Education Technology

The Easter Egg Hunt

Subject Area
Math: Calculus: Derivatives
Math: Calculus: Antiderivatives and Slope Fields
Math: AP Calculus: AP Calculus
Level
9-12
Activity Time
60 Minutes
Software
TI Connect™
TI Calculator
TI-89 / TI-89 Titanium
Accessories
CBL™ 2
Resource Types
Lessons
Format
CAS Required

The Easter Egg Hunt

Activity Overview

This Computer Algebra System (CAS) activity encourages students solve a real-world problem of finding out how and where to cut an elliptical chocolate Easter egg into four equal parts of equal volume and also, to find the same for four equal parts of chocolate of equal surface area.

Before the Activity

  • Connect the CBR 2™ and CBL 2™ to the calculator
  • Install TI Connect™ using the TI connectivity cable
  • See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
  • Print pages 1 - 6 from the attached PDF file for the class
  • During the Activity

    Distribute the pages to the class.

    Follow the Activity procedures:

  • Explore the concept of the limit of a function f(x) as x approaches zero, infinity, or any other arbitrary value
  • Investigate the horizontal and vertical asymptotes of a rational function; graphically, numerically, and symbolically
  • Examine other important limits


  • Use the CBL™/CBR™ to collect distance data
  • Analyze the distance-time and velocity-time graphs using the calculator programs
  • Find the relationship between distance and time graphs


  • Understand that CAS can be used to demonstrate the definition of the derivative using the difference quotient
  • Visualize the area under a curve using Riemann sums


  • Model data using the logistic equation, study slopefields, and approximate the solution using Euler's method or the Runge-Kutta method
  • Use the deSolve command to obtain an analytical solution
  • After the Activity

    Students' answer questions on the Activity sheet.

    Review student results:

  • As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
  • Re-teach concepts as necessary
  • Subject Area
    Math: Calculus: Derivatives
    Math: Calculus: Antiderivatives and Slope Fields
    Math: AP Calculus: AP Calculus
    Level
    9-12
    Activity Time
    60 Minutes
    Software
    TI Connect™
    TI Calculator
    TI-89 / TI-89 Titanium
    Accessories
    CBL™ 2
    Resource Types
    Lessons
    Format
    CAS Required
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