Activity Overview
Students use their TI-Nspire to graph the anti-derivative of a function and investigate aspects of the this function and how it relates to the primitive function. For example, if a continuous derivative function changes from negative to positive, what does this produce on the primitive function? How is that different if the derivative function changed from positive to negative?
Objectives
- Deduce the graph of an anti-derivative function from the graph of a given function.
Vocabulary
- Derivative
- Primitive function
- Turning point
- Inflexion point
- Stationary point
About the Lesson
Students are provided with a series of functions consisting of polynomials, trigonometric and exponential functions and combinations thereof. The equations represent the derivative, students use their TI-Nspire to graph the original or primitive function and relate key features of the derivative to the primitive function.
The activity bundle also includes a teacher demonstration file to help students understand the concepts involved.