The AP Calculus Exam: How Not Only To Survive But To Prevail...Test!
This quiz is based upon the AP Calculus Exam article "How Not Only To Survive But To Prevail. . ." by Lin McMullin. After reading this article, answer the following questions.
Questions and Answers
- 1.
Which of the following is not one of the four perspectives for understanding mathematics?
- A.
Verbal
- B.
Graphical
- C.
Integral
- D.
Numerical
- E.
Analytical
Correct Answer
C. IntegralExplanation
The four perspectives for understanding mathematics are verbal, graphical, numerical, and analytical. The term "integral" does not fit into any of these perspectives. Integral is a mathematical concept and technique that is used in calculus to calculate areas, volumes, and other quantities. It is not a perspective for understanding mathematics but rather a specific mathematical tool.Rate this question:
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- 2.
The exam only focuses on concepts, not on procedures and formulae.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
B. FalseExplanation
The given statement suggests that the exam does not test the understanding of procedures and formulas, but only focuses on concepts. The correct answer is False because it implies that procedures and formulas are not included in the exam, which contradicts the statement.Rate this question:
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- 3.
When preparing for the AP Calculus AB exam, it is more important to focus on just the problems you know how to do and not the problems you don't know how to do.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
B. FalseExplanation
It is not more important to focus on just the problems you know how to do and not the problems you don't know how to do when preparing for the AP Calculus AB exam. In fact, it is important to practice and attempt a variety of problems, including those that you may not be familiar with. This helps in building problem-solving skills, understanding different concepts, and being prepared for any type of question that may appear on the exam. Focusing only on known problems may limit your ability to handle unfamiliar or challenging questions during the actual exam.Rate this question:
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- 4.
As much as possible, do not cram the night before the exam. Instead, you should get a good night sleep the night before and eat a good breakfast on the day of the exam.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
A. TrueExplanation
Getting a good night's sleep and eating a healthy breakfast before an exam is beneficial for several reasons. Sleep helps improve cognitive function, memory, and concentration, allowing you to perform better on the exam. Eating a nutritious breakfast provides the necessary energy and nutrients to fuel your brain and body, enhancing your alertness and focus during the exam. On the other hand, cramming the night before can lead to fatigue, stress, and information overload, which can negatively impact your performance. Therefore, it is advisable to prioritize rest and nutrition over last-minute studying.Rate this question:
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- 5.
Which of the following is not a permissable function of the calculator?
- A.
Finding a zero of a function
- B.
Calculating a derivative
- C.
Find a value of a function
- D.
Calculating a definite integral
- E.
None of the above. All of the above calculator functions are allowed on the exam.
Correct Answer
E. None of the above. All of the above calculator functions are allowed on the exam.Explanation
All of the functions mentioned in the options are permissible functions of a calculator. The question is asking for the function that is not permissible, but the answer states that none of the functions are not permissible. This means that all of the functions mentioned are allowed on the exam.Rate this question:
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- 6.
In the calculator-portion of the free-response section, all answers must be written as a number approximated to the nearest thousandths place.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
B. FalseExplanation
Answers may be left unsimplified. However, if you choose to approximate, your answer must be accurate to three decimals.Rate this question:
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- 7.
The free-response section counts for 75% of your final score while the multiple-choice section counts for only 25%.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
B. FalseExplanation
The statement that the free-response section counts for 75% of the final score while the multiple-choice section counts for only 25% is false.Rate this question:
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- 8.
The AP Calculus AB exam is usually made so that the average score will be about 50% for a score of 3.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
A. TrueExplanation
The statement is true because the College Board, which administers the AP Calculus AB exam, uses a statistical process called equating to ensure that the scores accurately reflect students' performance. This process takes into account the difficulty of each exam version and adjusts the scoring scale accordingly. The goal is to maintain consistency across different exam administrations, so the average score for a score of 3 is typically set around 50%.Rate this question:
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- 9.
You are penalized 1/4 point for a wrong answer for multiple choice questions.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
B. FalseExplanation
The given answer is "False" because it states that you are penalized 1/4 point for a wrong answer for multiple choice questions. This implies that there is a penalty for answering incorrectly on multiple choice questions.Rate this question:
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- 10.
A good strategy is to do all the easy questions first then go back and do the more difficult ones afterwards.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
A. TrueExplanation
Doing all the easy questions first and then tackling the more difficult ones afterwards is considered a good strategy because it allows the individual to quickly gain confidence and momentum by completing the easier questions. This approach helps in maximizing the number of questions answered correctly and efficiently managing time during exams or assessments. By completing the easier questions first, it also allows the individual to allocate more time and focus on the more challenging questions without feeling rushed or overwhelmed.Rate this question:
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- 11.
If your answer appears as one of the choices in a multiple-choice question, it is good indication that your answer must be correct.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
B. FalseExplanation
Often times, test writers include typical wrong answers among the choices. The only way to avoid incorrect choices is to work carefully.Rate this question:
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- 12.
For free-response questions, you can receive full credit without showing work as long as you have the correct answer.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
B. FalseExplanation
The given answer is false. However, without any context or specific question provided, it is impossible to determine the exact reason why the answer is false. It could be due to a factual inaccuracy, a logical inconsistency, or a misinterpretation of the question. Without further information, it is not possible to provide a more specific explanation.Rate this question:
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- 13.
A number line suffices as a justification for finding relative extrema.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
B. FalseExplanation
Only verbal (i.e. words and sentences) and analytical (equations and functions) are acceptable forms of justification.Rate this question:
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- 14.
Most of the questions in the free-response section of the exam require long and complicated computations and explanations.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
B. FalseExplanation
The statement is false because it states that most of the questions in the free-response section of the exam require long and complicated computations and explanations. However, this may not be true as some questions in the free-response section may not require complex computations or explanations. Therefore, the statement is incorrect.Rate this question:
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- 15.
Answers may be left unsimplified.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
A. TrueExplanation
The given correct answer is "True." This means that the statement or question being asked is true and accurate.Rate this question:
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- 16.
Work that is crossed out is not read or graded.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
A. TrueExplanation
This statement is true because when work is crossed out, it indicates that it has been marked as incorrect or invalid. Therefore, it is not read or graded by the person responsible for evaluating it.Rate this question:
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- 17.
Calculator notation is acceptable. For example, you may write fnInt(2x, x, 0, 1) = 1 to show that you took the definite integral of 2x with respect to x from 0 to 1.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
B. FalseExplanation
The given answer is false because the question does not provide any information or context to determine whether calculator notation is acceptable or not. Without this information, it is not possible to determine the correctness of the statement.Rate this question:
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- 18.
Which of the following are common free-response mistakes?
- A.
Missing limits of integration
- B.
Giving all relative minima values when problem asks for absolute minimum value only
- C.
Not considering the endpoints of an interval when looking for an absolute maximum value
- D.
Not answering question posed even though work is correct
- E.
All of the above.
Correct Answer
E. All of the above.Explanation
The given answer, "All of the above," is correct because it includes all the common free-response mistakes mentioned in the options. These mistakes include missing limits of integration, providing all relative minima values instead of the absolute minimum value, not considering the endpoints of an interval when finding the absolute maximum value, and not answering the question even if the work is correct. Therefore, selecting "All of the above" encompasses all the mentioned mistakes.Rate this question:
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- 19.
You may use a graphing calculator to find an extremum of a function by using the minimum or maximum program on a calculator.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
B. FalseExplanation
You are only allowed to do the following on the calculator: (1) graph and find values of a function, (2) solve equations, (3) find a derivative of a function, and (4) find a definite integral of a function.Rate this question:
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- 20.
If you incorrectly approximate sin(pi/3) as 0.867, you won't be penalized as long as you have sin(pi/3) in your work.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
B. FalseExplanation
If you incorrectly approximate sin(pi/3) as 0.867, you will be penalized even if you have sin(pi/3) in your work. This is because the correct value of sin(pi/3) is actually 0.866, so the approximation of 0.867 is still incorrect.Rate this question:
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