Two young mathematicians discuss what curves look like when one “zooms out.”

Check out this dialogue between two calculus students (based on a true story):
Devyn
Riley, think about this function:
Riley
Hmmm. If you plot it, the graph looks like this:
Devyn
Right! What I’ve noticed is that if gets big, then our function looks like a line.
Riley
I wonder how we find the line?
Devyn and Riley have noticed that the function looks like a line when we zoom out. Guess the slope of this line. Come back and check your answer after reading the Dig-In!
Answers may vary.
Guess the -intercept of this line. Come back and check your answer after reading the Dig-In!
Answers may vary.