Engineering Calculus Peer Led Session Tangent Lines Part I Reference: Section 2.

1 Pre-Assignment: 1) Find the equation of the line passing through the points (1, 3) and (-1, 5).

2) Find the equation of the line passing through the points (-2, 4) and with slope 7.

3) If

f t = 3 t 2 find and simplify the expression

f th f t . h

4) Read the "Why" section and do question 1 of the activity below. Why? Population growth rates, the cooling of a bodys temperature, and the velocity of a moving object are all examples of rates of change. How to measure a rate of change is one of the central questions of calculus. In this activity, we will begin to investigate the notions of rate of change and tangent lines.

Activity A car starts at rest (velocity = 0 at t = 0). Assume that the distance d the car travels is always a function of time t according to the equation d = 3 t 2 where d is in meters and t is in seconds. 1) How far has this car traveled after 1.0 second? 2.0 seconds? 3.0 seconds?

2) On the graph below, plot the distance d at times t = 0, 1, 2 , and 3 seconds for this car. Sketch a smooth curve through these points.

3) With your group, devise a way to calculate the average speed in m/sec for this car over the following time intervals: a. 0.0 to 1.0 seconds b. 0.0 to 2.0 seconds c. 0.0 to 3.0 seconds d. 2.0 to 3.0 seconds Show your work.

4) Consider the time interval from t = 0 to t = 3. a) Draw a line segment on the graph in question 2 representing the change in distance over the time interval from t = 0 to 3. Should this line be vertical or horizontal? b) Draw a line segment on the graph representing the change in time over this same time interval (t = 0 to 3). Should this line be vertical or horizontal? 5) Draw a straight line from the point on the curve at t = 0 to the point on the curve at t = 3. Recall that the ratio of the change in distance over the change in time for this line is called the slope of this line (often represented with the letter m).

a) Construct an explanation for why slope of a line is often associated with the phrase rise over run.

b) What information about the movement of the car is conveyed by the slope of the straight line you drew from the point (0,0) to the point (3,27) on the curve ?

c) Verify that this answer is consistent with your answer to question 3c.

d) In general, what information is conveyed by the slope of a line between any two points on the curve in question 2?

6) Calculate the average velocity during the interval from t = 2 to t = 2.2. Show your work.

a) Add a point to the graph in question 2 that represents the distance that the car has traveled at time t = 2.2 seconds. Then draw the straight line that goes through the points on the curve at t = 2.0 and t = 2.2. b) Which slope is a better approximation of the velocity of the car at t = 2, that of a line from the point at t = 2 to t = 3 or that of the line you drew from the point at t = 2 to t = 2.2 seconds. Explain your reasoning.

7) Describe a possible method for estimating the speedometer reading of the car at exactly t = 2 seconds. If possible, show a calculation or describe a graphical method, or both.

Engineering Calculus Peer Led Session Tangent Lines Activity Report We verify that we all understand and agree with the solutions to these questions. Group #: Manager: Recorder: Spokesperson: Strategy Analyst: Critical Thinkingto be completed by the recorder. Your peer leader will give you instructions on how to fill out this section.

For Instructors Use Only All questions filled out Names and U numbers printed on activity report Critical Thinking fully justified and written in complete sentences Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory

Reflection on Learning---to be completed by the Strategy Analyst. What questions remain uppermost in your mind as you finish today's session?

Group #: