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👑AP Calculus AB/BC Unit 1 Vocabulary

64 essential vocabulary terms and definitions for Unit 1 – Limits and Continuity

Study Unit 1
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👑Unit 1 – Limits and Continuity
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👑Unit 1 – Limits and Continuity

1.1 Introducing Calculus

TermDefinition
average rate of changeThe change in the value of a function divided by the change in the input over an interval [a, b], calculated as (f(b) - f(a))/(b - a).
dynamic changeChange that occurs over time or as variables vary, which calculus uses limits to understand and model.
instantaneous rate of changeThe rate at which a function is changing at a specific point, represented by the derivative at that point.
limitThe value that a function approaches as the input approaches some value, which may or may not equal the function's value at that point.
rate of change at an instantThe instantaneous rate of change of a function at a specific point, interpreted through the limiting behavior of average rates of change over intervals containing that point.

1.10 Exploring Types of Discontinuities

TermDefinition
continuityA property of a function at a point where the function is defined, the limit exists, and the limit equals the function value at that point.
jump discontinuityA type of discontinuity where the left-hand and right-hand limits of a function exist but are not equal, causing the function to jump from one value to another.
removable discontinuityA discontinuity that can be eliminated by defining or redefining the function value at that point to equal the limit.
vertical asymptoteA vertical line where a function approaches positive or negative infinity, resulting in a discontinuity that cannot be removed.

1.11 Defining Continuity at a Point

TermDefinition
continuityA property of a function at a point where the function is defined, the limit exists, and the limit equals the function value at that point.
functionA mathematical relationship that assigns exactly one output value to each input value of an independent variable.
limitThe value that a function approaches as the input approaches some value, which may or may not equal the function's value at that point.

1.12 Confirming Continuity over an Interval

TermDefinition
continuousA function that has no breaks, jumps, or holes in its graph over a given interval.
domainThe set of all input values (x-values) for which a function is defined.
exponential functionA function of the form f(x) = a^x, where a is a positive constant not equal to 1.
intervalA connected set of real numbers, typically expressed as a range between two endpoints.
logarithmic functionA function of the form f(x) = log_a(x), the inverse of an exponential function.
polynomial functionA function composed of terms with non-negative integer exponents and real coefficients.
power functionA function of the form f(x) = x^n, where n is a real constant.
rational functionA function expressed as the ratio of two polynomial functions.
trigonometric functionFunctions such as sine, cosine, and tangent that relate angles to ratios of sides in a right triangle.

1.13 Removing Discontinuities

TermDefinition
continuousA function that has no breaks, jumps, or holes in its graph over a given interval.
discontinuityA point where a function is not continuous, often due to a break, jump, or hole in the graph.
limitThe value that a function approaches as the input approaches some value, which may or may not equal the function's value at that point.
piecewise-defined functionA function defined by different expressions over different intervals or regions of its domain.
removable discontinuityA discontinuity that can be eliminated by defining or redefining the function value at that point to equal the limit.

1.14 Connecting Infinite Limits and Vertical Asymptotes

TermDefinition
asymptotic behaviorThe behavior of a function as it approaches a line (asymptote) but never reaches it, often described using limits.
infinite limitLimits that describe the behavior of a function as it approaches infinity or negative infinity, or as the function values grow without bound.
unbounded behaviorThe behavior of a function whose values grow without limit, either positively or negatively, as the input approaches a particular value or infinity.

1.15 Connecting Limits at Infinity and Horizontal Asymptotes

TermDefinition
end behaviorThe behavior of a function as the input values approach positive or negative infinity.
limits at infinityThe value that a function approaches as the input variable increases or decreases without bound.
rate of changeThe measure of how quickly a quantity changes with respect to another variable, often time.

1.16 Working with the Intermediate Value Theorem (IVT Calc)

TermDefinition
closed intervalAn interval that includes both of its endpoints, denoted as [a, b].
continuousA function that has no breaks, jumps, or holes in its graph over a given interval.
Intermediate Value TheoremA theorem stating that if a function is continuous on a closed interval [a, b] and d is a value between f(a) and f(b), then there exists at least one number c in the interval where f(c) = d.

1.2 Defining Limits and Using Limit Notation

TermDefinition
analytic notationThe symbolic mathematical representation of a limit, typically written as lim(x→a) f(x) = L.
approachesIn the context of limits, the behavior of a function's output as the input gets arbitrarily close to a specific value.
functionA mathematical relationship that assigns exactly one output value to each input value of an independent variable.
limitThe value that a function approaches as the input approaches some value, which may or may not equal the function's value at that point.
limit notationThe symbolic representation of a limit, written as lim[x→c] f(x) = R, indicating that f(x) approaches R as x approaches c.

1.3 Estimating Limit Values from Graphs

TermDefinition
limitThe value that a function approaches as the input approaches some value, which may or may not equal the function's value at that point.
one-sided limitA limit that considers the function's behavior as the input approaches a value from only one direction (either from the left or from the right).
oscillatingA function behavior where the output repeatedly fluctuates between values without settling on a single limit as the input approaches a particular value.
unboundedA function behavior where the output grows without bound (approaches positive or negative infinity) as the input approaches a particular value.

1.4 Estimating Limit Values from Tables

TermDefinition
functionA mathematical relationship that assigns exactly one output value to each input value of an independent variable.
limitThe value that a function approaches as the input approaches some value, which may or may not equal the function's value at that point.

1.5 Determining Limits Using Algebraic Properties of Limits

TermDefinition
composite functionA function formed by combining two functions where the output of one function becomes the input of another.
differencesThe result of subtracting one function from another.
limitThe value that a function approaches as the input approaches some value, which may or may not equal the function's value at that point.
limit theoremsAlgebraic rules that allow limits of combined functions to be determined from the limits of individual functions.
one-sided limitA limit that considers the function's behavior as the input approaches a value from only one direction (either from the left or from the right).
productsThe result of multiplying two or more functions together.
quotientThe result of dividing one function by another.
sumsThe result of adding two or more functions together.

1.6 Determining Limits Using Algebraic Manipulation

TermDefinition
conjugateAn expression formed by changing the sign between two terms, such as the conjugate of (a + b) being (a - b).
equivalent expressionsDifferent algebraic forms of the same function that have the same value.
factoringThe process of breaking down an expression into its multiplicative components.
limitThe value that a function approaches as the input approaches some value, which may or may not equal the function's value at that point.
rational functionA function expressed as the ratio of two polynomial functions.
squeeze theoremA method for determining the limit of a function by showing that the function is bounded between two other functions that have the same limit at a point.
trigonometric functionFunctions such as sine, cosine, and tangent that relate angles to ratios of sides in a right triangle.

1.8 Determining Limits Using the Squeeze Theorem

TermDefinition
equivalent expressionsDifferent algebraic forms of the same function that have the same value.
limitThe value that a function approaches as the input approaches some value, which may or may not equal the function's value at that point.
squeeze theoremA method for determining the limit of a function by showing that the function is bounded between two other functions that have the same limit at a point.