← All units AP Calculus BC · Unit 7
AP Calculus BC · Unit 7 · Differential Equations

Differential equations, made visual.

The unit where calculus starts describing the real world — growth, decay, motion, mixing. Five interactive tools that turn slope fields, Euler’s method, and separable equations from procedures you memorize into things you can watch.

9Topics covered
5Interactive tools
dy⁄dxMade visual
Explore the tools

The toolkit

Work them in order for a full walkthrough of the unit, or jump straight to whatever's giving you trouble.

7.1 – 7.2

Equations of Change

Before you solve one, see what a differential equation actually says: a rule tying a quantity to its own rate of change. Model a real situation as a DE, then learn to verify when a function is a genuine solution.

what a DE ismodeling changeverifying solutionsdy/dx = f(x,y)
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7.3 – 7.4

Slope Fields

The picture that makes differential equations click. At every point a tiny segment shows the slope a solution must have there — drop in a starting point and watch the curve thread its way through the field.

tangent segmentsdrop a pointsolution curvessketch by hand
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7.5

Euler’s Method

When a differential equation can’t be solved exactly, you can still march forward. Step along the tangent line, recompute the slope, step again — and watch the approximation tighten as the step size shrinks.

step by steptangent linesstep size htrue vs. approx
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7.6 – 7.7

Separation of Variables

The main technique for solving by hand. Get every y on one side and every x on the other, integrate both sides, then use an initial condition to pin down the single curve you actually want.

separateintegrate both sides+ Cinitial condition
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7.8 – 7.9

Growth Models

Two models that describe half the natural world. Exponential growth that never lets up, versus logistic growth that levels off into its carrying capacity — watch the S-curve bend and flatten against the ceiling.

exponentiallogisticcarrying capacitythe S-curve
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The capstone

Put it together the way the real BC exam does — mixed multiple choice first, then a full differential-equations free-response.

Exam Practice

Mixed multiple choice & full free-response

You pick the approach: mixed multiple choice across all nine topics with worked explanations and a weak-spot finder, plus a chained free-response in the classic BC differential-equations mold — slope field, an Euler step, separation, and a growth model.

Begin practicing
Cheat Sheet — slope fields, Euler’s method, separation, and both growth models on one printable page

The full unit, plus exam practice

From what a differential equation is, through slope fields, Euler’s method, and separation of variables, to exponential and logistic growth — and a capstone that mixes it all together the way the real exam does. Everything verified, nothing hand-wavy.