AP Calculus BC Unit 5: Analytical Applications
Practice AP Calculus BC Unit 5 questions on Mean and Extreme Value Theorems, derivative tests, concavity, and optimization.
- Syllabus
- Effective Fall 2025
- Course
- AP Calculus BC
Practice AP Calculus BC Unit 5 questions on Mean and Extreme Value Theorems, derivative tests, concavity, and optimization.
An invasive species of plant appears in a fruit grove at time t=0 and begins to spread. The
function C defined by C(t)=7.6arctan(0.2t) models the number of acres in the fruit grove
affected by the species t weeks after the species appears. It can be shown that C′(t)=25+t238.
(Note: Your calculator should be in radian mode.)
Find the time t when the instantaneous rate of change of C equals the average rate of change
of C over the time interval 0≤t≤4. Show the setup for your calculations.
B Find the time t when the instantaneous rate of change of C equals the average rate of change of C over
the time interval 0≤t≤4. Show the setup for your calculations.
| 4−0C(4)−C(0)=1.282008 | Uses average rate of change | Point 3 (P3) |
|---|---|---|
| C′(t)=25+t238=1.282008⇒t=2.154298<br>The instantaneous rate of change of C equals the average rate of change of C over the interval 0≤t≤4 at time t=2.154. | Answer with supporting work | Point 4 (P4) |
Scoring Notes for Part B
- P3 may be earned by presenting the expression or value for the average rate of change. Note that
because C(0)=0 and the interval is 0≤t≤4, any of the following will earn P3:4∫04C′(t)dt,
4−0C(4)−C(0),4C(4),4−05.128−0,45.128, or 1.282. However, neither P3 nor P4 is earned by just
presenting t=1.282.
- P4 is earned for the correct answer supported by the appropriate equation. A reported answer should
be accurate to three places after the decimal point, rounded or truncated. An inappropriately rounded
answer does not earn the point, unless an earlier point was not earned due to inappropriate rounding.
The following response, for example, earns both P3 and P4:C′(t)=4C(4)−C(0) when t=2.154.
At time t=4 weeks after the invasive species appears in the fruit grove, measures are taken
to counter the spread of the species. The function A, defined by A(t)=C(t)−∫4t0.1⋅ln(x)dx,
models the number of acres affected by the species over the time interval 4≤t≤36. At what
time t, for 4≤t≤36,doesA attain its maximum value? Justify your answer.
D At time t=4 weeks after the invasive species appears in the fruit grove, measures are taken to counter
the spread of the species. The function A, defined by A(t)=C(t)−∫4t0.1⋅ln(x)dx, models the number
of acres affected by the species over the time interval 4≤t≤36. At what time t, for 4≤t≤36, does
A attain its maximum value? Justify your answer.
| A′(t)=C′(t)−0.1⋅lnt | Considers A′(t)=0 Point 7 (P7) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| For 4≤t≤36, the maximum value of A(t) occurs when A′(t)=0 or at an endpoint. A′(t)=C′(t)−0.1⋅lnt=0⇒C′(t)=0.1⋅lnt | |||||
| ⇒t=11.441700t | A(t)<br>4 | 5.128031<br>11.441700 | 7.316978<br>36 | 1.743056 | Justification Point 8 (P8) |
| Therefore, the number of acres affected by the species is a maximum at time t=11.442 (or 11.441) weeks. | Answer with supporting work |
Scoring Notes for
The graph of the differentiable function f, shown for −6≤x≤7, has a horizontal tangent at x=-2 and is linear for 0≤x≤7. Let R be the region in the second quadrant bounded by the graph of f, the vertical line x=-6, and the x - and y-axes. Region R has area 12.
For the function g defined in part (a), find all values of x in the interval 0≤x≤6 at which the graph of g has a critical point. Give a reason for your answer.
g′(x)=f(x)
Fundamental
Theorem of Calculus
1 point
g′(x)=f(x)=0⇒x=4
Answer with reason
1 point
Therefore, the graph of g has a critical point at x=4.
Scoring notes:
- The first point is earned for explicitly making the connection g′=f in this part.
○ A response that writes g′′=f′ earns the first point but can only earn the second point by
reasoning from f=0.
- A response that does not earn the first point is eligible to earn the second point with an implied
application of the FTC (e.g., "Because g′(4)=0,x=4 is a critical point").
- A response that reports any additional critical points in 0<x<6 does not earn the second point.
○ Any presented critical point outside the interval 0<x<6 will not affect scoring.
Total for part (b) 2 points
Let f be a differentiable function with f(4)=3. On the interval 0≤x≤7, the graph of f′, the derivative of f, consists of a semicircle and two line segments, as shown in the figure above.
Find the x-coordinates of all points of inflection of the graph of f for 0<x<7. Justify your answer.
The graph of f has a point of inflection at each of x=2 and
Answer
1 point
x=6, because f′(x) changes from decreasing to increasing at
x=2 and from increasing to decreasing at x=6.
Justification
1 point
Scoring notes:
- A response that gives only one of x=2 or x=6, along with a correct justification, earns 1 of the
2 points.
- A response that claims that there is a point of inflection at any value other than x=2 or x=6
earns neither point.
- To earn the second point a response must use correct reasoning based on the graph of f′. Examples
of correct reasoning include:
○ Correctly discussing the signs of the slopes of the graph of f′
○ Citing x=2 and x=6 as the locations of local extrema on the graph of f′
- Examples of reasoning not (sufficiently) connected to the graph of f′ include:
○ Reasoning based on sign changes in f′′ unless the connection is made between the sign of f′′
and the slopes of the graph of f′
○ Reasoning based only on the concavity of the graph of f
- The second point cannot be earned by use of vague or undefined terms such as "it" or "the function"
or "the derivative."
- Responses that report inflection points as ordered pairs must report the points (2,3+π) and (6,5)
in order to earn the first point. If the y-coordinates are reported incorrectly, the response remains
eligible for the second point.
Total for part (b) 2 points
Let g be the function defined by g(x)=f(x)-x. On what intervals, if any, is g decreasing for 0≤x≤7 ? Show the analysis that leads to your answer.
g′(x)=f′(x)−1g′(x)=f′(x)−1
1 point
f′(x)−1≤0⇒f′(x)≤1
The graph of g is decreasing on the interval 0≤x≤5 because g′(x)≤0 on this interval.
Interval with reason
1 point
Scoring notes:
- The first point can be earned for f′(x)≤1 or the equivalent, in words or symbols.
- Endpoints do not need to be included in the interval to be eligible for the second point.
Total for part (c) 2 points
For the function g defined in part (c), find the absolute minimum value on the interval 0≤x≤7. Justify your answer.
Write your responses to this question only on the designated pages in the separate Free Response booklet. Write your solution to each part in the space provided for that part.

For 0<x<5, g′(x)<0, and for 5<x<7, g′(x)>0. Therefore, the absolute minimum occurs at x=5. Since g(5)=f(5)−5=27−5=−23, the absolute minimum value of g is −23.
Scoring notes:
- A justification using a local argument must state that g′ changes from negative to positive at x=5 and that x=5 is the only critical point.
- A response that explicitly isolates x=5 as the only critical number in (0,7) earns the critical-point component.
- Using a candidates test, the relevant values are g(0)=3+2π, g(5)=−23, and g(7)=−21; the minimum is −23.
Total for part (d)
for question 3
9 points
Curve C is defined by the polar equation r(θ)=2sin2θ for 0≤θ≤π. Curve C and the semicircle
r=21 for 0≤θ≤π are shown in the x y-plane.

(Note: Your calculator should be in radian mode.)
It can be shown that dθdx=4sinθcos2θ−2sin3θ for curve C. For 0≤θ≤2π, find the value
of θ that corresponds to the point on curve C that is farthest from the y-axis. Justify your
answer.
C It can be shown that dθdx=4sinθcos2θ−2sin3θ for curve C. For 0≤θ≤2π, find the value of θ that
corresponds to the point on curve C that is farthest from the y-axis. Justify your answer.
| For 0≤θ≤2π, the curve C is in the first quadrant. Thus, a point on the curve will be farthest away from the y-axis when the x-coordinate attains its maximum value. This will either occur when dθdx=0 or at an endpoint of the interval 0≤θ≤2π.dθdx=0 | Considers dθdx=0 | Point 5 (P5) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ⇒θ=0.955317θ | x(θ)=r(θ)cosθ<br>0 | 0<br>0.955317 | 0.769800<br>2π | 0 | Justification | Point 6 (P6) |
| Therefore, the value of θ for which the point on the curve is farthest from the y-axis is 0.955. | Answer with supporting work | Point 7 (P7) |
Scoring Notes for Part C
- P5 is earned for considering dθdx=0.P5 is not earned by just presenting θ=0.955317.
A response that discusses the sign of dθdx changing or uses the phrase "critical points of x(θ) " also
earns P5.
- The value θ=0.955317 might be presented as arccos(31),arcsin(32), or arctan(2).
- To earn P6 using a candidates test, a response must make a global argument by correctly evaluating
x(θ) at θ=0,θ=0.955317, and θ=2π. The evaluations must be correct to the first digit after
the decimal, rounded or truncated.
- Alternate justifications:
○ dθdx>0 for 0<θ<0.955, and dθdx<0 for 0.955<θ<2π. Therefore, θ=0.955 is the
location of the absolute maximum for x(θ) on the interval 0≤θ≤2π.
○ Because dθdx changes sign from positive to negative at θ=0.955 (this might be presented as
" dθdx>0 for θ<0.955, and dθdx<0 for θ>0.955 "), it is the location of a relative maximum
for x(θ). And because θ=0.955 is the only critical point of x(θ) in the interval 0≤θ≤2π,
it is the location of the absolute maximum for x(θ) on the interval.
○ Because dθdxθ=0.955=0 and dθ2d2xθ=0.955<0,θ=0.955 is the location of a relative
maximum for x(θ). And because θ=0.955 is the only critical point of x(θ) in the interval
0≤θ≤2π, it is the location of the absolute maximum for x(θ) on the interval.
- A response that presents only a local argument (such as a First Derivative Test or a Second
Derivative Test) or an incorrect global argument does not earn P6 but is eligible for P7 with the
correct answer. A reported answer should be accurate to three places after the decimal point,
rounded or truncated. An inappropriately rounded answer does not earn the point, unless an earlier
point was not earned due to inappropriate rounding.