AP Calculus AB formulas for your TI-84 Plus CE

Limits, derivative rules, integrals, the big theorems, motion, area and volume, plus where the calculus tools hide on the TI-84 Plus CE. Read it here, or put it on your calculator for homework.

How it works The button opens this sheet in the CiNotes notes editor, ready to change. It’s 770 words, so it’s a one-time $3 (typed notes are free up to 300 words). You get a ZIP by email to send to your calculator. Works on the TI-84 Plus CE and CE Python. On OS 5.5 or newer, do the free one-time setup first.

AP Calculus AB formula sheet

These are the formulas AP Calculus AB students are expected to know by heart. On the calculator version, ∫ from a to b is written int[a,b].

Limits and continuity

Special limitslimx→0 sin x / x = 1; limx→0 (1 − cos x)/x = 0
L’Hospital’s ruleif a limit is 0/0 or ∞/∞, lim f/g = lim f′/g′
Continuity at cf(c) exists, the limit exists, and they’re equal
Asymptoteshorizontal: limit as x → ±∞; vertical: f → ±∞ as x → c

Definition of the derivative

At xf′(x) = limh→0 [f(x + h) − f(x)]/h
At af′(a) = limx→a [f(x) − f(a)]/(x − a)
Differentiabilitydifferentiable means continuous, not the other way round (corners, cusps, vertical tangents)

Derivative rules

Powerd/dx xⁿ = nxⁿ⁻¹
Product(fg)′ = f′g + fg′
Quotient(f/g)′ = (f′g − fg′)/g2
Chaind/dx f(g(x)) = f′(g(x))·g′(x)
Inverse function(f−1)′(a) = 1/f′(f−1(a))
Implicitdifferentiate both sides, attach dy/dx to each y term, solve

Common derivatives

Trig(sin x)′ = cos x; (cos x)′ = −sin x; (tan x)′ = sec2 x; (cot x)′ = −csc2 x; (sec x)′ = sec x tan x; (csc x)′ = −csc x cot x
Exponential and log(eˣ)′ = eˣ; (aˣ)′ = aˣ ln a; (ln x)′ = 1/x; (loga x)′ = 1/(x ln a)
Inverse trig(arcsin x)′ = 1/√(1 − x2); (arccos x)′ = −1/√(1 − x2); (arctan x)′ = 1/(1 + x2)

Using derivatives

Tangent liney = f(a) + f′(a)(x − a), also the linear approximation
Critical pointsf′ = 0 or f′ undefined
Increasing and concavityf′ > 0 increasing; f″ > 0 concave up; inflection where f″ changes sign
First derivative testf′ changes + to −: relative max; − to +: relative min
Second derivative testf′(c) = 0 and f″(c) < 0: relative max; f″(c) > 0: relative min
Absolute extrema on [a, b]check critical points and both endpoints

The big theorems

Mean Value Theoremf continuous on [a, b], differentiable on (a, b) ⇒ some c has f′(c) = [f(b) − f(a)]/(b − a)
Intermediate Value Theoremf continuous on [a, b], k between f(a) and f(b) ⇒ some c has f(c) = k
Extreme Value Theoremf continuous on [a, b] ⇒ f has an absolute max and min there

Motion

Velocity and accelerationv(t) = x′(t); a(t) = v′(t) = x″(t)
Speed|v(t)|; speeding up when v and a have the same sign
Displacement∫ab v(t) dt
Total distance∫ab |v(t)| dt

Integrals

Power∫ xⁿ dx = xⁿ⁺¹/(n + 1) + C, n ≠ −1
Log and exponential∫ 1/x dx = ln|x| + C; ∫ eˣ dx = eˣ + C; ∫ aˣ dx = aˣ/ln a + C
Trig∫ cos x dx = sin x + C; ∫ sin x dx = −cos x + C; ∫ sec2 x dx = tan x + C; ∫ csc2 x dx = −cot x + C; ∫ sec x tan x dx = sec x + C; ∫ csc x cot x dx = −csc x + C; ∫ tan x dx = −ln|cos x| + C
Inverse trig∫ 1/√(1 − x2) dx = arcsin x + C; ∫ 1/(1 + x2) dx = arctan x + C

Fundamental Theorem of Calculus

Part 1d/dx ∫ag(x) f(t) dt = f(g(x))·g′(x)
Part 2∫ab f(x) dx = F(b) − F(a), where F′ = f
Accumulationf(b) = f(a) + ∫ab f′(x) dx
Average value[1/(b − a)] ∫ab f(x) dx

Riemann sums and differential equations

Trapezoid rule (equal widths)(Δx/2)[y0 + 2y1 + … + 2yn−1 + yn]
Left and right sumsf increasing: left sum underestimates, right sum overestimates
Separation of variablesy’s with dy, x’s with dx, integrate, add C, use the initial condition
Exponential growthdy/dt = ky ⇒ y = y0ekt

Area and volume

Area between curves∫ab (top − bottom) dx
DiscV = π∫ab R2 dx
WasherV = π∫ab (R2 − r2) dx
Known cross sectionsV = ∫ab A(x) dx; square s2; semicircle on diameter s: (π/8)s2; equilateral triangle (√3/4)s2

On the TI-84 Plus CE

Modeuse RADIAN (press MODE)
Derivative at a pointMATH, nDeriv(
Definite integralMATH, fnInt(
From a graph2ND TRACE (CALC): zero, minimum, maximum, intersect, dy/dx, ∫f(x)dx

What it looks like on the calculator

The calculator version is the same sheet in plain text with short lines, so it fits the screen. Square roots are written as sqrt( ), powers with ^ and Greek letters as words. On the calculator, search a word like “chain” or “washer” to jump straight to it. The notes are stored in Archive, so a RAM clear won’t erase them.

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Common questions

How much does it cost to put this on my calculator?

This sheet is 770 words, so it’s a one-time $3. Typed notes are free up to 300 words and $3 from 301 to 10,000 words. If you cut it down to 300 words or fewer, it’s free. You can also add your own notes to the same order, up to 10,000 words in total (about 9,230 more words).

Is AP Calculus BC covered?

Everything here is AB content, which is also part of BC. BC adds topics such as series, parametric, polar and vector functions, Euler’s method, integration by parts and partial fractions, which aren’t on this sheet. You can add them in the editor.

Can I change the notes before I pay?

Yes. The button opens the sheet in the CiNotes notes editor. Delete what you don’t need, add your teacher’s examples, and check the calculator preview before you check out.

Will it work on my calculator?

It works on the TI-84 Plus CE and the TI-84 Plus CE Python. It doesn’t work on the TI-84 Evo or on black-and-white TI-84s. If your calculator is on OS 5.5 or newer, it needs a free one-time setup first. The setup guide walks you through it.

Will the notes disappear if my calculator resets?

No. The notes are stored in Archive, so a RAM clear won’t erase them. On OS 5.5 or newer, open AsmHook2 from the APPS menu once after a RAM clear, then open your notes as usual.

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