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Historical Activities for Calculus

Three historical "Then and Now" modules, on curve drawing, tangent lines, and optimization problems, each explored using interactive Java applets created with Geometers Sketchpad but requiring only a Java-enabled browser. With exercises and answers. Curve drawing module focuses on conic sections. Tangent lines module begins with conic sections but also includes Fermat's idea of secant lines approaching a tangent line. Optimization module is the most extensive and includes Heron's Shortest Distance Problem, Snell's Law, L'Hospital's Pulley Problem, Regiomontanus' Hanging Picture Problem, and the Brachistochrone Problem.

Identifier: 
http://www.maa.org/publications/periodicals/convergence/historical-activities-for-the-calculus-classroom
Rating: 
Average: 3.1 (357 votes)
Creator(s): 
Gabriela R. Sanchis
Publisher: 
MAA, MathDL Loci: Convergence
Rights: 
MAA
Format Other: 
PDF with Java applets