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Introducing Derivatives - The Slope Function

Back to school...

  1. Move point A along the function graph and make a conjecture about the shape of the path of point S, which corresponds to the slope function.
  2. Turn on the trace of point S. Move point A to check your conjecture. Hint: Right-click point S (MacOS: Ctrl-click, tablet: long tap) and select  Trace on.
  3. Find the equation of the resulting slope function and enter it into the Input Bar using g(x)=... Move point A along the graph of function f. If your prediction is correct, the trace of point S will match the graph of your function g.
  4. Change the equation of the initial polynomial f to produce a new problem. For example, enter f(x)= 2 x² into the Input Bar. Hint: You might want to zoom if point A lays outside of the visible area after changing the function.

Instructions

1.Toolbar Image Enter the polynomial f(x) = x^2/2 + 1.
2.Toolbar Image Create a new point A on function f. Hint: Point A can only be moved along the function.
3.Toolbar ImageCreate tangent a to function f through point A.
4.Toolbar Image Create the slope of tangent a using m = Slope(a).
5.Toolbar Image Define point S: S = (x(A), m). Hint: x(A) gives you the x-coordinate of point A.
6.Toolbar ImageConnect points A and S using a segment.
7.Toolbar ImageTurn on the trace of point SHint: Right-click point S (MacOS: Ctrl-click, tablet: long click) and select Trace on.

Try it yourself...