Derivatives, Maxima and Minima
by Anonymous
Slide the tangent line to read the sign of the slope, locate maxima and minima where it changes, and find the largest fenced area for a fixed perimeter.
About this app
An interactive calculus learning app about derivatives, local maxima and minima, and optimization. Move a tangent along curves to observe positive, negative, and zero slopes, identify peaks and valleys through sign changes, and solve a fixed-perimeter fencing problem where a 20-meter rope produces the maximum area.
Use cases
- High school students studying derivatives and extrema
- Teachers demonstrating slope and tangent behavior
- Learners practicing local maximum and minimum concepts
- Students exploring optimization with a rectangle
- Classroom or self-study calculus review
Features
- Interactive tangent position control with displayed slope signs
- Exercises for locating slopes of 3, −1, and 0
- Multiple functions showing peaks, valleys, no extrema, or one maximum
- Visual identification of extrema from slope sign changes
- 20-meter fence optimization with adjustable width and area feedback
- Mission progression with reset and next controls