Derivatives Teacher Resources

If mathematicians know the secret to compound interest, why aren't more of them rich? Young mathematicians explore compound interest with exponential functions in the twenty-seventh installment of a 35-part module. They calculate future...

Understanding how calculus formulas were derived connects learners to the idea that the study of mathematics is continuous and cumulative. Learners will also develop a deeper appreciation for the derivative's application in...

Congruence and similarity apply to functions as well as polygons. Learners examine the effects of transformations on the shape of parabolas. They determine the transformation(s) that produce similar and congruent functions.

A solution will work one way or another: find solutions, or use solutions to find the function. Learners use polynomial identities to factor polynomials with complex solutions. They then use solutions and the Zero Product Property to...

Class members investigate relationships between two variables in the seventh installment of a 16-part module that teaches scholars how to find and describe patterns in scatter plots. Young mathematicians consider linear/nonlinear...

Circles aren't functions, so how is it possible to write the equation for a circle? Pupils first develop the equation of a circle through application of the Pythagorean Theorem. The lesson then provides an exercise set for learners to...

Learn about patterns in residual plots with an informative math lesson. Two examples make connections between the appearance of a residual plot and whether a linear model is the best model apparent. The problem set and exit ticket...

The behavior of a rational function near a vertical asymptote is the focus around this trip up a river. Specifically, numerical and graphical understanding is studied. The canoe context pushes the variables as numbers, rather than as...

You know about the tangent function, but what are tangent lines to a circle? Learners investigate properties of tangents through constructions. They determine that tangents are perpendicular to the radius at the point of tangency,...

The difference quotient looks worse than it is. Determining the difference quotient is the first step in finding the derivative using the definition. The second segment in a series of 31 works through an example of simplifying the...

Students examine organisms that are composed of tissues, organs, and systems. They dissect a fetal pig and explore the assigned organs systems such as the skeletal, muscular, and circulatory organs. Students identify and explain their...

Class members blend their knowledge of functions and problem-solving skills to provide business advice to the Turbo Blender manufacturers. Through a project-based approach, learners examine marginal cost data to produce a function....

What better way to learn graphing inequalities than through discovering your own method! Class members use a discovery approach to finding solutions to inequalities by following steps that lead them through the process and...

From derivatives to antiderivatives and back again. Building on the second lesson of the three-part series covering functions, learners explore the concept of an antiderivative. They connect the concept to the graph of the function and...

The purpose of 75% of the human genome letters is still unknown. Is it unnecessary information or does it have a key to important information in human genetics? The lesson animation is a visual reference to the massive amount of...

In this multi-faceted introduction to pi, participants perform a bevy of pi-related activities. Ranging from measuring household items to singing pi songs and reading pi stories, this fun and non-intimidating resource serves to bring up...

Students determine the derivative of a function.  In this determining the derivative of a function lesson, students use the chain rule to find the derivative of the function.  Students use the chain rule to take the derivative...

In this college level calculus instructional activity, students evaluate the given limits or show that the limit does not exist.  Students determine the derivative of the given functions.  The two page instructional activity...

  Students test for relative extrema.  In this Calculus lesson, 12th graders investigate the relative extrema of a function and sketch the curve from the given information without the use of a calculator.  

In this college level Calculus worksheet, students find the derivative of the given function and find the rate of change of the area of a circle with respect to its circumference.  The two page worksheet contains seven...

In this derivatives activity, students solve 6 short answer problems. The first three problems, ask students to use a given definition of a derivative to solve the problems. The final three problems ask students use the basic...

For this calculus worksheet, 12th graders differentiate and integrate basic trigonometric functions, calculate rates of change, and integrate by substitution and by parts.  The twenty-two page worksheet contains explanation of the...

In this multivariable optimization worksheet, students determine the local maximum and local minimum of given functions. They identify the critical points for given function and match contour plots to the proper functions. This four page...

In this multivariable chain rule activity, students find the derivative of four multivariable functions. They make the change of variables when given the functions.