Calculus AB

Calculus AB covers the fundamental concepts of differential and integral calculus, preparing students for advanced mathematical applications.

Advanced Topics

Differential Equations and Slope Fields

Following the Curve

Differential equations help us describe systems where things are changing and those changes depend on the current state—like populations or cooling coffee!

What is a Differential Equation?

It’s an equation involving a function and its derivative, like \( \frac{dy}{dx} = 3x \). Solving it tells us how something changes over time.

Slope Fields

Slope fields are visual maps showing the direction a solution curve would travel at any point. Each little dash shows the slope at that spot.

Why They Matter

Many real-world processes—like the growth of bacteria or how heat spreads—are modeled by differential equations.

How to Solve

  • Separate variables if possible and integrate both sides.
  • Use initial conditions to find specific solutions.

Seeing Solutions

Slope fields help us visualize all possible solutions without solving the equation exactly.

Examples

  • Sketching the slope field for \( \frac{dy}{dx} = x \) to see possible solution curves.

  • Solving \( \frac{dy}{dx} = 2y \) by separating variables and integrating.

In a Nutshell

Differential equations describe changing systems; slope fields show solution directions visually.