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Library AP Calculus AB/BC AB 2024 FRQ 6
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FRQ 6. 2024 AB

Given two polynomial functions and their graph, students set up the integral for the area of a bounded region, compute the volume of a solid whose cross sections perpendicular to the x-axis are rectangles, and set up (without evaluating) the volume integral when a region is revolved about a horizontal line.

9 rubric points Calculator: Not allowed Difficulty 3/5
The Question (paraphrase)
Prompt paraphrase — original Tian2 description

Given two polynomial functions and their graph, students set up the integral for the area of a bounded region, compute the volume of a solid whose cross sections perpendicular to the x-axis are rectangles, and set up (without evaluating) the volume integral when a region is revolved about a horizontal line.

Read the complete question in the official College Board FRQ PDF ›

Worked Solution

Original Tian2 solution. Each part identifies which rubric points are earned and why.

Part (a)

2 RUBRIC POINTS

On $0\le x\le 2$ the graph shows $f(x)=x^2+2$ above $g(x)=x^2-2x$ (indeed $f(x)-g(x)=2x+2>0$ there). The area of $R$ is the integral of (top $-$ bottom): $$\text{Area}=\int_0^2\big(f(x)-g(x)\big)\,dx=\int_0^2\big((x^2+2)-(x^2-2x)\big)\,dx=\int_0^2(2x+2)\,dx.$$ (The problem asks only to write the expression, not evaluate it; for reference its value is $8$.)

Working
<span class="math-block">\[f(x)-g(x)=(x^2+2)-(x^2-2x)=2x+2&gt;0\ \text{on}\ [0,2]\]</span>
<span class="math-block">\[\text{Area}=\int_0^2\big(f(x)-g(x)\big)\,dx\]</span>
<span class="math-block">\[=\int_0^2(2x+2)\,dx\ \ (=8)\]</span>
Rubric annotation

2 points: 1 for the correct integrand f(x)-g(x) (top minus bottom, with f above g on [0,2]); 1 for the complete definite-integral expression with limits 0 and 2. Reversing the order (g-f) loses the integrand point unless presented as an absolute value; evaluating is not required.

Part (b)

4 RUBRIC POINTS

On $2\le x\le 5$, region $S$ lies between $g(x)=x^2-2x$ and the $x$-axis, with $g(x)\ge 0$ there, so the base of each cross section has length $g(x)$. The cross section is a rectangle whose height is half its base, so height $=\tfrac12 g(x)$ and cross-sectional area $$A(x)=\text{base}\times\text{height}=g(x)\cdot\tfrac12 g(x)=\tfrac12\big(g(x)\big)^2=\tfrac12\big(x^2-2x\big)^2.$$ The volume is $$V=\int_2^5 \tfrac12\big(x^2-2x\big)^2\,dx=\tfrac12\int_2^5\big(x^4-4x^3+4x^2\big)\,dx.$$ Antidifferentiate: $$\tfrac12\left[\frac{x^5}{5}-x^4+\frac{4x^3}{3}\right]_2^5.$$ At $x=5$: $\frac{3125}{5}-625+\frac{500}{3}=625-625+\frac{500}{3}=\frac{500}{3}$. At $x=2$: $\frac{32}{5}-16+\frac{32}{3}=\frac{96-240+160}{15}=\frac{16}{15}$. So $$V=\tfrac12\left(\frac{500}{3}-\frac{16}{15}\right)=\tfrac12\cdot\frac{2500-16}{15}=\tfrac12\cdot\frac{2484}{15}=\frac{1242}{15}=\frac{414}{5}.$$ The volume of the solid is $\dfrac{414}{5}=82.8$.

Working
<span class="math-block">\[A(x)=g(x)\cdot\tfrac12 g(x)=\tfrac12\big(x^2-2x\big)^2\]</span>
<span class="math-block">\[V=\int_2^5 \tfrac12\big(x^2-2x\big)^2\,dx=\tfrac12\int_2^5\big(x^4-4x^3+4x^2\big)\,dx\]</span>
<span class="math-block">\[=\tfrac12\left[\tfrac{x^5}{5}-x^4+\tfrac{4x^3}{3}\right]_2^5\]</span>
<span class="math-block">\[=\tfrac12\left(\tfrac{500}{3}-\tfrac{16}{15}\right)=\frac{414}{5}=82.8\]</span>
Rubric annotation

4 points: 1 for the integrand of the form (1/2)(g(x))^2 (base g, height g/2); 1 for the correct limits x=2 and x=5; 1 for a correct antiderivative of (1/2)(x^2-2x)^2; 1 for the answer 414/5 (=82.8). Using f instead of g, or omitting the 1/2 height factor, forfeits the integrand point and cascades; arithmetic slips on the antiderivative cost only the answer point if the setup is correct.

Part (c)

3 RUBRIC POINTS

Revolve $S$ about the horizontal line $y=20$. Since $S$ lies between $y=0$ and $y=g(x)$ (with $0\le g(x)\le 20$ on $[2,5]$) and the axis $y=20$ is above the region, each slice generates a **washer**: outer radius reaches from $y=20$ down to $y=0$, giving $R=20$; inner radius reaches from $y=20$ down to $y=g(x)$, giving $r=20-g(x)$. The volume is $$V=\pi\int_2^5\Big(R^2-r^2\Big)\,dx=\pi\int_2^5\Big(20^2-\big(20-g(x)\big)^2\Big)\,dx,$$ where $g(x)=x^2-2x$. The problem asks only for this expression, not its value. (As a numeric check, $V\approx 1741.699$.)

Working
<span class="math-block">\[R=20-0=20,\quad r=20-g(x)\]</span>
<span class="math-block">\[V=\pi\int_2^5\big(R^2-r^2\big)\,dx\]</span>
<span class="math-block">\[=\pi\int_2^5\Big(20^2-\big(20-(x^2-2x)\big)^2\Big)\,dx\]</span>
Rubric annotation

3 points: 1 for the washer-integrand form pi(20^2-(20-g(x))^2) (outer radius 20, inner radius 20-g); 1 for writing g(x)=x^2-2x explicitly in the integrand; 1 for the correct limits x=2 to x=5 and the constant/pi factor. Using radius g(x) (disk about the x-axis) instead of 20-g(x), or revolving f, does not earn the form point; the integral is not evaluated.

Originality statement

Our worked solutions and practice questions are original instructional content created by Tian2 AP. They are aligned to the concepts and skills described in College Board’s Course and Exam Description and are not reproductions of, or affiliated with, College Board’s official materials.