Module 28 - Activities for Calculus Using the TI-83
 
  Introduction | Assignment | Activity 1 | Activity 2 | Activity 3 | Activity 4 | Activity 5
 
 Activity 4: Introduction to Slope Fields
 

Overview:

One of the ways to visually think of the derivative is to use the idea of local linearity. That is, if you look “up close” at the graph of a differentiable function, it appears almost straight, so locally (on a small enough interval) a differentiable function behaves very much like a linear function.

You can experience this directly by using a graphing handheld. If you zoom in repeatedly on a particular point on the graph of a differentiable function, eventually the graph appears indistinguishable from a straight line. The slope of that line is the value of the derivative at that point.

Materials:

  • TI-84 Plus / TI-83 Plus
  • Graph paper

Activity:

Introduction to Slope Fields

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