Table: $t = 0, 4, 9, 15, 20$ with $W = 55.0, 57.1, 61.8, 67.9, 71.0$
When asked to estimate a derivative from a table, use a difference quotient with the two table values closest to the point. Choose the symmetric interval around 12.
Interpretation: At $t = 12$ minutes, the temperature of the water is increasing at a rate of approximately $1.017$ degrees Fahrenheit per minute.
Interpretation: Over the first 20 minutes, the temperature of the water in the tub increased by 16 degrees Fahrenheit.
Use the left endpoint of each subinterval. Subintervals from the table: $[0,4],\,[4,9],\,[9,15],\,[15,20]$.
Reasoning: Since $W$ is strictly increasing, $W$ on each subinterval exceeds the left endpoint value, so the left Riemann sum underestimates $\int_0^{20} W(t)\,dt$, and therefore also underestimates the average temperature.
⚠ Make sure your calculator is in RADIAN mode (angle units)!
$$\frac{dx}{dt} = \frac{t^2}{e^t}, \qquad \frac{dy}{dt} = \sin^2(t)$$
- Direction: sign of $\dfrac{dx}{dt}$ at $t=2$
- Slope: $\dfrac{dy/dt}{dx/dt}$ at $t=2$
sin²(2) ≈ 0.8268
slope = 0.8268 / 0.5413 ≈ 1.527
≈ 0.4687
$\dfrac{d^2x}{dt^2} = \dfrac{d}{dt}\!\left(\dfrac{t^2}{e^t}\right) = \dfrac{2t \cdot e^t - t^2 \cdot e^t}{e^{2t}} = \dfrac{t(2-t)}{e^t}$
$\dfrac{d^2y}{dt^2} = \dfrac{d}{dt}\!\left(\sin^2 t\right) = 2\sin t \cos t = \sin(2t)$
dy/dt = sin²(4) ≈ 0.5728
speed = √(0.2930² + 0.5728²) ≈ 0.644
d²x/dt² = 4(2-4)/e⁴ = -8/e⁴ ≈ -0.1465
d²y/dt² = sin(8) ≈ 0.9894
≈ 1.047
Key points from graph: $(-4,1),\,(-2,3),\,(0,0)\text{ (semicircle)},\,(1,0),\,(3,-1)$.
The semicircle is centered at origin with radius 1, on the interval $[-1,1]$ (above x-axis: $f(t)=\sqrt{1-t^2}$... but looking at graph it goes from $(−1,0)$ through $(0,$ negative area region$)$... semicircle is below x-axis based on graph points $(1,0)$ to $(3,-1)$. Actually the semicircle sits between $x=-1$ and $x=1$, centered at origin — it is in the lower half: $f(t) = -\sqrt{1-t^2}$ for $-1 \le t \le 1$.
$g(x) = \int_1^x f(t)\,dt$ → compute as geometric areas. When $x < 1$, flip limits and negate.
Compute $\int_{-2}^{1} f(t)\,dt = \int_{-2}^{-1} f(t)\,dt + \int_{-1}^{1} f(t)\,dt$
$[-2,-1]$: line from $(-2,3)$ to $(-1,0)$... wait, line segment goes $(-2,3)$ to $(0,$ ... actually from graph, line from $(-4,1)$ to $(-2,3)$, then $(-2,3)$ to some point. Let me re-read: three line segments and a semicircle. Points given: $(-4,1), (-2,3), (1,0), (3,-1)$ and semicircle at origin.
Segments: $(-4,1)\to(-2,3)$, $(-2,3)\to(-1,0)$ (goes to semicircle endpoint), semicircle $(-1,0)\to(1,0)$ (lower half, area $= -\frac{\pi}{2}$), $(1,0)\to(3,-1)$.
$\int_{-2}^{-1}$: triangle, base 1, heights 3 and 0 → area $= \frac{1}{2}(1)(3) = \frac{3}{2}$
$\int_{-1}^{1}$: semicircle below x-axis, area $= -\frac{\pi(1)^2}{2} = -\frac{\pi}{2}$ $$g(-2) = -\!\left(\frac{3}{2} - \frac{\pi}{2}\right) = \frac{\pi}{2} - \frac{3}{2} = \frac{\pi-3}{2}$$
Read zeros of $f$ from graph: $x = -1$ and $x = 1$ (endpoints of semicircle), and somewhere on $[-2,-1]$. From segment $(-2,3)\to(-1,0)$: $f=0$ at $x=-1$. From $(1,0)$: $f=0$ at $x=1$. Also check $[-4,-2]$: $f$ goes from 1 to 3, never zero. So zeros of $f$ (on $(-4,3)$): $x = -1$ and $x = 1$.
At $x = -1$: $f$ changes from positive (segment $(-2,3)\to(-1,0)$, values $>0$) to negative (semicircle below x-axis). $g'$ changes $+\to-$ → relative maximum.
At $x = 1$: $f$ changes from negative (semicircle) to negative (segment $(1,0)\to(3,-1)$, but starts at 0). Actually $f=0$ only instantaneously at $x=1$ — $f$ is negative on $(-1,1)$ and then immediately negative again for $x>1$. No sign change → neither min nor max.
On line segments, $f' =$ constant. Sign change in $f'$ happens where segments meet (corners) or where the semicircle begins/ends.
Inflection points of $g$ at: $x = -2$, $x = -1$, $x = 1$.
At each point, $f'$ changes sign → $g''$ changes sign → inflection point of $g$.
(Note: the table values are $f'(x)$, not $f(x)$!)
At $B=70$: $\dfrac{dB}{dt} = \dfrac{1}{5}(30) = 6$ g/day
Since $12 > 6$, the bird is gaining weight faster at 40 grams.
Since $B$ is always concave down (second derivative always negative), the graph has no inflection point. The shown graph (with an S-curve showing concave up then concave down) is impossible.
- Separate: all $B$ terms on one side, all $t$ terms on other
- Integrate both sides
- Solve for $B$ explicitly
- Apply initial condition to find $C$
- Don't forget $+C$ on exactly ONE side
- Use $|100-B|$, then justify sign based on initial condition
- Write the final answer explicitly as $B = \ldots$
General term: $(-1)^n x^{2n}$
Score Summary & Key Strategies
AP Calculus BC 2012 — Section II total: 54 points
| # | Topic | Calculator | Max Pts | Top Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Water temp (table) | ✅ Yes | 12 | FTC exact; Riemann sum approximate |
| 2 | Parametric particle | ✅ Yes | 12 | Arc length = ∫speed; direction from dx/dt sign |
| 3 | Integral-defined g(x) | ❌ No | 9 | g'' = f' ; inflection ↔ f' changes sign |
| 4 | Approximation methods | ❌ No | 9 | Euler: always update slope at new x |
| 5 | Bird ODE | ❌ No | 9 | Show d²B/dt² < 0 always; full sep. of var. steps |
| 6 | Maclaurin series | ❌ No | 10 | Check both endpoints; ASET for error bound |
- Units on every answer with units
- Interpretations in context
- Justify max/min with sign of derivative
- Show all computations
- Use Riemann sum when FTC gives exact
- Forget degree mode on calculator
- Confuse distance with displacement
- Forget +C or skip IC application