Here's the on-ramp for this lesson.
What Will We Learn?
In this lesson we'll being our study of differentiation. We'll first return to one of the three Big Problems (from Chapter 1 in Calculus Simplified that drove the development of calculus -- the instantaneous speed problem -- and see how to solve that problem using limits. Then, we'll generalize the instantaneous speed concept to arrive at the derivative at a point, and discuss the geometric interpretation of this new quantity.
Why Do We Need to Learn This?
The derivative at a point is one of the three foundational concepts in calculus (the limit and the integral being the other two). Not only does it embody the dynamics mindset that calculus is -- we build up to the derivative concept in this lesson by studying instantaneous speed -- it also builds a bridge to geometry that will provide us with rich geometric interpretations of derivatives, integrals, and calculus in general.
The lesson notes below contain a learning plan with three stages -- Learn, Reflect, and Practice -- and guidance for what to do within each stage. Some tips for you as you work through this resource, and those that it points to:
I recommend using Cornell Notes (or a modification of it; see this video starting at the 1:05 mark) to take notes on the lesson and the videos. This note-taking method balances detail with big-picture thinking to help you summarize and retain what you are learning. See this other video for additional note-taking techniques you might want to experiment with.
If you are currently enrolled in this course with me, submit the written reflections Google Form I have emailed you after working through the lesson notes and videos. Some tips:
Submit substantive, but concise, answers to each question; you will be doing the future you a big favor by taking time now to accurately and succinctly summarize what you have learned from the lesson.
Send yourself a copy of your reflections; they will come in handy later when you start preparing for quizzes and other assessments.
If you are not currently enrolled in this course with me, those written reflections ask three reflective questions designed to help you retain what you've learned and pinpoint any remaining areas of confusion. Those questions are:
Please summarize the main mathematical takeaways from the lesson notes.
What was the most interesting part of what you learned, and why?
What, if anything, do you still find confusing?
Work through the practice problems suggested below to see how much of this lesson you've understood.