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2009-11-19 Double Challenge Problems For Basic Derivatives

This document provides 7 challenging calculus problems involving derivatives for students to work through. Students are instructed to provide formal write-ups for 2 of the problems explaining their work step-by-step using words and drawings. The problems involve finding where functions have parallel or perpendicular tangent lines, determining coefficients for a function, finding derivatives of various orders, and proving curves intersect at right angles. Students are encouraged to use their graphing calculators and problem solving abilities to tackle these difficult derivative challenges.

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134 views2 pages

2009-11-19 Double Challenge Problems For Basic Derivatives

This document provides 7 challenging calculus problems involving derivatives for students to work through. Students are instructed to provide formal write-ups for 2 of the problems explaining their work step-by-step using words and drawings. The problems involve finding where functions have parallel or perpendicular tangent lines, determining coefficients for a function, finding derivatives of various orders, and proving curves intersect at right angles. Students are encouraged to use their graphing calculators and problem solving abilities to tackle these difficult derivative challenges.

Uploaded by

samjshah
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Name:___________________________________ Band:________

Calculus | Packer Collegiate Institute

DOUBLE CHALLENGE PROBLEMS for Basic Derivatives

Hi all. Here are some hard problems. Some I know how to solve. Some I don’t know how to solve. I want you
to play around with the problems that interest you!

You have to do neat, formal write-ups for only 2 of the problems. So play around with a few of them and find
the ones you are most confident about and work though them! What I expect in a formal write-up is more
than a bunch of equations. I want you to explain each key step you take in words. For example, when we were
asked to where a particular function had a horizontal tangent line, each of you figured out you needed to find
when the derivative equaled zero. Explain that! Also, draw pictures! Sketch what’s on your calculator (and give
the window you used to graph it)!

If you can’t get the answer, still turn in a formal write-up. Say what you tried, why you tried it, and why it
didn’t work.

This is an exercise in problem solving AND mathematical communication.

1. Using your graphing calculator and your brains, find where and have
parallel tangent lines. (Round your answer to three decimal points.) Explain each step of your calculations in
words, and also how and where you used your calculator.

2. Determine coefficients , , , and such that satisfies , ,


, and .

3. Where (at which values) do the functions and have


perpendicular tangent lines?

4. a. If , can you find what is? In fact, there are multiple answers for s! Can you

find another one?


b. If , can you find what is? In fact, there are multiple answers for s! Can
you find another one?

5.a. Find b. Find c. Find d. Find (where n is a positive integer)

[For (d) if you know about proof by induction, that might help you!]
1
6. a. Find

Hint: Apply the product rule twice to expand and simplify: . In other words, you are coming up
with your own product rule, but for the product of three functions.
b. Find

7. a. Define what it should mean to say that two curves intersect at right angles.
b. Prove that the curves and intersect at right angles.

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