AP Precalculus AB is designed to be the equivalent of a first semester college precalculus course. AP Precalculus AB provides students with an understanding of the concepts of college algebra, trigonometry, and additional topics that prepare students for further college level mathematics courses. This course explores a variety of function types and their applications—polynomial, rational, exponential, logarithmic, trigonometric, polar, parametric, vector-valued, implicitly defined, and linear transformation functions using matrices. Throughout the course, the mathematical practices of procedural and symbolic fluency, multiple representations, and communication and reasoning are developed. Students experience the concepts and skills related to each function type through the lenses of modeling and covariation and engage each function type through their graphical, numerical, analytical, and verbal representations.

AP Precalculus AB centers on functions modeling dynamic phenomena. This research-based exploration of functions is designed to better prepare students for college-level calculus and provide grounding for other mathematics and science courses. In this course, students study a broad spectrum of function types that are foundational for careers in mathematics, physics, biology, health science, business, social science, and data science. Furthermore, as AP Precalculus may be the last mathematics course of a student’s secondary education, the course is structured to provide a coherent capstone experience rather than exclusively focusing on preparation for future courses.