A field trip for calculus classes gives students a different take on the same mathematical concepts they have learned in class.

150 upperclassmen in the AP and CP Calculus AB and BC class are learning the history of calculus on April 13 by going to see Calculus the Musical, a humorous production of calculus ideas and theorem at Lakes High School in Antioch.

“When there’s something called Calculus the Musical, you can’t really pass up a chance to see it,” Aubrey Anderson, junior, said.

The purpose of this field trip was so the students could make connections among different calculus concepts from different time periods, according to Christy Helkowski, Precalculus and Calculus BC teacher, and learn about the history of calculus in a fun way.

“Since we’ve been learning about calculus all year, this is a way to show how everything works in a interesting way, and it will help us visualize how calculus works,” Kyle Fitzgerald, senior, said.

To prepare for the field trip, AP Calculus BC class is writing a book about famous mathematicians that will be published, according to Fitzgerald, and are doing presentation projects on contributors to the history of calculus.

“I’m most looking forward to seeing how they will integrate old math concepts into pop culture,” Helkowski said.