Project contributed by Neal Brand.
This project uses trigonometric identities to derive polynomials to
approximate the sine and cosine functions. A fairly realistic story motivates
the project.
Project teaches and provides practice in
Approximation techniques
Trigonometric identities
Understanding differences between polynomials and transcendental functions.
Project contributed by Neal Brand.
This project uses the definition of the exponential function to derive
a formula for a polynomial approximation to the exponential function. It
assumes that students have seen the binomial theorem and have a good grasp
of basic properties of polynomials.
Project teaches and provides practice in
Algebraic manipulation
Approximation techniques
Understanding difference between polynomials and transcendental functions
Project contributed by Neal Brand.
This project uses basic algebraic manipulation to maximize a class
of functions. The story in the project is essentially true.
Project teaches and provides practice in
Algebraic manipulation
An introduction to Kirchhoff's law
An introduction to maximizing functions
Using graphing calculator or computer to make a conjecture
Project contributed by Neal Brand.
This project is an exercise in composition of functions. It could be
assigned early in the semester or used in a college algebra course.
Project teaches and provides practice in
Project contributed by Neal Brand.
This project is an introduction to the hyperbolic functions. It requires
students to derive some basic identities involving hyperbolic functions
which correspond to trigonometric identities they learned in class.
Project teaches and provides practice in
Project contributed by Neal Brand.
This projects introduces students to optimization problems similar
to what they will see in calculus.
Project teaches and provides practice in
Project contributed by John
Quintanilla.
This project gives some history of the computation of Pi. Students
then are required to derive some of the formulas used.
Project teaches and provides practice in