AP CALCULUS AB Scoring Guide

Unit 4 Progress Check: FRQ Part B

1. NO CALCULATOR IS ALLOWED FOR THIS QUESTION.

Show all of your work, even though the question may not explicitly remind you to do so. Clearly label any
functions, graphs, tables, or other objects that you use. Justifications require that you give mathematical reasons,
and that you verify the needed conditions under which relevant theorems, properties, definitions, or tests are
applied. Your work will be scored on the correctness and completeness of your methods as well as your answers.
Answers without supporting work will usually not receive credit.

Unless otherwise specified, answers (numeric or algebraic) need not be simplified. If your answer is given as a
decimal approximation, it should be correct to three places after the decimal point.

Unless otherwise specified, the domain of a function is assumed to be the set of all real numbers for which
is a real number.

The depth of a river at a certain point is modeled by the function defined above, where is measured in
feet and time is measured in hours.

(a) Find . Using correct units, explain the meaning of in the context of the problem.

(b) The graph of is concave down for . Use the line tangent to the graph of at to show
that .

(c) Find .

Part A

The first 2 points may be earned with the presence of a correct numerical answer.

The second point may be earned with a maximum of one sign error in

The third point requires a time reference, rate, and units. The response is eligible for the third point if the second point is
earned AND provided the behavior described is consistent with the sign of the approximation, the numerical value, and
the time reference.

Select a point value to view scoring criteria, solutions, and/or examples and to score the response.

0 1 2 3

The student response accurately includes all three of the criteria below.

AP Calculus AB Page 1 of 6
 Scoring Guide

Unit 4 Progress Check: FRQ Part B

interpretation with units

Solution:

For

At time hours, the depth of the river is changing at a rate of foot per hour.

Part B

The second point may be earned with a maximum of one error in

For the second and third points, trigonometric function values do not need to be evaluated.

The third point may be earned if the response is consistent with previous results.

Select a point value to view scoring criteria, solutions, and/or examples and to score the response.

0 1 2 3 4

The student response accurately includes all four of the criteria below.

approximation
explanation

Solution:

For

Because the graph of is concave down for approximation of is an overestimate of the actual
value of .

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 Scoring Guide

Unit 4 Progress Check: FRQ Part B

Therefore,

Part C

The first point requires showing that an indeterminate form 0 is present in order to apply L’Hospital’s Rule. Any error
in mathematical communication (e.g., writing “ " ” or not using limit notation) impacts the first point.

The second point requires substitution of function values. A simplified answer is not required; trigonometric function
values do not need to be evaluated. Any differentiation or computation error impacts the second point.

Select a point value to view scoring criteria, solutions, and/or examples to score the response.

0 1 2

The student response accurately includes both of the criteria below.

applies L’Hospital’s Rule

Solution:

By L’Hospital’s Rule,

AP Calculus AB Page 3 of 6
 Scoring Guide

Unit 4 Progress Check: FRQ Part B

2. NO CALCULATOR IS ALLOWED FOR THIS QUESTION.

Show all of your work, even though the question may not explicitly remind you to do so. Clearly label any
functions, graphs, tables, or other objects that you use. Justifications require that you give mathematical reasons,
and that you verify the needed conditions under which relevant theorems, properties, definitions, or tests are
applied. Your work will be scored on the correctness and completeness of your methods as well as your answers.
Answers without supporting work will usually not receive credit.

Unless otherwise specified, answers (numeric or algebraic) need not be simplified. If your answer is given as a
decimal approximation, it should be correct to three places after the decimal point.

Unless otherwise specified, the domain of a function is assumed to be the set of all real numbers for which
is a real number.

A particle moves along the -axis so that its position at time is given by .

(a) Show that the velocity of the particle at time is given by .

(b) Is the particle moving toward the origin or away from the origin at time ? Give a reason for your
answer.

(c) The acceleration of the particle is given by . Write an expression for , and find the value of .

(d) What position does the particle approach as approaches infinity?

Part A

The first point is earned for successful demonstration of the quotient rule.

The second point is earned for a response that arrives at the given expression rather than an algebraically equivalent
expression.

Select a point value to view scoring criteria, solutions, and/or examples and to score the response.

0 1 2

The student response accurately includes both of the criteria below.

quotient rule
verification

Solution:

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 Scoring Guide

Unit 4 Progress Check: FRQ Part B

Part B

The response is eligible for the third point if either of the first 2 points is earned and the answer with reason is consistent
with the previous results.

Select a point value to view scoring criteria, solutions, and/or examples and to score the response.

0 1 2 3

The student response accurately includes all three of the criteria below.

answer with reason

Solution:

Because the particle is to the left of the origin at time

Because the particle is moving to the right at time

Therefore, the particle is moving toward the origin at time

Part C

The first and second points require evidence of quotient rule and chain rule and no errors. At most 1 out of 3 points is
earned for partial communication of quotient rule and chain rule with a maximum of one computational error.

A simplified answer is not required for the third point.

Select a point value to view scoring criteria, solutions, and/or examples to score the response.

0 1 2 3

The student response accurately includes all three of the criteria below.

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 Scoring Guide

Unit 4 Progress Check: FRQ Part B

quotient rule
chain rule
answer

Solution:

Part D

Supporting work is not required to earn the point.

Select a point value to view scoring criteria, solutions, and/or examples and to score the response.

0 1

The student response accurately includes a correct position.

Solution:

The particle approaches as approaches infinity.

Page 6 of 6 AP Calculus AB