• 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 = x³ + x² − 4x − 2 at x = 1. → 1Prompt: Differentiate first.
2. Find the gradient of y = x² + 18/x at x = 3. → 4Prompt: 18/x = 18x⁻¹, which differentiates to −18x⁻².
3. At what x is the gradient of y = x² − 4x − 4 equal to −10? → x = -3Prompt: Differentiate, then set dy/dx equal to the gradient.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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′(23) = 3. What does this mean? (On day 23, users are increasing at about 3 per day / The total change since the start / There are 3 users on day 23 / The average rate over the whole period) → On day 23, users are increasing at about 3 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) = 3x² + 40x + 200. Use C′(9) to estimate the extra cost of making one more case after 9. → 94Prompt: The derivative gives the cost per extra case at that point (marginal cost).

• 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.

• 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′(4) = −3. What does this mean? (The total change since the start / The drink is at 3 °C after 4 minutes / At 4 minutes, the drink is cooling at about 3 °C per minute / The average rate over the whole period) → At 4 minutes, the drink is cooling at about 3 °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) = 3x² + 13x + 200. Use C′(29) to estimate the extra cost of making one more case after 29. → 187Prompt: The derivative gives the cost per extra case at that point (marginal cost).

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