+ All Categories
Home > Documents > Constructing Tangents to Functions and Calculating...

Constructing Tangents to Functions and Calculating...

Date post: 11-Jul-2020
Category:
Upload: others
View: 0 times
Download: 0 times
Share this document with a friend
37
Chapter 11: The Dynamic Geometry of Calculus In Chapter 6 we introduced you to Sketchpad’s function plotting capabilities. In this chapter we shall use those capabilities to explore the geometry of calculus, starting with the relation between secant lines to a curve, tangents to that same curve and the derivative of the function that generates the curve. We also introduced in Chapter 6 the idea of using sliders (variable horizontal line segments) to vary the parameters of a function. The following section leads you though the steps to create your own slider tool that you will use for creating many functions in this chapter. Coordinate-based Sliders It is fairly easy to create sliders (dynamic line segments) to provide values that can be manipulated simply by moving the end-point of the slider. In a New Sketch go to the Graph menu and select Define Coordinate System. Create a free point in the sketch and label it A. Select point A and the x-axis and construct a line parallel to the x-axis through point A. Place a free point B on this line. Hide the line through points A and B. Construct a segment between A and B. Select points A and B and measure their abscissa. Calculate x B -x A and re-label this calculation b. 1
Transcript
Page 1: Constructing Tangents to Functions and Calculating …math.coe.uga.edu/olive/emat4500/Chpt11_01_24_05.doc · Web viewSelect the four remaining points (in cyclic order) and construct

Chapter 11: The Dynamic Geometry of Calculus

In Chapter 6 we introduced you to Sketchpad’s function plotting capabilities. In this

chapter we shall use those capabilities to explore the geometry of calculus, starting with the

relation between secant lines to a curve, tangents to that same curve and the derivative of the

function that generates the curve. We also introduced in Chapter 6 the idea of using sliders

(variable horizontal line segments) to vary the parameters of a function. The following section

leads you though the steps to create your own slider tool that you will use for creating many

functions in this chapter.

Coordinate-based Sliders

It is fairly easy to create sliders (dynamic line segments) to provide values that can be

manipulated simply by moving the end-point of the slider.

In a New Sketch go to the Graph menu and select Define Coordinate System.

Create a free point in the sketch and label it A.

Select point A and the x-axis and construct a line parallel to the x-axis through point A.

Place a free point B on this line.

Hide the line through points A and B.

Construct a segment between A and B.

Select points A and B and measure their abscissa.

Calculate xB-xA and re-label this calculation b.

Hide the values for xB and xA and turn off the label for point A (click on point A with the

text tool).

You are now ready to create a slider tool from this construction. Follow the steps below:

Select the x-axis, the segment and its two endpoints, and the value labeled b.

Click on the last button on the tool bar and hold the mouse button down.

Select Create Tool from the sub-menu that appears.

Name the tool slider_tool and check the Show Script View box.

A window similar to Figure 11.1 below should appear:

1

Page 2: Constructing Tangents to Functions and Calculating …math.coe.uga.edu/olive/emat4500/Chpt11_01_24_05.doc · Web viewSelect the four remaining points (in cyclic order) and construct

Figure 11.1: Script View window for the Slider_Tool

Double click on the first given (1. Straight Object x).

Check the box “Automatically Match Sketch Object” in the dialog window that appears.

“Straight Object x” should move into the Assuming portion of the Script View window.

Save your sketch as “Slider_tool” into the Tool Folder.

Your slider_tool will now be available for use whenever you open GSP 4.

Creating a Function using Sliders as Parameters

Use your slider tool to create four sliders in a new sketch. The coordinate axes will be

created automatically. Your Sliders (segments) will have only one end-point labeled. Four

measures will appear. Re-label these measures according to the labels on your sliders. So as not

to confuse which endpoint is the moveable one you can hide the unlabelled endpoint of each

slider. Use the measures of each slider to create and plot a new function: f(x) = ax3+bx2+cx+d.

You should have something like figure 11.2 below.

2

Page 3: Constructing Tangents to Functions and Calculating …math.coe.uga.edu/olive/emat4500/Chpt11_01_24_05.doc · Web viewSelect the four remaining points (in cyclic order) and construct

6

4

2

-2

-4

-6

-10 -5 5 10

f x( ) = a⋅x 3 +b ⋅x 2 +c ⋅x+d

d = 2.70

c = -1.15

b = -1.30

a = 0.42A

B

C

D

Figure 11.2: Plot of a cubic function using 4 sliders as parameters.

Explore the roles of the four parameters on the cubic function by adjusting each of the

sliders. Create a new cubic function using three of the sliders as roots of the function: e.g. g(x)

= a(x-b)(x-c)(x-d). Explore how these two cubic functions differ and how they are similar.

Constructing a Secant to a Function

In this activity we shall use our slider tool to create a control point that will be used to measure

small changes in x. Call this control point ∂x. Place a free point on the x-axis of your function

plot for the cubic function f(x) = ax3+bx2+cx+d. Call this free point x. Measure the abscissa of

this point and label this measurement x. In the calculator create the measure of (x - ∂x/2) and (x

+ ∂x/2). Using the GSP calculator and each of these measures and the function f(x), create the

values f(x - ∂x/2) and f(x + ∂x/2) respectively. The following steps will plot these values of f(x)

as points on the graph and the secant between them.

1. Select the measures of (x - ∂x/2) and f(x - ∂x/2) in that order and Plot as (x, y) under the

Graph menu. A point should appear on your function graph.

3

Page 4: Constructing Tangents to Functions and Calculating …math.coe.uga.edu/olive/emat4500/Chpt11_01_24_05.doc · Web viewSelect the four remaining points (in cyclic order) and construct

2. Do the same for (x + ∂x/2) and f(x + ∂x/2) A second point should appear on your function

graph.

3. Select these two new points on the graph and construct a line through them.

4. Vary the length of ∂x to see what happens to this secant line.

As ∂x becomes very small this secant line appears to become tangent to the curve

representing the cubic function. With ∂x very small (<0.1) move your free x point along the x-

axis to see how the secant line travels along the curve (see Figure 11.3).

6

4

2

-2

-4

-6

-10 -5 5 10

f xx( ) = -3.25

f x x+∂x

2( )( ) = -3.35

f x x -∂x

2( )( ) = -3.14

x x+∂x

2 = 2.49

x x -∂x

2 = 2.38

∂x = 0.11

x x = 2.43

f x( ) = a⋅x 3+b ⋅x 2+c ⋅x+d

d = 2.70c = -1.15b = -1.30a = 0.31

A

B

C

D

x

∂x

Figure 11.3

Constructing the Tangent and the Derivative

Lengthen ∂x so that you can see the two points distinctly on the graph of the function.

Plot the point x, f(x) on your graph. This point should appear between the two points that define

your secant line. Select the secant line and the point between the two points defining the line.

Construct a line parallel to the secant line through the point x, f(x). Measure the slope of this

“tangent” line. As you make ∂x very small the secant line becomes the tangent line. If you make

∂x large (∂x > 2.0) and move your free point x, it will be obvious that the line parallel to the

secant line through f(x) is not always tangent to the cubic function. Make ∂x small again. Now

plot the point defined by the measure of x and the slope of the line through the point f(x) [Select

4

Page 5: Constructing Tangents to Functions and Calculating …math.coe.uga.edu/olive/emat4500/Chpt11_01_24_05.doc · Web viewSelect the four remaining points (in cyclic order) and construct

the measure of x and the slope of the “tangent” line in that order and Plot as (x, y) from the

Graph menu.] With this new point still selected, construct its locus with respect to the free point

x on the x-axis. You should now have a sketch that looks something like figure 11.4. What

shape is this locus curve? How does this curve relate to the derivative of the cubic function?

6

4

2

-2

-4

-6

-10 -5 5 10

tangent

Slope tangent = 1.74

f xx( ) = -3.58

f x x+∂x

2( )( ) = -3.51

f x x -∂x

2( )( ) = -3.64

x x+∂x

2 = 3.64

x x -∂x

2 = 3.56

∂x = 0.07

x x = 3.60

f x( ) = a⋅x 3 +b ⋅x 2 +c ⋅x+d

d = 2.70c = -1.15b = -1.30a = 0.31

A

B

C

D

x

∂x

Figure 11.4: Constructing the tangent to a cubic function and plotting its slope

Create the expression for the derivative of your cubic function by selecting the

expression for f(x) and choosing Derivative from the Graph menu. You should get the

following expression: f’(x) = 3ax2+2bx+c. Use the calculator to obtain the value of this

expression for point x. Make ∂x very small. What do you notice about the slope of the tangent

line and the value of this expression at point x? Move your free point x. Do these values remain

the same? Do they remain equal to each other?

The value of the derivative varies with the position of x, so we can graph this

relationship. Select the expression for the derivative (f’(x) = 3ax2+2bx+c) and choose Plot

Function from the Graph menu. What shape is the graph of the derivative function? Does this

curve co-inside with the locus of the slope of the tangent line through f(x)? Enlarge ∂x until you

see some separation between these two curves. Do the shapes of the curves remain similar even

when they are separated? Reduce ∂x until the two curves are again coincident.

5

Page 6: Constructing Tangents to Functions and Calculating …math.coe.uga.edu/olive/emat4500/Chpt11_01_24_05.doc · Web viewSelect the four remaining points (in cyclic order) and construct

Vary your coefficients and then write three things about the relationship between the graphs of

the cubic function and its derivative (see Figure 11.5).

6

4

2

-2

-4

-6

-10 -5 5 10

tangentf' xx( ) = 1.74

f' x( ) = 3⋅a⋅x 2 +2 ⋅b⋅x+c

Slope tangent = 1.74

f x x( ) = -3.58

f x x+∂x

2( )( ) = -3.51

f x x -∂x

2( )( ) = -3.64

x x+∂x

2 = 3.64

x x -∂x

2 = 3.56

∂x = 0.07

x x = 3.60

f x( ) = a⋅x 3 +b ⋅x 2 +c ⋅x+d

d = 2.70c = -1.15b = -1.30a = 0.31

A

B

C

D

x

∂x

Figure 11.5: Graphs of a cubic function and its derivative

Investigating the Derivative of the Quadratic

Start a new sketch, create the axes and place a free point on the x-axis. Re-label this point

x. Use your slider tool to create three control points, a, b and c. Follow the method you used for

the cubic function to create the function f(x) = ax2+bx+c and construct its graph. Create a slider

∂x and use this to construct a secant to your quadratic function. Plot the point x, f(x) on your

graph. Construct the line through f(x) parallel to your secant line. Move point x to see the

“tangent” and secant lines move around your parabola. Vary ∂x. Make it as large as you can.

Move x again. Does the “tangent” line ever appear not to be tangent to the curve? Go back to

your cubic sketch and try the same thing. What seems to be special about the quadratic function?

Assignment 11.1: Create the expression and plot the derivative of your quadratic

f’(x)=2ax+b. Does the value of f’(x) = slope of the secant line for any ∂x? Prove (algebraically)

that the secant line through the points f(x-∂x/2) and f(x+∂x/2) will always be parallel to the

tangent at f(x) for any quadratic function!

6

Page 7: Constructing Tangents to Functions and Calculating …math.coe.uga.edu/olive/emat4500/Chpt11_01_24_05.doc · Web viewSelect the four remaining points (in cyclic order) and construct

Tangents to sine and cosine functions

Using the construction methods above create a graph of a general sine function: f(x)=

a•sin(b•x+c) and plot the points (x+∂x/2, f(x+∂x/2)) and (x-∂x,/2 f(x-∂x/2)) to construct the

secant to the sine curve. [Note: You will need to change the Preferences for the angle measure

under the Edit menu to Radians.] Make ∂x very small and measure the slope of the secant-

tangent line. Plot x and slope as (x, y). Construct the locus of this new plotted point as x varies.

In what ways is this new curve similar to your sine curve? Vary a and c. How do these

coefficients affect the two curves? Vary b. How does this coefficient affect the two curves?

Make b = 1.00. What do you notice about the two curves? How are they different and how are

they alike? Vary a and c again. What do you notice? Set both a and b equal to 1; set c equal to

zero. Make a conjecture about the function that would produce the curve that graphs the slope of

a tangent to sine x.

Assignment 11.2: Create the derivative function, g(x) of a•sin(b•x+c) using the

parameter measures and the New Function option from the Graph menu. Plot g(x). The graph

of your derivative function should coincide with the graph of the slope of the tangent to f(x) for

very small ∂x. If it does not, vary the coefficient b. What role does b play in the slope function?

-8 -6 -4 -2 2 4 6 8

4

2

-2

0 1x

a = 1.69b = 1.48c = 0.78x: (0.30, 0.00)xx = 0.30

a sin b xx + c )( = 1.59

∂x = 0.04xx + ∂x = 0.34xx – ∂x = 0.26a sin b xx + ∂x )( + c )( = 1.62a sin b xx – ∂x )( + c )( = 1.56

Slope NM = 0.84

a cos b xx + c )( = 0.57

7

Page 8: Constructing Tangents to Functions and Calculating …math.coe.uga.edu/olive/emat4500/Chpt11_01_24_05.doc · Web viewSelect the four remaining points (in cyclic order) and construct

Figure 11.6

In Figure 11.6 the red curve is the graph of f(x)= a•sin(b•x+c). The blue line is a secant-

tangent to this curve. The tall, dark blue curve is the graph of the slope of this tangent line as x

varies. The light blue curve is the graph of a•cos(b•x+c). When b=1 the two blue curves

coincide. Why? In Figure 11.6, b > 1. How is b affecting the slope function? Check your

derivative function by asking for the derivative of f(x) under the Graph menu.

Using the same process as above, construct a secant-tangent line to the general cosine

function g(x)= a•cos(b•x+c) (the light blue curve in figure 11.6). Plot the slope of this line as x

varies. Make a conjecture about the derivative of the cosine function.

Reflecting on secants, tangents, rates of change and derivatives

Reflect on your understanding of tangents to function curves and how they relate to “rate

of change” of the function value with respect to the independent variable (x-value). How does

the slope of a secant line relate to this “rate of change”? What is happening as the secant line

gets closer and closer to the tangent at a single point? It might help to think of the speed you are

traveling when driving a car. You can calculate an average speed for one hour of driving time by

finding how far you traveled during that hour. At any point in time during that hour, however

you will be traveling at a specific speed that may be different from that average speed. You can

think of your speed at any particular time as the change in distance during a very small time

period divided by that time period (e.g. one second). But this speed is again really an average

speed: your average during that one-second of travel time. If you plotted a graph of your

distance traveled against time traveling, then your speed for this one-second period would be the

slope of the secant line connecting the two distances at the beginning and end of that one-second

period (change in distance over change in time). To find your actual speed at any particular

moment in time you would need to reduce the time interval to very close to zero and the slope of

the secant line would become the slope of the tangent to the distance-time curve at that point in

time. Did varying the small change in x (the ∂x-segment) dynamically help you to visualize this

limiting idea of a secant line becoming a tangent? Does it make sense now to refer to the

derivative of a function y=f(x) as dy/dx (the limit of ∂y/∂x as ∂x->0)?

8

Page 9: Constructing Tangents to Functions and Calculating …math.coe.uga.edu/olive/emat4500/Chpt11_01_24_05.doc · Web viewSelect the four remaining points (in cyclic order) and construct

Area Under a Function Curve, Integration and the Anti-Derivative

Constructing Polygons to Approximate the Area

The word Integration carries with it the notion of joining together. If we consider the

situation of driving a car on a journey for two hours, for instance, the total distance traveled

during the two hours would be our average speed multiplied by the time traveled. If we were

able to travel the whole journey at this one speed (say 50 mph) then the speed-time graph would

be a horizontal straight line and the distance traveled would be the area of the rectangle indicated

in Figure 11.7. – that is 100 miles (50x2).200

150

100

50

-50

-100

-150

-200

-3 -2 -1 1 2 3

f x( ) = 50

Time

Speed

Figure 11.7: Distance Traveled is Area of Rectangle

On a real journey, however, it would be very difficult to travel for the first two hours at

exactly one speed, as we have to start from rest and accelerate up to our cruising speed. If we

came to a halt after two hours (without crashing) we would also have to slow down from 50 mph

to zero during the last few minutes of our journey. Our speed-time graph might look more like

Figure 11.8.

200

150

100

50

-50

-100

-150

-3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5Time

Speed

Figure 11.8: Speed Variation Over 2-hour Journey

How could we figure out the total distance we had traveled given such variation in our

speed? Analyzing the three different parts of the journey indicates that for the first 30 minutes

we accelerated smoothly from zero to 50 mph. We then traveled for an hour at 50 mph. The final

half hour we decelerated smoothly from 50 to zero. During the middle portion of the journey

when we were traveling at the constant speed of 50 mph we traveled 50 miles (speed x time). We

could argue that our average speed for the first half hour was 50/2 or 25 mph as we went from

zero to 50 smoothly. Similarly for the last half hour as we went from 50 to zero smoothly. Thus,

9

Page 10: Constructing Tangents to Functions and Calculating …math.coe.uga.edu/olive/emat4500/Chpt11_01_24_05.doc · Web viewSelect the four remaining points (in cyclic order) and construct

we could argue that we traveled 12.5 miles (25x0.5) during the first half hour and 12.5 miles

during the last half hour. Thus the total distance traveled would be 12.5+50+12.5, which equals

75 miles. The area between the graph of our speed function and the time axis is a trapezoid

whose area is 75 square units, thus the total distance traveled is still the area between the

function and the time axis. We have integrated the three different parts of the journey.

The picture of our speed variation in figure 11.8 is still somewhat idealistic. The graph in

Figure 11.9 provides another possible way in which our speed could vary over the two-hour

journey. How could we figure out the total distance traveled in this situation?200

150

100

50

-50

-100

-150

-3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5Time

Speed

Figure 11.9: Variation of speed over a 2-hour journey.

We could do what we did for the situation in figure 11.8 – that is, we could divide our

journey into smaller parts for which we could assume a fairly constant speed (or assume a

reasonable average speed for that time interval) and then accumulate the distances traveled over

each of these small parts of the journey. We could do this systematically by taking a reading of

our speed every minute (say) and assume the average speed for that minute of travel was the

beginning speed, S0 plus the speed at the end of the minute S1 divided by two: (S0+ S1)/2. This is

in fact what we did for the first and last half hours of the journey depicted in figure 11.8. To

calculate the distance traveled during that one-minute interval we would multiply this average

speed by 1/60 of an hour (one minute). To find the total distance, we would add together all of

these small distances for all 120 minutes of the journey. Figure 11.10 shows a geometric

representation of the product (S0+ S1)/2*1/60 on a zoomed image of the graph in Figure 11.9; it

is a trapezoid with parallel sides of height 29.3 (S0) and 30.8 (S1) and width 1/60 of an hour. For

this particular one minute of our journey, the average speed was approximately 30 mph. Thus we

would have traveled approximately 1/2 mile during this one-minute interval. An approximation

for the total distance traveled would be the combined (integrated) areas of all of the trapezoids

for each minute of the journey, and this area would approximate the area of the region between

the curve and the time axis, shown in Figure 11.11.

10

Page 11: Constructing Tangents to Functions and Calculating …math.coe.uga.edu/olive/emat4500/Chpt11_01_24_05.doc · Web viewSelect the four remaining points (in cyclic order) and construct

40

30

20

10

-10

-20

-30

0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1Time

Speed

Figure 11.10: Area of Trapezoid Indicates Distance Traveled During One Minute130

120

110

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

-10

-20

0.5 1 1.5 2

signed area between curve and axis = 89.44

Time

Speed

GE

Figure 11.11: Showing All 120 Trapezoids and the Accumulated Area

According to the calculation in Figure 11.11, the total distance traveled on a trip whose

speed variation is represented by the curve in Figure 11.11 would be approximately 89.5 miles.

This method of calculating the area between a function curve and the horizontal axis

(independent variable axis), between two points on this axis (the lower limit and upper limit), is

called Riemann Integration after the great German mathematician Georg Friedrich Riemann

(1826-1866). The measure of the area is called the Riemann integral or Definite Integral of the

function between the upper and lower limits of the independent variable.

11

Page 12: Constructing Tangents to Functions and Calculating …math.coe.uga.edu/olive/emat4500/Chpt11_01_24_05.doc · Web viewSelect the four remaining points (in cyclic order) and construct

Riemann used rectangles rather than trapezoids for accumulating the area under the

curve. Three different rectangles could be used. With respect to the trapezoid shown in Figure

11.10, the left side of the trapezoid and the width could define one rectangle. Using this

rectangle would give rise to the Lower-Riemann Sum. If we create a rectangle with height of

the right-hand side of the trapezoid and the width, this would give us the Upper-Riemann Sum.

If we replaced the trapezoid with a rectangle whose height was mid-way between the two sides

of the trapezoid we would generate the Mid-Riemann Sum (assuming local straightness of our

curve) and this would be the same as using our trapezoid (why?). An interactive sketch called

Integration.gsp that dynamically models the Mid-Riemann sum is included in the Calculus

folder in the sample sketches that come with GSP 4. Figure 11.12 is taken from this sketch. I

encourage the reader to explore the sketch, changing the number of rectangles and also changing

the parameters for the cubic function. The sketch also provides a brief explanation of how it was

constructed. It is possible to also change the function in this sketch but the value for the definite

integral is calculated for the cubic function only. Nevertheless, it is interesting to see how the

sum of the areas of the mid-rectangles changes as the number of rectangles used between the

fixed upper and lower bounds changes for any continuous function.

12

Page 13: Constructing Tangents to Functions and Calculating …math.coe.uga.edu/olive/emat4500/Chpt11_01_24_05.doc · Web viewSelect the four remaining points (in cyclic order) and construct

5

4

3

2

1

-1

-2

-3

-6 -4 -2 2 4 6

a

b

c

d

-1.00

Sum of Areas = 13.27340

5.00

0.75

-0.10

f x( ) = a⋅x3+b⋅x2+c⋅x+d

0.63

-0.11

n = 4

Approximating a Definite Integral by Accumulating Values

Change the number of increments (n) orthe function f(x) by double-clicking them.Change the coefficients a, b, c and d, orthe upper and lower domain bounds Aand B by dragging them.

Show QuestionsShow Explanation How This Sketch Was MadeShow Value

Animate n

BA

Figure 11.12: From the sketch Integration.gsp

Using GSP 4 to Display and Calculate the Riemann Integral for any Curve

Note: This section is for those who feel comfortable using the GSP iteration transformation and

would like the challenge of creating your own sketch. Others may opt to use the ready-made

sketch entitled new_Riemann_area.gsp available on the CD and skip to the next section

after the:

******************************************************************

With the new function, parameter and iteration capabilities of GSP 4 it is possible to

display and calculate the area under any curve formed by a continuous function, f(x) and the x-

axis. The method we shall use essentially creates the Mid-Riemann sum described above (see

figures 11.10 and 11.11) using the powerful “iterate” transformation option. The plan is as

follows:

Step 1: Create a function, f(x) using the function editor.

13

Page 14: Constructing Tangents to Functions and Calculating …math.coe.uga.edu/olive/emat4500/Chpt11_01_24_05.doc · Web viewSelect the four remaining points (in cyclic order) and construct

Step 2: Create a parameter (∂x) for the small change in the independent variable, x.

Step 3: Graph the function on a square coordinate system

Step 4: Place points LL and UL (for lower and upper limits of the Riemann integral) on

the x-axis. Note that point LL should be to the left of point UL.

Step 5: Obtain the x-coordinates of points LL and UL (xLL and xUL).

Step 6: Calculate f(xLL) and plot the point (xLL, f(xLL)) on the function graph.

Step 7: Construct the vertical segment connecting the point LL to the point (xLL, f(xLL)) on

the graph. This segment is essentially the left vertical side of the trapezoid in figure 11.10.

Let’s assume we started with a quadratic function defined using sliders for the parameters

a, b and c. Your GSP 4 sketch would look something like Figure 11.13 at this stage in the

construction.

2

1

-1

-2

-3

-2 2 4 6

f xLL( ) = 0.59

xUL

= 1.51

xLL

= -0.50

f x( ) = a ⋅ x2

+b ⋅ x+c

∂x = 0.02

LL UL

Figure 11.13: Initial Segment for Displaying Area Under a Function Curve

Figure 11.13 shows the initial conditions for creating a sequence of segments under the

quadratic function similar to those shown in figure 11.11. However, we also want to actually

calculate the area under the curve as we create the sequence of segments that define the heights

of the mid-rectangles in the Riemann Sum. Each mid-rectangle will have a width of ∂x (shown

with a value of 0.02 units in Figure 11.13). The height of each mid-rectangle will be the value

of the function at f(xi - ∂x/2), starting with the point x1=(xLL + ∂x), the right-hand side of the

mid-rectangle. We use the right-hand point (rather than xLL) in order to define an iteration image,

and we use f(xi - ∂x/2) as our height rather than f(xi + ∂x/2) so that the last mid-rectangle will

have the point UL as its right-hand defining point, and a height of f(xUL - ∂x/2). The following

steps will construct the first image points for the iterative mapping:

14

Page 15: Constructing Tangents to Functions and Calculating …math.coe.uga.edu/olive/emat4500/Chpt11_01_24_05.doc · Web viewSelect the four remaining points (in cyclic order) and construct

Step 8: Plot the point (xLL+∂x, 0) [You can obtain the zero value by using YLL]

Step 9: Obtain the x-coordinate of this new point (xi) and calculate the value of f(xi -

∂x/2) using the GSP 4 calculator.

Step 10: Calculate ∂x* f(xi - ∂x/2) using the GSP 4 calculator.

This last step provides us with the area of the first rectangle in the mid-Riemann sum. We now

need a way to accumulate (or sum) the area of each of the rectangles that will be produced in the

iteration process. We also need a way of specifying how many levels of iteration we need in

order to create the mid-Riemann sum between points LL and UL. This latter problem is easily

solved by dividing the coordinate distance between points LL and UL by ∂x (why?). However,

the iteration level needs to be a positive integer (why?). As the first level of iteration has already

been constructed, we need to truncate the number (XUL-XLL)/∂x to find the appropriate positive

integer.

The goal of accumulating and summing the areas of each mid-rectangle can be

accomplished by actually constructing a rectangle of unit width, and height defined by a

translation vertically of that unit width by each value of the area of each mid-rectangle (∂x* f(xi -

∂x/2)). There is one problem with this plan, however. In GSP, translation has to be by a

measured length or distance. The area ∂x* f(xi - ∂x/2) is in terms of coordinate units. We

therefore need to convert this coordinate quantity to a measure by multiplying it by the actual

length of a coordinate unit. We shall then use this measure to translate the unit width of our

accumulation rectangle vertically. Under iteration, the translated images of the end-points of the

unit width will build up the total area of the mid-Riemann sum. The accumulation rectangle will

also provide a visual display of the area under the curve as a rectangle of unit width. If we place

our unit width on the x-axis, this method also has the advantage of displaying the signed area

under the curve. This is critically important for calculating the Riemann integral, as area

between the x-axis and parts of the curve that fall below the x-axis must be subtracted from the

accumulating Riemann sum. These areas formed by negative values of f(x) are negative areas1.

By using ∂x* f(xi - ∂x/2) to calculate the area of each mid-rectangle we do obtain negative values

1 The idea of negative area makes sense in the case of the graph representing the speed of a car versus time traveled, where the area under the curve represents the total distance traveled during the journey. When the speed becomes negative, the car is traveling backwards (or back towards its starting point) thus the distance it travels during this time must be subtracted from the distance traveled towards its end point.

15

Page 16: Constructing Tangents to Functions and Calculating …math.coe.uga.edu/olive/emat4500/Chpt11_01_24_05.doc · Web viewSelect the four remaining points (in cyclic order) and construct

when f(x) is negative. If more area falls below the x-axis than above it, the resulting Riemann

sum will be negative and our accumulation rectangle will appear below the x-axis. The actual

value of the Riemann sum can be obtained by simply measuring the y-coordinate of the last

translated image of the unit width of the accumulation rectangle. The following steps calculate

the level of iteration and then set up the accumulation rectangle ready for the iteration mapping.

Step 11: Calculate the following value using the GSP 4 calculator: trunc((XUL-XLL)/∂x ).

This will be used for the level of iteration.

Step 12: Measure the distance from the origin to the unit point of the coordinate system

and then use the GSP 4 calculator to multiply ∂x* f(xi - ∂x/2) by this distance.

Step 13: Place a free point H on the x-axis and translate this point horizontally by the

coordinate unit distance measured in Step 12. HH’ defines the unit width for the accumulation

rectangle.

Step 12: Translate both H and H’ vertically by the marked distance calculated in step 12

(∂x* f(xi - ∂x/2)*coordinate unit distance).

We are now ready to define the iteration mapping. In order to be able to see the

constructed image points of LL and H it will be necessary to increase ∂x to a larger value, e.g.

0.2 before defining the iteration.

Step 13: Change the value of the ∂x parameter to 0.2. Images of points LL (XLL+∂x) and

H (vertical translation of H) should now be discernable.

Step 14: Select points LL, H and the calculation from Step 11 (for depth of iteration).

Hold down the Shift key and click on the Transform menu. The last item in this menu should say

“Iterate to depth.” Select this item. An iteration mapping dialog box should appear indicating

that points LL and H are to be mapped to image points that you need to select. Select the point

(XLL+∂x) for the image of LL and the vertical translation of H for the image of point H and

iterate.

A screen similar to Figure 11.14 should result from the 14 steps above.

16

Page 17: Constructing Tangents to Functions and Calculating …math.coe.uga.edu/olive/emat4500/Chpt11_01_24_05.doc · Web viewSelect the four remaining points (in cyclic order) and construct

2

1

-1

-2

-3

-4

-5

-6

n x LL f x LL( ) x LL +∂x y LL x F f x F -

∂x

2( ) ∂x ⋅ f x F -

∂x

2( ) ∂x ⋅ f x F -

∂x

2( )( ) ⋅ DG trunc

x UL - x LL

∂x( )

0 -0.50 0.62 -0.30 0.00 -0.30 0.72 0.14 0.36 cm 10.00

1 -0.30 0.81 -0.10 0.00 -0.10 0.89 0.18 0.45 cm 9.00

2 -0.10 0.96 0.10 0.00 0.10 1.02 0.20 0.52 cm 8.00

3 0.10 1.08 0.30 0.00 0.30 1.13 0.23 0.57 cm 7.00

4 0.30 1.16 0.50 0.00 0.50 1.19 0.24 0.61 cm 6.00

5 0.50 1.21 0.70 0.00 0.70 1.23 0.25 0.62 cm 5.00

6 0.70 1.23 0.90 0.00 0.90 1.23 0.25 0.62 cm 4.00

7 0.90 1.21 1.10 0.00 1.10 1.19 0.24 0.60 cm 3.00

8 1.10 1.16 1.30 0.00 1.30 1.12 0.22 0.57 cm 2.00

9 1.30 1.07 1.50 0.00 1.50 1.01 0.20 0.52 cm 1.00

10 1.50 0.95 1.70 0.00 1.70 0.88 0.18 0.44 cm 0.00

f x LL( ) = 0.62

∂x ⋅f x F -

∂x

2( )( )⋅DG = 0.36 cm

∂x ⋅f x F -

∂x

2( ) = 0.14

f x F -

∂x

2( ) = 0.72

f x( ) = a ⋅x 2 +b ⋅x+c

trunc

x UL - x LL

∂x( ) = 10.00

DG = 2.54 cm

x F = -0.30

yLL

= 0.00

x LL +∂x = -0.30

xUL

= 1.67

x LL = -0.50

∂x = 0.20

F D G

LL UL

H

Figure 11.14: Results of Iterating Points LL and H

The table of values generated by the iteration is optional (it can be deselected in the

iteration dialog box when defining the structure of the iteration). I intentionally generated the

table so that we could check the values generated through the 10 levels of iteration in this

example. The lower limit of the Riemann integral is at -0.50 and the upper limit is at 1.70. The

point F is the initial (constructed) image of point LL that defines the iteration. The value XF is

increased by ∂x (0.2) at each level of iteration, ending with the same value as the upper limit.

Thus we are using the correct depth of iteration to generate the values of the areas of all of the

mid-Riemann rectangles (∂x* f(xF- ∂x/2)). Points D and G are the origin and unit points for the

coordinate system. The iteration generates 11 values for the areas mid-rectangles. Each of these

values is multiplied by the measure of DG (the length of the coordinate unit) to produce the 11

vertical translation distances. The two sequences of vertical dots that begin at the point H on the

x-axis are the result of the iteration of points H and H’ from step 13 above under the vertical

translation by each of these successive distances. Thus these two sequences of dots form the

17

Page 18: Constructing Tangents to Functions and Calculating …math.coe.uga.edu/olive/emat4500/Chpt11_01_24_05.doc · Web viewSelect the four remaining points (in cyclic order) and construct

vertical sides of the accumulation rectangle for the area under the curve between points LL and

UL as desired. The following steps construct the interior of the accumulation rectangle using the

terminal points for the two iteration images (the vertical dots).

Step 15: Select the left vertical sequence of dots and choose Terminal point from the

Transform menu. Select the topmost dot on the right-hand vertical sequence (this is important as

there are actually two iteration images in this vertical sequence of dots) and then create the

terminal point for this iteration image. Hide all 3 iteration images (vertical sequences of dots).

You should be left with the two terminal points, the two original points on the x-axis (H and H’)

and two points immediately above H and H’.

Step 16: Hide the two points immediately above H and H’. Select the four remaining

points (in cyclic order) and construct the quadrilateral interior.

Step 17: Select the terminal point above H and measure its y-coordinate. This will be the

value for the signed area under the curve. Change its label to read “area under curve”.

Step 18: Select the iteration images for the points on the curve and the points on the x-

axis under the curve (do not select the vertical segments created under the curve) and hide these

images. Also hide the table of values for the iteration.

Step 19: Change the value of ∂x to 0.02. You can hide any of the measures or

calculations that you don’t need visible.

The result of all of the above steps should look something like Figure 11.15.

2

1

-1

-2

-3

-4

-5

-6

area under curve = 2.30

∂x ⋅f xF

-

∂x

2( ) = 0.01

f x( ) = a ⋅x2

+b ⋅x+c

trunc

xUL

- xLL

∂x( ) = 108.00

xUL

= 1.67

xLL

= -0.50

∂x = 0.02

N

D G

LL UL

H

Figure 11.15: Area Under the Curve of a Quadratic Function

18

Page 19: Constructing Tangents to Functions and Calculating …math.coe.uga.edu/olive/emat4500/Chpt11_01_24_05.doc · Web viewSelect the four remaining points (in cyclic order) and construct

Move points LL and UL and observe the change in the area under the curve and the

accumulation rectangle. Move UL to the right of the function curve. Note that the area “under”

the curve now extends below the x-axis. What happened to the accumulation rectangle as you

moved UL to the right of the curve? Move UL further to the right until the accumulation

rectangle vanishes. What can you say about the area between the x-axis and the curve in this

situation?

Vary the parameters of your quadratic function (by changing your sliders or your GSP 4

parameter values if you used parameters rather than sliders). You can also change the function

by editing it. Try creating a cubic function or a trigonometric function. You may have to reset

angle units to radians to see any of the trig function graphs.

******************************************************************

Varying the coefficient of the x -term (b) for area under a quadratic

Return to a quadratic function controlled by your sliders or parameters for a, b and c.

Construct the reflected image of point LL about the vertical axis. Move point UL to the

reflection of LL using a movement button. Now vary the parameter (b) for the coefficient of the

x-term in your function. What do you notice about the accumulation rectangle or the value for

the area under the curve? Figures 11.16 and 11.17 illustrate the situation for two different values

of b.

2

1

-1

-2

-3

-4

-5

-6

-2 2 4 6 8

area under curve = 2.00

∂x ⋅f x F -

∂x

2( ) = -0.01

f x( ) = a ⋅x 2 +b ⋅x+c

c = 1.02

b = 0.60

a = -0.43

trunc

xUL

- xLL

∂x( ) = 122.00

xUL

= 1.22

xLL

= -1.22

∂x = 0.02

Move UL to LL'

N

D G

LL UL

H

Figure 11.16: Area Under a Quadratic with Lower Bound = -Upper Bound

19

Page 20: Constructing Tangents to Functions and Calculating …math.coe.uga.edu/olive/emat4500/Chpt11_01_24_05.doc · Web viewSelect the four remaining points (in cyclic order) and construct

2

1

-1

-2

-3

-4

-5

-6

-2 2 4 6

area under curve = 2.00

∂x ⋅f x F -

∂x

2( ) = 0.03

f x( ) = a ⋅x 2 +b ⋅x+c

c = 1.04

b = -0.74

a = -0.43

trunc

xUL

- xLL

∂x( ) = 122.00

xUL

= 1.22

xLL

= -1.22

∂x = 0.02

Move UL to LL'

N

D G

LL UL

H

Figure 11.17: Area Under a Quadratic Following Change in Coefficient b of the x-term

While the area under the quadratic curve may vary very slightly, it basically is unaffected

by changes in the coefficient of the x-term. The very slight variations are due to the error

generated by our method for generating the Riemann Integral. The theoretical integral is the

limit of the sum of the areas of the mid-rectangles as ∂x approaches a value of zero. Try making

∂x even smaller (try 0.01) and see if there is variation as b changes.

Assignment 11.3: Write an explanation for this apparent phenomenon. Are there other

functions (non-quadratic) that might exhibit a similar behavior?

Plotting the anti-derivative

Given that the area under the curve does vary as we move the point UL along the x-axis,

it is possible to plot the graph of this variation by first plotting a point with x-coordinate the

same as UL and y-coordinate the value of the area under the curve, and then constructing the

locus of this plotted point as UL varies. The following steps accomplish this:

Step 1: Select the values for XUL and “area under curve” in that order and choose Plot as

(x, y) under the Graph menu. A point should appear above (or below) the point UL. If you

cannot see a new point move LL closer to UL or to a position that reduces the area under the

curve until the new point appears.

20

Page 21: Constructing Tangents to Functions and Calculating …math.coe.uga.edu/olive/emat4500/Chpt11_01_24_05.doc · Web viewSelect the four remaining points (in cyclic order) and construct

Step 2: Select the new plotted point and the point UL in that order and choose Locus

from the Construct menu. A new curve should appear, passing through the new plotted point.

Experiment with moving point LL to see how this new curve changes. You can also

change the coefficients of your quadratic to see how that affects this new curve. Figure 11.18

illustrates one particular situation:

2

1

-1

-2

-3

-4

-5

-6

-2 2 4 6

area under curve = -0.26∂x ⋅f x F -

∂x

2( ) = -0.03

f x( ) = a ⋅x 2 +b ⋅x+c

c = 1.04

b = 0.93

a = -0.43

trunc

x UL - x LL

∂x( ) = 340.00

xUL

= 1.11

x LL = -2.29

∂x = 0.01

Move UL to LL'

N

D G

LL UL

H

Figure 11.18: The Graph of the Variation of the Area Under a Quadratic as UL Varies

The new curve in Figure 11.18 looks like the graph of a cubic function. Note that the

curve becomes parallel to and almost coincident with the x-axis to the left of point LL. Try

moving pint UL to the left of point LL. What happens to the iterated images of the segment from

LL to the quadratic? What happens to the accumulation rectangle? What happens to the value

that determines the depth of iteration (trunc((XUL-XLL)/∂x))? The parameter that determines the

depth of iteration in GSP 4 must be a positive integer. If it is not, no iteration is performed. Thus

the area under the curve remains the value of the area of the first mid-rectangle calculated during

the initial conditions for the iteration (∂x* f(xF- ∂x/2)).

Assignment 11.4: Using the function editor, create a cubic function whose graph would

contain the curve you have just plotted. How does this cubic function relate to your quadratic

function? Why might it be called the “anti-derivative”? When you have a cubic function that fits

your locus for the variation of the area under the quadratic, ask GSP for the derivative of this

21

Page 22: Constructing Tangents to Functions and Calculating …math.coe.uga.edu/olive/emat4500/Chpt11_01_24_05.doc · Web viewSelect the four remaining points (in cyclic order) and construct

cubic function (select the function expression, not the graph, then go to the Graph menu and

choose Derivative). Compare this derivative function to your original quadratic function.

Plotting the slope of a tangent to the “area-under-the-curve” locus

Hide the graph of your cubic function so that you can see the locus for the “area-under-

the-curve” variation. Using a method similar to that described in the section above titled

“Constructing a secant to a function curve” we can construct a secant to this locus curve that

approximates to a tangent as ∂x gets very small. First we shall use the plotted point that defined

the locus for the “area-under-the-curve” curve (step 1 from the previous section). We need one

more point very close to this point that will also be on this curve. We can use the point that is

defined by XUL+∂x. What will be the area of the mid-rectangle with base defined by XUL and

XUL+∂x? It will be ∂x*f(XUL+∂x/2). Why? Calculate these new values using the GSP calculator.

We now need to add this extra area to the area under the curve to calculate the new value for the

area under the curve if UL moved to the point UL + ∂x along the x-axis (why?). We should then

be able to plot a new point on our anti-derivative using the values (XUL+∂x) and (area-under the

curve + ∂x*f(XUL+∂x/2)) as the x and y coordinates. Construct a line through the original point

on the “area-under-the-curve” locus curve and this new point (that should also be on the curve).

Measure the slope of this line and then vary the point UL. Your line should move along your

locus curve as if it were a tangent to the curve.

We can now plot a point that will define the locus for the variation of the slope of this

“tangent” line as point UL moves along the x-axis. Select the values XUL and slope (in that order)

and Plot as (x, y).You should find this plotted point on the graph of the quadratic function above

or below point UL. As you move UL does this plotted point stay on your original quadratic

curve? If so, why? Construct the locus of this new point as UL varies. Does its locus coincide

with your quadratic curve?

The important point to reflect on in this latter part of the investigation is that we did not

do any symbolic integration or differentiation. We worked with the numeric quantities generated

by our construction of the Riemann Sum for the area under a curve. What we have demonstrated

is that the rate of change (slope of the tangent line) of the area-under-the curve of a quadratic

function varies as does the quadratic function. In other words the rate of change of the area

under the function (for a given range of x) is the function itself! This is the fundamental

22

Page 23: Constructing Tangents to Functions and Calculating …math.coe.uga.edu/olive/emat4500/Chpt11_01_24_05.doc · Web viewSelect the four remaining points (in cyclic order) and construct

theorem of calculus. Another way of putting this is indicated by the symbolic result we obtained

when taking the derivative of the cubic function that fit our “area-under-the-curve” locus: The

derivative of the ant-derivative of a function is the function itself! The following two figures

illustrate the locus of the slope of the tangent line to the “area-under-the-curve” locus, and the

symbolic verification of the fundamental theorem of calculus.

In figure 11.20, the function g(x) was generated from f(x) by the usual rules of

integration for polynomial expressions. The graph of g(x) passes through the origin as there is no

constant term. Note that the cubic function for the anti-derivative was formed by generating

j(x)=g(x)-g(XLL). Why did I need to subtract the constant g(XLL) from g(x) to obtain the correct

position of the cubic graph? Note that j’(x) (the derivative of j(x)) is identical to f(x) except for

the extra constant term 0/6, which has value zero.

2

1

-1

-2

-3

-4

-4 -2 2 4

locus of slope fn

tangent

locus of area

y=f(x)

Slope tangent = 0.44

area under curve( ) + ∂x ⋅ f x UL +

∂x

2( )( ) = -1.79

∂x ⋅f xUL

+

∂x

2( ) = 0.01

x UL +∂x = -0.51

area under curve = -1.80

∂x ⋅f xF

-

∂x

2( ) = -0.06

f x( ) = a ⋅x2

+b ⋅x+c

c = 1.04

b = 0.93

a = -0.43

trunc

xUL

- xLL

∂x( ) = 81.00

xUL

= -0.53

xLL

= -2.17

∂x = 0.02

Show Anti-Derivative

Slope fn

PO N

D G

LL

UL H

Figure 11.19: Locus of Slope of Tangent to “area-under-the-curve” Locus

23

Page 24: Constructing Tangents to Functions and Calculating …math.coe.uga.edu/olive/emat4500/Chpt11_01_24_05.doc · Web viewSelect the four remaining points (in cyclic order) and construct

3

2

1

-1

-2

-3

-4 -2 2 4

y=j(x)

y=g(x)

locus of area

y=f(x)j' x( ) = a ⋅ x2

+b ⋅ x+c+

0

6

j x( ) = g x( ) -g xLL( )

g x( ) =

a ⋅x3

3

+

b ⋅ x2

2

+c ⋅x

area under curve = -1.80

∂x ⋅ f xF

-

∂x

2( ) = -0.06

f x( ) = a ⋅ x2

+b ⋅ x+c

c = 1.04

b = 0.93

a = -0.43

trunc

xUL

- xLL

∂x( ) = 81.00

xUL

= -0.53

xLL

= -2.17

∂x = 0.02

Show tangent & slope locusHide Anti-Derivative

Move UL to LL'

O N

D G

LL

UL H

Figure 11.20: Derivative (j’(x)) of Anti-derivative (j(x)) of f(x) Compared to f(x)

The whole of the above investigation of area-under-a-curve was illustrated using a

general quadratic function. GSP 4 does not limit us to remaining with the original quadratic

function. The entire construction can be changed by simply editing the original function. For

example, Figure 11.21 shows the change in Figure 11.19 when f(x) is edited to become

a*sin(x2)+b*x+c and the angle unit is changed from degrees to radians.

24

Page 25: Constructing Tangents to Functions and Calculating …math.coe.uga.edu/olive/emat4500/Chpt11_01_24_05.doc · Web viewSelect the four remaining points (in cyclic order) and construct

3

2

1

-1

-2

-3

-4

-4 -2 2 4 6

locus of slope fn

tangent

locus of area

y=f(x)

Slope tangent = 0.44

area under curve( ) + ∂x ⋅f xUL

+

∂x

2

( )( ) = -0.61

∂x ⋅f xUL

+

∂x

2

( ) = 0.01

xUL

+∂x = -0.51

area under curve = -0.61

∂x ⋅ f xF

-

∂x

2

( ) = -0.01

f x( ) = a ⋅ sin x2( )+b ⋅ x+c

c = 1.04

b = 0.93

a = -0.43

trunc

xUL

- xLL

∂x

( ) = 81.00

xUL

= -0.53

xLL

= -2.17

∂x = 0.02

Hide tangent & slope locusShow Anti-Derivative

Move UL to LL'

Slope fn

PO N

D G

LL

UL H

Figure 11.21: Graph of f(x)= a*sin(x2)+b*x+c and Its Accompanying Constructions

Reflections

Reflect back on all of the activities in this chapter. Did constructing the sketches for

tangents to a function (based on the limit of a secant to the function) provide you with insights

concerning the derivative of a function? Does the geometry of the situation (slope of the tangent

line) help understand the calculus?

Did creating the iterated construction for area under a curve (following the Riemann Sum

approach) provide you with any insights into integral calculus? Did the demonstration of the

Fundamental Theorem of Calculus (by constructing a tangent to the anti-derivative curve

generated from the Riemann Sum) provide a rationale for this theorem? How would you adapt

these activities for a pre-calculus or AP calculus class in High School?

25


Recommended