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[quote=Anonymous][quote=pettifogger]Lots of misinformation in this thread:

- There is only one precalculus class from the college board, it's called 'AP precalculus', (not 'AP Precalculus AB' or 'AP Precalculus BC').
- It is not necessary to learn any calculus topics such as limits, prior to taking a calculus class (calc AB or BC).
- I haven't seen evidence to the claim that Calculus BC covers 50% more topics than Calculus AB.

The traditional advice is still valid:

1) Students should have a strong understanding of algebra, functions, and trigonometry (as equivalent to what is taught in an honors precalculus course) to be prepared for Calculus BC. It is not necessary to learn any calculus topics, as Calculus BC covers calculus from the beginning.

2) Students who do not feel comfortable with the faster pace of Calculus BC, or who do not feel they have a strong understanding of the fundamentals (algebra, functions, and trigonometry), would be better off taking Calculus AB.

Regarding the recent trend of taking two years of calculus, i.e Calc AB followed by Calc BC, it is unnecessary for most students, mainly because much of Calculus BC [b]is a repeat of AB.[/b] If this trend is popular now, it is likely because more students are unprepared for a calculus class but are accelerated enough in their math course sequence that they have the time to take both in two years while not having any other suitable math choices in the second (senior) year.

Another contributing factor is that Calculus AB is no longer perceived as competitive for STEM majors, which puts pressure on students to take BC, if they can. I don't think this is absolutely necessary for most colleges, but I can see the logic of it in today's more competitive environment with regards to top colleges.
[/quote]
1) No, the information is correct. There is one College Board AP Precalculus course, which gives districts the option of forming a course with the three units covered on the AP Precalc exam or the option of forming a course based on the three exam units plus an optional fourth unit. FCPS built courses accordingly and gave the name "AP Precalc AB" to the three-unit version and "AP Precalc BC" to the four-unit version. This is an FCPS forum so readers would be familiar with that. If you look at the current FCPS course catalog, you will see that there is no generic AP Precalc course listed.  https://insys.fcps.edu/CourseCatOnline/frontPanel/1041/nocourselist/0/0/0/1

2) Is it necessary to cover limits and intro calculus in honors precalculus? No. Is it wise to do? Yes. Which is why FCPS (via honors precalc/trig) and many other districts have always done this. If you don't cover limits and intro calc ahead of time, BC becomes very  crammed and rushed. Can you do it? Sure. Should you do that if you want students to thrive? No.

3) Calc BC having 50% more content than Calc AB comes from comparing the content/pacing of FCPS's Calc AB and Calc BC courses. FCPS teachers would regularly cite this figure in presentations before AP Precalc was introduced.

Students have successfully taken honors precalculus then BC calculus for years. There is no need to slow down precalculus for advanced students which is what switching from honors precalc/trig to AP Precalc AB or AP Precalc BC does. Leave the additional time for delving into the more complex concepts of Calc BC. [/quote]

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