Content for the First Exam
Working with rational functions
Rational functions are functions defined by fractions of polynomials.
The Squeeze Theorem
The Squeeze theorem allows us to exchange difficult functions for easy functions.
Could it be anything?
Two young mathematicians investigate the arithmetic of large and small
numbers.
Limits of the form zero over zero
We want to evaluate limits where the Limit Laws do not directly apply.
Horizontal asymptotes
We explore functions that behave like horizontal lines as the input grows without
bound.
Content for the Second Exam
The definition of the derivative
We compute the instantaneous growth rate by computing the limit of average growth
rates.
The derivative as a function
Here we study the derivative of a function, as a function, in its own right.
Differentiability implies continuity
We see that if a function is differentiable at a point, then it must be continuous at
that point.
Derivatives of products are tricky
Two young mathematicians discuss derivatives of products and products of
derivatives.
The Product rule and quotient rule
Here we compute derivatives of products and quotients of functions
Content for the Third Exam
The derivative of the natural exponential function
We derive the derivative of the natural exponential function.
Derivatives of exponential and logarithmetic functions
Derivatives of exponential and logarithmic functions calculated.
Rates of rates
Two young mathematicians look at graph of a function, its first derivative, and its
second derivative.
Higher order derivatives and graphs
Here we make a connection between a graph of a function and its derivative and
higher order derivatives.
Position, velocity, and acceleration
Here we discuss how position, velocity, and acceleration relate to higher
derivatives.
How fast was the pen going?
Two young mathematicians think about the rate of change of periodic motion.
Derivatives of trigonometric functions
We use the chain rule to unleash the derivatives of the trigonometric functions.
Additional content for Autumn Final Exam
Content for the First Exam
Linear approximation
We use a method called “linear approximation” to estimate the value of a
(complicated) function at a given point.
Computations for graphing functions
We will give some general guidelines for sketching the plot of a function.
Implicit differentiation
In this section we differentiate equations that contain more than one variable on one
side.
Finding dx dy
In this section we differentiate equations without expressing them in terms of a single
variable.
Content for the Second Exam
Derivatives of inverse trigonometric functions BreakGround
Two young mathematicians think about the plots of functions.
Derivatives of inverse trigonometric functions
We derive the derivatives of inverse trigonometric functions using implicit
differentiation.
The Inverse Function Theorem
We see the theoretical underpinning of finding the derivative of an inverse function at
a point.
Indeterminate mutterings
Two young mathematicians consider a way to compute limits using derivatives.
Content for the Third Exam
Approximating area with rectangles
We introduce the basic idea of using rectangles to approximate the area under a
curve.
The First Fundamental Theorem of Calculus
The rate that accumulated area under a curve grows is described identically by that
curve.
The Second Fundamental Theorem of Calculus
The accumulation of a rate is given by the change in the amount.