Assignment 4: Instantaneous Rates of Change: The Derivative

Power functions and Exponential functions

Week 4

 

In class on Monday, [day 9]:

·        We will have a whole-class lecture/discussion of Section 2.4: Exponential FunctionsExponential functions (functions of the form y = f(x) = ax, in which the independent variable is in the exponent) are fundamentally different from power functions (functions of the form y = f(x) = xn, in which the independent variable is the base). 

 

·        The problem scenario that opens this section has to do with the growth of dollars in a savings account.  This problem situation is best modeled by an exponential function.  We will learn about exponential functions, and their inverses, logarithmic functions.  We will develop rules for calculating derivatives of exponential equations.

 

·        A study guide for Test #1 will be available Monday afternoon, after class.   This test will cover material from Chapter 1 (Sections 1.1 – 1.5), and the first part of Chapter 2 (through Section 2.4).   

 

In class on Wednesday, [day 10]:

·        We will use this class period to review for Test #1, which is scheduled for Friday.

 

In class on Friday, [day 11]:

·        Test #1