Advanced Placement
What is AP Math?
There are four AP math courses:
Learn more about each course below.
AP Precalculus
AP Precalculus is a new course for any student who is interested in preparing for calculus or gaining the math skills needed for STEM majors or careers like mathematics, physics, biology, health science, social science, and data science. In this course you’ll develop an understanding of modeling and functions, and how to examine scenarios through multiple mathematical representations. You’ll also learn how to:
- Algebraically manipulate functions, equations, and expressions
- Translate mathematical information between representations
- Communicate with precise language, and provide rationales for conclusions
To learn more, visit Why Take AP Precalculus? and Students’ Journeys to AP Precalculus.
AP Calculus
There are two AP calculus class options that you can take, AP Calculus AB and AP Calculus BC. Both calculus courses explore college-level math and provide the opportunity for you to earn college credit, advanced placement, or both. There is overlap between the topics covered within each course, and the prerequisites needed for both courses are comparable. Learn more about each course below.
AP Calculus AB
AP Calculus AB is a college-level course that explores the concepts and applications of differential and integral calculus. This course covers the following topics:
- Limits and continuity
- Differentiation: Definition and fundamental properties
- Differentiation: Composite, implicit, and inverse functions
- Contextual applications of differentiation
- Analytical applications of differentiation
- Integration and accumulation of change
- Differential equations
- Applications of integration
To learn more about this course, visit the AP Calculus AB course page.
AP Calculus BC
All topics in the eight units of AP Calculus AB are also included in AP Calculus BC. However, AP Calculus BC also covers the following topics:
- Additional techniques of integration
- Euler’s method and logistic models with differential equations
- Arc length and distance traveled along a smooth curve
- Parametric equations, polar coordinates, and vector-valued functions
- Infinite sequences and series
To learn more, visit the AP Calculus BC course page.
For more information about the similarities and differences between these two courses, check out The Difference Between AP Calculus AB and BC.
AP Statistics
AP Statistics is a course where you’ll learn the concepts and tools used for collecting, analyzing and drawing conclusions from data. The topics taught in this course include:
- One-Variable Data
- Two-Variable Data
- Collecting Data
- Probability, Random Variables, and Probability Distributions
- Sampling Distributions
- Proportions
- Means
- Chi-square
- Slopes
To learn more, visit the AP Statistics course page.
Visit the AP courses page to learn more about other AP courses and talk to your school counselor about what courses are available at your school and which courses may be right for you.
