Investigating the Derivatives of Some Common Functions
Activity Overview
One of the many ways in which you can think of a derivative is as a function that uses x as an input and returns the slope of the line tangent to f at x. The derivative of a function is often another function with a formula that can be used and applied. In this activity, you will investigate the derivatives of some common functions by approximating the instantaneous rate of change (using the symmetric difference quotient) at many inputs. You will also use the table and graphing capabilities of your graphing handheld.
Objectives
Students will:
Develop the idea of the derivative as a function
Gather evidence toward some common derivative formulas
Use numerical and graphical investigations to form conjectures
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