Differential Calculus Basics: Wednesday, 4/19 - Friday, 4/28

Post date: Apr 19, 2017 9:07:03 PM

We're continuing our introduction to differential calculus by defining what a derivative is, how we find it, and how we use it in some basic ways.

Wednesday, 4/19 - we summarized what we did before spring break by distinguishing between secant lines and average rates of change versus tangent lines and instantaneous rates of change. Here are the slides from class. Your HW is this worksheet.

Thursday, 4/20 - we used our pattern finding ability to find out the derivative function rules for certain types of functions. Here are the slides from class. Your HW is p. 597 (Ex. 13.2) #6-13.

Friday, 4/21 - we backtracked and saw the formal way that we find a derivative function using the definition of the derivative and what's called "first principles". Here are the slides from class. Your HW is p. 597 (Ex. 13.2) #1-5.

Monday, 4/24 - we used derivatives to find equations of tangent lines and of normal lines. Here are the slides from class. Your HW is p. 619 (Ex. 13.4) #1d, 2d, 4, 6, 8, 9.

Tuesday, 4/25 - we used our GDCs to find derivatives, and we did more practice problems. Here are the slides from class, including a description of your quiz on Friday and where to find good practice problems in your textbook. Your HW is p. 619 (Ex. 13.4) #3, 7, 10, 12.

Wednesday, 4/26 - We learned about stationary points on a function: minima, maxima, and horizontal points of inflection. Here are the slides from class. Your HW is p. 612 (Ex. 13.3) #2, 5, 6, 9, 11.

Thursday, 4/27 - We learned about using the first derivative to classify stationary points, as well as finding the global minima and maxima on functions by considering the endpoints of the domain. Here are the slides from class. Your HW (due Monday) is p. 612 (Ex. 13.3) #8, 9, 10, 13.

Friday, 4/28 - we have a quiz on finding the derivative with first principles, with the power rule, finding and using equations of tangent lines and normal lines, on using the GDC to find derivatives. Here are some slides explaining these quiz topics and where to find good practice problems in your textbook.