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Derivatives & the slope of the tangent line

Derivatives – Introduction to Derivatives
Description

Objective: Investigate the nature of the derivative with simple polynomial functions (in this
case mostly quadratics). This is meant to be a graphical introduction to the power rule so if
students have not done the algebraic work of using the limit to determine the derivative,
they should be fine. If that is the case, then the word "derivative" may be new to them. If
they have experienced taking the limit to determine the derivative of a polynomial, then this
could be a way to consolidate it graphically.

Citations:

1. This was based on a sketch originally done by @Eluberoff https://www.desmos.com/cal-

culator/a9qu2gphzj.

2. "Derivatives of a Polynomial" by Dave Petrio

3. "What is a derivative anyway." by Leigh Nataro.

Prelab Question

1. In Figure a, the blue line is a secant line. How many times does the secant line
intersect the parabola?

Figure a

Calculus Progressive Mathematics Initiative® (PMI®) Derivatives

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 2. Refer to the link found below in the procedures section. On slide 4, the secant line
has a positive slope. Drag the blue line until the slope becomes negative. List
points that lie on the secant line.

3. Continuing with the Desmos activity, refer to slide 5, drag the large blue point so that
the two blue points coincide. When you do, it is no longer a secant line. What type
of line is it?

Procedures
1. Open the Desmos Activity link https://student.desmos.com/join/9scgds

2. Read through each slide and complete the following questions found in Calculations
Part 1 and Calculations Part 2. Use the Desmos tools to assist you.

3. Enter your responses on this virtual lab document.

4. Answer the multiple-choice questions found in the Conclusion section of the lab
sheet.

Calculations Part 1. (Slides 7 – 12)

1. (Slide 7) The goal is to drag the purple dots up/down until their respective line seg-
ments represent lines tangent to the graph of 𝑓(𝑥). If you are close to the correct
values, the purple dots will become points of the derivative's graph. Once you see
the derivative, move on the next slide.

2. (Slide 8) What function, in the form of 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥, did you enter?

3. What is the equation of the original function and the derivative?

4. (Slide 9) Similar to slide 7, drag the purple dots up/down until their respective line
segments represent lines tangent to the graph of 𝑓(𝑥). If you are close to the cor-
rect values, the purple dots will become points of the derivative's graph. Once you
see the derivative, move on the next slide.

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 5. (Slide 10) What function, in the form of 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥, did you enter?

6. What is the equation of the original function and the derivative?

7. (Slide 11) Similar to slides 7 and 9, drag the purple dots up/down until their respec-
tive line segments represent lines tangent to the graph of 𝑓(𝑥). If you are close to
the correct values, the purple dots will become points of the derivative's graph.
Once you see the derivative, move on the next slide.

8. (Slide 12) What function, in the form of 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥, did you enter?

9. What is the equation of the original function and the derivative?

10. Given the 3 original functions, write the derivative of the function. What was common
about each original function? What was different? What does each derivative equa-
tion have in common and what is different?
a. 𝑦 = 𝑥 2
b. 𝑦 = 3𝑥 2
c. 𝑦 = 5𝑥 2

11. Below is a new function. Indicate the equation of its derivative. Describe how you
determined it.

𝑓(𝑥) = 6𝑥 2

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Calculations Part 2. (Slides 13 – 16)

12. (Slide 14) The previous functions were all quadratics. Now try the same thing with
the simplest cubic function. Drag the purple dots up/down until their respective line
segments represent lines tangent to the graph of 𝑓(𝑥). If you are close to the correct
values, the purple dots will become points of the derivative’s graph. Once you the
derivative, answer the question on your lab sheet, and move on to the next slide.

13. All the previous derivatives were linear functions. What type of function do you think
the derivative in this case?

14. (Slide 15) What function, in the form of 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 2 , did you enter?

15. (Slide 16) What function, in the form of 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 2 , did you enter?

16. Look at the last two functions. Write the derivative, of each. Note the similarities
and differences of the original functions and the derivatives.
a. 𝑦 = 𝑥 3
b. 𝑦 = 4𝑥 3

Calculus Progressive Mathematics Initiative® (PMI®) Derivatives

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Conclusion questions. Select the derivatives of the following functions from the choices
given.
1. 𝑓(𝑥) = 11𝑥 2
a. 𝑓′(𝑥) = 22𝑥 2
b. 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 11𝑥
c. 𝑓′(𝑥) = 22𝑥
d. 𝑓′(𝑥) = 13𝑥 2

2. 𝑓(𝑥) = 11𝑥 3
a. 𝑓′(𝑥) = 33𝑥 2
b. 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 33𝑥
c. 𝑓′(𝑥) = 33𝑥 3
d. 𝑓′(𝑥) = 14𝑥 2

3. 𝑓(𝑥) = 11𝑥 4
a. 𝑓′(𝑥) = 44𝑥
b. 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 44𝑥 2
c. 𝑓′(𝑥) = 44𝑥 3
d. 𝑓′(𝑥) = 44𝑥 4

4. 𝑓(𝑥) = 11𝑥 5
a. 𝑓′(𝑥) = 55𝑥 2
b. 𝑓 ′ (𝑥) = 55𝑥 3
c. 𝑓′(𝑥) = 55𝑥
d. 𝑓′(𝑥) = 55𝑥 4

5. What is the derivative of the following polynomial? 𝑓(𝑥) = 9𝑥 3 − 8𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 − 6

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