We think about surfaces in different ways.

Work in groups of 3–4, writing your answers on a separate sheet of paper.

Considering tables

Let be a differentiable function that is roughly described by the following table of values:

Write the value of .
Estimate .
Estimate .
Estimate .
If you were to leave the point in the direction of the gradient, what value would you find? Explain why this makes sense.
Use your computations above to estimate the formula for a plane tangent to at the point .
Sketch the level curve on the table above.

Considering level sets

Consider the following contour plot for :

What does a contour plot like this represent? Circle one:
  • A subset of
  • A subset of
Estimate the value of .
Estimate .
Estimate .
Estimate .
If you were to leave the point in the direction of the gradient, what value would you find? Explain why this makes sense.
Use your computations above to estimate the formula for a plane tangent to at the point .

Considering algebra

Let be described by: As a gesture of friendship, we have included a graph :

Compute:
(a)
(b)
Compute:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Compare and contrast the functions , , and . Discuss.