Calculus Conundrums
Do you know what a Rube Goldberg machine is? It is a contraption or apparatus that uses a chain reaction to accomplish a very simple task in a complicated manner. For instance, look at the cartoon to the right. For Fanucci to get his cat treats, he pulls the rope which releases a ball which goes down the ramp and falls into the tube. The ball hits the switch which extends the punching bag into the target which shakes the bag of cat treats which fall down the chute and into Fanucci's mouth (and the ball goes to the bottom of the tube and attaches to the elevator which takes it back up to the top of the ramp).
Calculus Conundrums operates along the same principal. It is a series of quizzes, each with 9 open-ended calulus questions. The answer to any question becomes an input to the next question.
For instance, suppose question 1 asks for the derivative of 5x2 + 7x - 1 at x = -1. If the answer to this question is A, question 2 might ask the speed of a particle traveling along the x-axis whose position is t cos (At) - sin (At) at t = A. Obviously you can't get question 2 correct unless you know the value of A.
So in order for a student to get the 9th problem correct, he/she must get the 8th problem correct. And thus get the 7th problem correct. And so forth - like a Rube Goldberg machine.
Calculus Conundrums will initially be distributed as a subscription. If you are a member of MasterMathMentor, you will automatically receive the student version of Calculus Conundrums every two weeks according to the table below. Each exam is comprised of 9 questions which follows the order in our AP® Calculus Manual. Each question does not require any information which is taught further in the course meaning you can give these exams along the way.
The problems are of medium difficulty. Most problems are relative straigh tforward, have numerical answers, and test the basic concepts of the AP® curriculum. A student who eventually gets every problem correct is destined to to well in the AP® exam. The quizzes were built for even weaker students to achieve success.
The Calculus Conundrum student versions are free. The solutions are available for purchase. With the solutions (that show all the necessary work to solve the problems), you receive a smart Excel spreadsheet that will use colors to indicate whether an answer is correct, incorrect, or not attempted. You are free to send this spreadsheet to students so they can do problems at home. You also receive the AB student version as two separate quizzes - one for derivatives and one for integrals, each giving a Rube Goldberg machine with 54 questions. So rather than giving these quizzes every couple of weeks, teachers can give them when completing the derivative section and integral section, making it terrific for practicing for the AP® exam.
Calculus Conundrums Solutions
Calculus Conundrums AB Solutions:
Web Download Version
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This purchase will provide you with Calculus Conundrums AB Soutions as downloadable files (PDF format - 13 mb and Excel file - 1 mb).
Only $23.95
|
Calculus Conundrums BC Solutions:
Web Download Version
|
This purchase will provide you with Calculus Conundrums BC Soutions as downloadable files (PDF format - 13 mb and Excel file - 1 mb).
Only $12.95
|
Calculus Conundrums AB/BC Solutions:
Web Download Version
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This purchase will provide you with Calculus Acrostic AB and BC as downloadable files (PDF format - 12.5 mb).
Only $33.95
|
Free Student Versions
Below are the topics for each set of quizzes. On the given date, teachers in the MMM community will receive an email with links to the quizzes. Also, the quizzes below will change to links and teachers can download them from here so there is no need to keep the original email.
Date |
AB Link and Topics |
BC Link and Topics |
9/5/19 |
Quiz 1
Limits - Graphical
Limits - Algebraic
Derivative Definition
|
Quiz 1
L'Hospital's Rule
Integration by Parts
Partial Fractions
|
9/19/19 |
Quiz 2
Differentiation Techniques
Trig Differentiation
Chain Rule
|
Quiz 2
Improper Integrals
Arc Length
Euler's Method
|
10/3/19 |
Quiz 3
Implicit Differentiation
Transcendental Functions
Derivatives of Inverses
|
|
10/17/19 |
Quiz 4
Linear Approximations
Continuity/Differentiation
Related Rates
|
Quiz 3
Logistic Growth
Parametric Equations
Polar Equations
|
10/31/19 |
Quiz 5
Straight-Line Motion
3 Important Theorems
Function Analysis
|
Quiz 4
Vector-Valued Functions
Vectors and Motion
Taylor Polynomials
|
11/14/19 |
Quiz 6
Absolute Extrema
Optimization
L'Hospital's Rule
|
|
12/12/19 |
Quiz 7
Indefinite Integrals
u-Substitution
Definite Integral as Area
|
Quiz 5
Infinite Series
Series Convergence
Error Bounds
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1/2/20 |
Quiz 8
Accumulation Function
Riemann Sums
Fundamental Theorem
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Quiz 6
Power Series
Taylor & Maclaurin Series
Manipulation of Series
|
1/16/20 |
Quiz 9
Integrals & Substitution
Integration w/Transcendentals
Integration and Motion
|
|
1/30/20 |
Quiz 10
Average Value and 2nd FT
Inverse Trig Integrals
Area
|
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2/13/20 |
Quiz 11
Volume of Revolutions
Applications of Integration
Slope Fields
|
|
2/27/20 |
Quiz 12
Separable DEQs
Exponential Growth
Other Growth Models
|
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Calculus Conundrums Solutions
Calculus Conundrums AB Solutions:
Web Download Version
|
This purchase will provide you with Calculus Conundrums AB Soutions as downloadable files (PDF format - 13 mb and Excel file - 1 mb).
Only $23.95
|
Calculus Conundrums BC Solutions:
Web Download Version
|
This purchase will provide you with Calculus Conundrums BC Soutions as downloadable files (PDF format - 13 mb and Excel file - 1 mb).
Only $12.95
|
Calculus Conundrums AB/BC Solutions:
Web Download Version
|
This purchase will provide you with Calculus Acrostic AB and BC as downloadable files (PDF format - 12.5 mb).
Only $33.95
|
|