Unit 4 Overview (College Board AP® Calculus BC): Exam Questions

36 mins4 questions
1a
2 points

Consider the curve defined by the equation x2+3y+2y2=48. It can be shown that dydx=2x3+4y.

There is a point on the curve near (2,4) with x-coordinate 3. Use the line tangent to the curve at (2,4) to approximate the y-coordinate of this point.

1b
2 points

Is the horizontal line y=1 tangent to the curve x2+3y+2y2=48? Give a reason for your answer.

1c
1 point

The curve x2+3y+2y2=48 intersects the positive x-axis at the point (48,0). Is the line tangent to the curve at this point vertical? Give a reason for your answer.

1d
4 points

For time t0, a particle is moving along another curve defined by the equation y3+2xy=24. At the instant the particle is at the point (4,2), the y-coordinate of the particle's position is decreasing at a rate of 2 units per second. At that instant, what is the rate of change of the x-coordinate of the particle's position with respect to time?

2a
1 point

Functions f, g, and h are twice-differentiable functions with g(2)=h(2)=4. The line y=4+23(x2) is tangent to both the graph of g at x=2 and the graph of h at x=2.

Find h'(2).

2b
3 points

Let a be the function given by a(x)=3x3h(x). Write an expression for a'(x). Find a'(2).

2c
4 points

The function h satisfies h(x)=x241(f(x))3 for x2. It is known that limx2h(x) can be evaluated using L'Hospital's Rule. Use limx2h(x) to find f(2) and f'(2). Show the work that leads to your answers.

2d
1 point

It is known that g(x)h(x) for 1<x<3. Let k be a function satisfying g(x)k(x)h(x) for 1<x<3. Is k continuous at x=2? Justify your answer.

3a
2 points

Consider the curve given by the equation 6xy=2+y3.

Show that dydx=2yy22x.

3b
2 points

Find the coordinates of a point on the curve at which the line tangent to the curve is horizontal, or explain why no such point exists.

3c
3 points

Find the coordinates of a point on the curve at which the line tangent to the curve is vertical, or explain why no such point exists.

3d
2 points

A particle is moving along the curve. At the instant when the particle is at the point (12,2), its horizontal position is increasing at a rate of dxdt=23 unit per second. What is the value of dydt, the rate of change of the particle's vertical position, at that instant?

4a
2 points

Consider the curve G defined by the equation y3y2y+14x2=0.

Show that dydx=x2(3y22y1).

4b
2 points

There is a point P on the curve G near (2,1) with x-coordinate 1.6. Use the line tangent to the curve at (2,1) to approximate the y-coordinate of point P.

4c
2 points

For x>0 and y>0, there is a point S on the curve G at which the line tangent to the curve at that point is vertical. Find the y-coordinate of point S. Show the work that leads to your answer.

4d
3 points

A particle moves along the curve H defined by the equation 2xy+ln y=8. At the instant when the particle is at the point (4,1), dxdt=3. Find dydt at that instant. Show the work that leads to your answer.