Post #3

This week in Calculus we reviewed, took our first test, and started learning something new. On Wednesday we took our first test. Wow is all I have to say to that. I defintley know my derivative formulas. Anyways, Thursday and Friday we learned some vocabulary and looked at graphs. Some of the words we talked about were increasing, decreasing, concave down, concave up, positive and negative slope, maximums, minimums, horizontal tangents, point of inflection, critical points and extrema.

I generally understand what the words mean. Like if the slope is positive it is increasing and if the graph is increasing it is positive. The same goes for decreasing and negative. Concave up is like a "bowl," and concave down is like is just the opposite. Also, if it is concave up it is positive and if it is concave down it is negative. Extrema is another word for maxs and mins that we learned about in Advanced Math. Horizontal tangents can take place at the top of a max or the bottom of a min. This is where x will equal 0 for your first derivative. The point of inflection is where the concavity changes.

We also learned how to take the first and second derivative from just a graph. The first derivative you take the derivative of the equation. Then set it equal to zero and solve for x. I believe you get your maxs and mins? I know you only have to set up intervals if they ask you to take it farther, but I don't remember how you do that. Can someone help me on that? I don't know really how to put an example for this.

This is the first time I didn't have to take home my binder for Calculus. So, I'm just going on what I think I remember from Friday. I'm sure once I look over my notes I will understand more. I do remember that it made more sense Friday than Thursday. Hopefully what we learn this week will be easier than when we were learning derivatives.

:) I'm just glad we are off Monday.