Activity Description Begin understanding the meaning of the derivative at a point on a function. View the graph and the equation of the line tangent to any function at any point on the function.

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Derivate

Place in mathematics curriculum:

This activity can be used to:

• Visualize the tangent line to a function at a point
• Relate the slope of the tangent line to the derivative

This activity allows the user to explore the meaning of a derivative and why the value of the derivative is that value. This activity would work well in small groups of one or two people for about 20-25 minutes if you use the exploration questions and 15-20 minutes otherwise.

Preparations for this activity:

• Discuss the difference between an average rate and instantaneous rate
• Relate what students experience on screen to real-world examples
• Explain the controls and expected output of the activity