From Derivative to Proportionality

Description of Bottleneck

Students have difficulties to use derivative to calculate the change of function value. They believe the derivative is a magic transformation of one formula into another, e.g. x^2 into 2*x. They do not have an idea of "derivative=slope" and "change of function value=slope*change of argument"

Desired learning outcome: given that f(1)=2 and f'(1)=3 the students should be able to make an estimation of f(1,01) as f(1)+f'(1)*0,01=2.003

People interested in this Bottleneck

Inna Mikhailova