college. Students must
have access to a graphing calculator for class work and homework. This course is
equivalent to college Calculus I and Calculus II
Full year course, 5 times per week, 5 credits

My current class, all juniors except me:

TRIGONOMETRY/ANALYTIC GEOM/INTRO TO CALCULUS 331 (H)
Grade: 11 Grouping: Homogeneous
Prerequisite: B- in Algebra II H, or A grade in Algebra II AE
This course is for those students in Grade 11 who are strong in mathematics and
who desire to take Calculus in Grade 12. It provides a very strong preparation for
students planning a career in math or science. It begins by reviewing and
extending a number of prerequisite topics from Algebra II H. These include:
Linear functions, Quadratic functions, Polynomial functions, inequalities in 1 or 2
variables, properties of functions, inverses and graphs of functions, etc. from an
algebraic and geometric viewpoint. A comprehensive course in Trigonometry is
then presented for the remainder of the first semester. In the second semester,
there is a complete coverage of Analytic Geometry including Polar Coordinates,
Vectors, parametric equations, Equations of lines and planes in space, graphs of
algebraic and rational functions, exponential and logarithmic functions, conic
sections, translations and rotations, etc. Additional topics include: Sequences
and Series from a more advanced viewpoint, matrices and elementary concepts
from Differential Calculus such as computations of limits and derivatives, and
the use of derivatives in graphing and the solution of max/min word problems.
Students must have access to a graphing calculator for class work and
homework.
Full year course, 5 times per week, 5 credits