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Math lesson plan · 12th grade (Year 13 in England) · 30 minutes

Interpret a derivative as a rate of change in context

Calculus

CCSS HSF.IF.B.6CCSS HSF.IF.B.4England: A-level Pure Mathematics

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Interpret a derivative as a rate of change in context.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Find the gradient of a curve at a point

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: Graphing tool or graph paper, Scientific calculators, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Find the gradient of a curve at a point). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Find the gradient of y = −3x³ + 4x² + 8x − 5 at x = −3. → -97Prompt: Differentiate first.
  2. Find the gradient of y = x² + 3/x at x = 1. → -1Prompt: 3/x = 3x⁻¹, which differentiates to −3x⁻².
  3. At what x is the gradient of y = x² − 2x − 6 equal to 4? → x = 3Prompt: Differentiate, then set dy/dx equal to the gradient.

Hook · 3 min

  • Show a distance-time graph of a journey and ask how fast it was going at one exact moment.
  • Share the objective: Interpret a derivative as a rate of change in context. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: V(t) is the number of users of an app after t days. V′(15) = 32. What does this mean?
  • Step 1: On day 15, users are increasing at about 32 per day
  • Answer: On day 15, users are increasing at about 32 per day
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. V(t) is the number of users of an app after t days. V′(26) = 15. What does this mean? (On day 26, users are increasing at about 15 per day / There are 15 users on day 26 / The average rate over the whole period / The total change since the start) → On day 26, users are increasing at about 15 per dayPrompt: A derivative is a rate: units of output per unit of input.
  2. The cost (in dollars) of making x phone cases is C(x) = 2x² + 53x + 200. Use C′(24) to estimate the extra cost of making one more case after 24. → 149Prompt: The derivative gives the cost per extra case at that point (marginal cost).

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. T(m) is the temperature (°C) of a drink m minutes after it is made. T′(20) = −9. What does this mean? (The average rate over the whole period / The total change since the start / At 20 minutes, the drink is cooling at about 9 °C per minute / The drink is at 9 °C after 20 minutes) → At 20 minutes, the drink is cooling at about 9 °C per minutePrompt: A derivative is a rate: units of output per unit of input.
  2. The cost (in dollars) of making x phone cases is C(x) = x² + 47x + 200. Use C′(22) to estimate the extra cost of making one more case after 22. → 91Prompt: The derivative gives the cost per extra case at that point (marginal cost).

Watch out for

  • Forgetting the constant of integration.
  • Differentiating a product by multiplying the derivatives.

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Find the gradient of a curve at a point.
  • Use concrete materials: graphing tool or graph paper.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/math/grade-12.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Interpret a derivative as a rate of change in context

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    T(m) is the temperature (°C) of a drink m minutes after it is made. T′(16) = −1. What does this mean?

    • A. The total change since the start
    • B. The average rate over the whole period
    • C. At 16 minutes, the drink is cooling at about 1 °C per minute
    • D. The drink is at 1 °C after 16 minutes

  2. Question 2

    The cost (in dollars) of making x phone cases is C(x) = 4x² + 57x + 200. Use C′(6) to estimate the extra cost of making one more case after 6.

    Answer

  3. Question 3

    B(h) is a phone's battery level (%) after h hours. B′(8) = −7. What does this mean?

    • A. The total change since the start
    • B. At that moment the battery is falling by about 7 percentage points per hour
    • C. The battery has 7% left
    • D. The average rate over the whole period

  4. Question 4

    The cost (in dollars) of making x phone cases is C(x) = 2x² + 14x + 200. Use C′(39) to estimate the extra cost of making one more case after 39.

    Answer

  5. Question 5

    V(t) is the number of users of an app after t days. V′(6) = 14. What does this mean?

    • A. The total change since the start
    • B. On day 6, users are increasing at about 14 per day
    • C. There are 14 users on day 6
    • D. The average rate over the whole period

  6. Question 6

    The cost (in dollars) of making x phone cases is C(x) = 2x² + 28x + 200. Use C′(31) to estimate the extra cost of making one more case after 31.

    Answer

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Answer key: Interpret a derivative as a rate of change in context

  1. 1. C. At 16 minutes, the drink is cooling at about 1 °C per minute

  2. 2. 105

  3. 3. B. At that moment the battery is falling by about 7 percentage points per hour

  4. 4. 170

  5. 5. B. On day 6, users are increasing at about 14 per day

  6. 6. 152