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Library AP Calculus AB/BC Unit 6 Practice
⁂   Original Practice Questions

Practice: Integration and Accumulation of Change

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7 questions Unit 6
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  • 1.
    ftc-part1 chain-rule-with-variable-bounds accumulation-functions Calculator not allowed Difficulty 3/5

    If <span class="math-inline">\(g(x) = \int_{1}^{x^{2}} \sqrt{t}\,dt\)</span>, then <span class="math-inline">\(g'(x) =\)</span>

    A. x
    B. 2x^{2}
    C. 2x|x|
    D. \sqrt{x^{2}}
    SHOW ANSWER & RATIONALE
    Answer: C

    Apply FTC Part 1 with the chain rule. The upper bound is <span class="math-inline">\(u(x) = x^2\)</span>, so <span class="math-inline">\(u'(x) = 2x\)</span>. <span class="math-block">\[g'(x) = \sqrt{x^2} \cdot 2x = |x| \cdot 2x = 2x|x|\]</span> **Why the distractors fail:** - **(A) <span class="math-inline">\(x\)</span>:** Ignores both the chain rule and the integrand evaluation — likely a guess or confusion with <span class="math-inline">\(\frac{d}{dx}[x^2] = 2x\)</span> combined with a wrong simplification. - **(B) <span class="math-inline">\(2x^2\)</span>:** Applies the chain rule factor <span class="math-inline">\(2x\)</span> but evaluates <span class="math-inline">\(\sqrt{t}\)</span> at <span class="math-inline">\(t = x\)</span> instead of <span class="math-inline">\(t = x^2\)</span>, giving <span class="math-inline">\(\sqrt{x} \cdot 2x = 2x\sqrt{x} = 2x^{3/2}\)</span>. Choice B is likely a sign/exponent error variant. - **(D) <span class="math-inline">\(\sqrt{x^2}\)</span>:** Correctly evaluates the integrand at <span class="math-inline">\(x^2\)</span> (giving <span class="math-inline">\(\sqrt{x^2} = |x|\)</span>) but **omits the chain-rule factor <span class="math-inline">\(u'(x) = 2x\)</span>** — the most common error on FTC Part 1 with composite bounds.

  • 2.
    ftc-part2 definite-integral-evaluation antiderivatives Calculator not allowed Difficulty 1/5

    <span class="math-inline">\(\displaystyle\int_{1}^{3} \left(6x^{2} - 4\right)\,dx =\)</span>

    A. 40
    B. 42
    C. 44
    D. 52
    SHOW ANSWER & RATIONALE
    Answer: C

    Apply FTC Part 2. An antiderivative of <span class="math-inline">\(6x^2 - 4\)</span> is <span class="math-inline">\(F(x) = 2x^3 - 4x\)</span>. <span class="math-block">\[\int_{1}^{3}\left(6x^2 - 4\right)\,dx = F(3) - F(1) = (54 - 12) - (2 - 4) = 42 - (-2) = 44\]</span> **Why the distractors fail:** - **(A) <span class="math-inline">\(40\)</span>:** Sign error in the evaluation step — computes <span class="math-inline">\(F(3) + F(1) = 42 + (-2) = 40\)</span> instead of <span class="math-inline">\(F(3) - F(1)\)</span>. Subtracting the lower-bound value, not adding it, is the rule. - **(B) <span class="math-inline">\(42\)</span>:** Evaluates only at the upper bound, <span class="math-inline">\(F(3) = 42\)</span>, forgetting to subtract <span class="math-inline">\(F(1)\)</span> entirely. - **(D) <span class="math-inline">\(52\)</span>:** Fails to antidifferentiate the constant term: uses <span class="math-inline">\(F(x) = 2x^3 - 4\)</span> (leaving <span class="math-inline">\(-4\)</span> unintegrated instead of <span class="math-inline">\(-4x\)</span>), giving <span class="math-inline">\((54-4)-(2-4) = 52\)</span>.

  • 3.
    ftc-part1 accumulation-functions ftc1-vs-ftc2 Calculator not allowed Difficulty 2/5

    If <span class="math-inline">\(g(x) = \displaystyle\int_{2}^{x} \left(t^{3} + 1\right)\,dt\)</span>, then <span class="math-inline">\(g'(x) =\)</span>

    A. \frac{x^{4}}{4} + x - 6
    B. x^{3} + 1
    C. x^{3} - 8
    D. \frac{x^{4}}{4} + x
    SHOW ANSWER & RATIONALE
    Answer: B

    By FTC Part 1, the derivative of an accumulation function with a constant lower bound and an upper bound of <span class="math-inline">\(x\)</span> is simply the integrand evaluated at <span class="math-inline">\(x\)</span>: <span class="math-block">\[g'(x) = \frac{d}{dx}\int_{2}^{x}\left(t^3 + 1\right)\,dt = x^3 + 1\]</span> **Why the distractors fail:** - **(A) <span class="math-inline">\(\frac{x^4}{4} + x - 6\)</span>:** Confuses FTC Part 1 with FTC Part 2 — first computes the definite integral <span class="math-inline">\(g(x) = \frac{x^4}{4} + x - 6\)</span> and then forgets to differentiate, leaving the accumulation function itself. - **(C) <span class="math-inline">\(x^3 - 8\)</span>:** Mistakenly subtracts the integrand evaluated at the lower bound: <span class="math-inline">\((x^3+1) - (2^3+1) = x^3 - 8\)</span>. FTC Part 1 never involves the lower bound when it is constant. - **(D) <span class="math-inline">\(\frac{x^4}{4} + x\)</span>:** Computes the antiderivative but drops the constant from the lower-limit evaluation — another FTC Part 1 / Part 2 confusion that also mishandles the bounds.

  • 4.
    u-substitution definite-integral-evaluation changing-limits-of-integration Calculator not allowed Difficulty 3/5

    <span class="math-inline">\(\displaystyle\int_{0}^{2} x\sqrt{x^{2}+1}\,dx =\)</span>

    A. \frac{2}{3}\left(5\sqrt{5}-1\right)
    B. \frac{1}{3}\left(5\sqrt{5}-1\right)
    C. \frac{1}{2}\left(5\sqrt{5}-1\right)
    D. \frac{2\sqrt{2}}{3}
    SHOW ANSWER & RATIONALE
    Answer: B

    Use the substitution <span class="math-inline">\(u = x^2 + 1\)</span>, so <span class="math-inline">\(du = 2x\,dx\)</span> and <span class="math-inline">\(x\,dx = \tfrac{1}{2}\,du\)</span>. Change the limits: when <span class="math-inline">\(x = 0\)</span>, <span class="math-inline">\(u = 1\)</span>; when <span class="math-inline">\(x = 2\)</span>, <span class="math-inline">\(u = 5\)</span>. <span class="math-block">\[\int_{0}^{2} x\sqrt{x^2+1}\,dx = \frac{1}{2}\int_{1}^{5} \sqrt{u}\,du = \frac{1}{2}\cdot \frac{2}{3}u^{3/2}\Big|_{1}^{5} = \frac{1}{3}\left(5^{3/2} - 1\right) = \frac{1}{3}\left(5\sqrt{5} - 1\right)\]</span> **Why the distractors fail:** - **(A) <span class="math-inline">\(\frac{2}{3}(5\sqrt{5}-1)\)</span>:** Forgets the <span class="math-inline">\(\tfrac{1}{2}\)</span> factor from <span class="math-inline">\(x\,dx = \tfrac{1}{2}\,du\)</span>, doubling the answer. - **(C) <span class="math-inline">\(\frac{1}{2}(5\sqrt{5}-1)\)</span>:** Power-rule slip — integrates <span class="math-inline">\(\sqrt{u}\)</span> as <span class="math-inline">\(u^{3/2}\)</span> without dividing by <span class="math-inline">\(\tfrac{3}{2}\)</span>, so the <span class="math-inline">\(\tfrac{1}{2}\)</span> survives but the <span class="math-inline">\(\tfrac{2}{3}\)</span> is lost. - **(D) <span class="math-inline">\(\frac{2\sqrt{2}}{3}\)</span>:** Forgets to change the limits of integration — keeps the antiderivative <span class="math-inline">\(\tfrac{1}{3}u^{3/2}\)</span> but evaluates it at the original <span class="math-inline">\(x\)</span>-limits <span class="math-inline">\(0\)</span> and <span class="math-inline">\(2\)</span> instead of <span class="math-inline">\(u\)</span>-limits <span class="math-inline">\(1\)</span> and <span class="math-inline">\(5\)</span>.

  • 5.
    ftc-part1 chain-rule-with-variable-bounds accumulation-functions Calculator not allowed Difficulty 3/5

    If <span class="math-inline">\(h(x) = \displaystyle\int_{1}^{x^{3}} \frac{1}{t}\,dt\)</span> for <span class="math-inline">\(x &gt; 0\)</span>, then <span class="math-inline">\(h'(x) =\)</span>

    A. \frac{1}{x^{3}}
    B. \frac{3}{x}
    C. 3x
    D. 3\ln x
    SHOW ANSWER & RATIONALE
    Answer: B

    Apply FTC Part 1 with the chain rule. The upper bound is <span class="math-inline">\(u(x) = x^3\)</span>, so <span class="math-inline">\(u'(x) = 3x^2\)</span>, and the integrand is <span class="math-inline">\(f(t) = \tfrac{1}{t}\)</span>. <span class="math-block">\[h'(x) = f\big(u(x)\big)\cdot u'(x) = \frac{1}{x^3}\cdot 3x^2 = \frac{3}{x}\]</span> **Why the distractors fail:** - **(A) <span class="math-inline">\(\frac{1}{x^3}\)</span>:** Evaluates the integrand at the upper bound but omits the chain-rule factor <span class="math-inline">\(u'(x) = 3x^2\)</span> — the most common FTC Part 1 error with a composite bound. - **(C) <span class="math-inline">\(3x\)</span>:** Includes the chain-rule factor <span class="math-inline">\(3x^2\)</span> but evaluates <span class="math-inline">\(\tfrac{1}{t}\)</span> at <span class="math-inline">\(t = x\)</span> instead of <span class="math-inline">\(t = x^3\)</span>, giving <span class="math-inline">\(\tfrac{1}{x}\cdot 3x^2 = 3x\)</span>. - **(D) <span class="math-inline">\(3\ln x\)</span>:** Confuses FTC Part 1 with FTC Part 2 — computes the integral <span class="math-inline">\(h(x) = \ln(x^3) = 3\ln x\)</span> and forgets to differentiate.

  • 6.
    riemann-sums left-riemann-sum definite-integral-approximation table-of-values Calculator not allowed Difficulty 4/5

    Selected values of a continuous function <span class="math-inline">\(f\)</span> are given in the table below. | <span class="math-inline">\(x\)</span> | <span class="math-inline">\(0\)</span> | <span class="math-inline">\(2\)</span> | <span class="math-inline">\(4\)</span> | <span class="math-inline">\(6\)</span> | <span class="math-inline">\(8\)</span> | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | <span class="math-inline">\(f(x)\)</span> | <span class="math-inline">\(3\)</span> | <span class="math-inline">\(5\)</span> | <span class="math-inline">\(6\)</span> | <span class="math-inline">\(10\)</span> | <span class="math-inline">\(12\)</span> | Using a left Riemann sum with the four subintervals indicated by the table, the approximation of <span class="math-inline">\(\displaystyle\int_{0}^{8} f(x)\,dx\)</span> is

    A. 24
    B. 48
    C. 57
    D. 66
    SHOW ANSWER & RATIONALE
    Answer: B

    Each subinterval has width <span class="math-inline">\(\Delta x = 2\)</span>. A left Riemann sum uses the function value at the **left** endpoint of each subinterval, i.e. at <span class="math-inline">\(x = 0, 2, 4, 6\)</span>: <span class="math-block">\[\sum f(x_{\text{left}})\,\Delta x = 2\big(f(0) + f(2) + f(4) + f(6)\big) = 2(3 + 5 + 6 + 10) = 2(24) = 48\]</span> **Why the distractors fail:** - **(A) <span class="math-inline">\(24\)</span>:** Sums the left-endpoint heights <span class="math-inline">\(3+5+6+10 = 24\)</span> but forgets to multiply by the width <span class="math-inline">\(\Delta x = 2\)</span>. - **(C) <span class="math-inline">\(57\)</span>:** Applies the **trapezoidal** rule, <span class="math-inline">\(\tfrac{\Delta x}{2}\big(f_0 + 2f_1 + 2f_2 + 2f_3 + f_4\big) = 1(3 + 10 + 12 + 20 + 12) = 57\)</span>, instead of the requested left sum. - **(D) <span class="math-inline">\(66\)</span>:** Uses **right** endpoints (<span class="math-inline">\(x = 2,4,6,8\)</span>): <span class="math-inline">\(2(5 + 6 + 10 + 12) = 66\)</span> — a left/right endpoint mix-up.

  • 7.
    accumulation-functions definite-integral-as-signed-area properties-of-definite-integrals net-change Calculator not allowed Difficulty 5/5

    Let <span class="math-inline">\(F(x) = \displaystyle\int_{0}^{x} f(t)\,dt\)</span>, where the graph of <span class="math-inline">\(f\)</span> consists of three pieces. Between <span class="math-inline">\(x=0\)</span> and <span class="math-inline">\(x=2\)</span> the region between the graph and the <span class="math-inline">\(x\)</span>-axis lies **above** the axis with area <span class="math-inline">\(5\)</span>; between <span class="math-inline">\(x=2\)</span> and <span class="math-inline">\(x=5\)</span> the region lies **below** the axis with area <span class="math-inline">\(8\)</span>; between <span class="math-inline">\(x=5\)</span> and <span class="math-inline">\(x=6\)</span> the region lies **above** the axis with area <span class="math-inline">\(3\)</span>. What is the value of <span class="math-inline">\(F(6)\)</span>?

    A. -6
    B. -3
    C. 0
    D. 16
    SHOW ANSWER & RATIONALE
    Answer: C

    <span class="math-inline">\(F(6) = \displaystyle\int_{0}^{6} f(t)\,dt\)</span> is the **net signed area**. Area above the axis counts as positive; area below counts as negative: <span class="math-block">\[F(6) = (+5) + (-8) + (+3) = 0\]</span> **Why the distractors fail:** - **(A) <span class="math-inline">\(-6\)</span>:** An extra sign error — treats the final region as negative too, computing <span class="math-inline">\(5 - 8 - 3 = -6\)</span> instead of adding the <span class="math-inline">\(+3\)</span> above-axis piece. - **(B) <span class="math-inline">\(-3\)</span>:** Stops early and omits the last region, computing only <span class="math-inline">\(5 - 8 = -3\)</span> over <span class="math-inline">\([0,5]\)</span> rather than continuing to <span class="math-inline">\(x = 6\)</span>. - **(D) <span class="math-inline">\(16\)</span>:** Ignores the sign of the below-axis region and adds all areas as positive: <span class="math-inline">\(5 + 8 + 3 = 16\)</span>. A definite integral uses signed area, so area below the axis must be subtracted.