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  • MA101: Single-Variable Calculus I
  • Sections
  • Course Introduction
  • Unit 1: Analytic Geometry
  • Unit 2: Instantaneous Rate of Change: The Derivative
  • Unit 3: Rules for Finding Derivatives
  • Unit 4: Transcendental Functions
  • Unit 5: Curve Sketching
  • Unit 6: Applications of the Derivative
  • Unit 7: Integration
  • Unit 8: Applications of Integration
  • Final Exam
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MA101: Single-Variable Calculus I

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  4. MA101: Single-Variable Calculus I
  5. Sections
  6. Unit 6: Applications of the Derivative
  7. 6.4: Linear Approximations

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Back to 'Unit 6: Applications of the Derivative\'
  • 6.4: Linear Approximations

    • In this subunit, you will learn how to estimate future data points based on what you know about a previous data point and how it changed at that particular moment. This concept is extremely useful in the field of economics.

    • Whitman College: David Guichard's "Calculus, Chapter 6: Applications of the Derivative, Section 6.4: Linear Approximations" URL

      Read Section 6.4 (pages 139 and 140). In this reading, you will see how tangent lines can be used to locally approximate functions.

    • Massachusetts Institute of Technology: David Jerison's "Linear and Quadratic Approximations" Page

      Watch this video until 39:00. Beyond 39:00, Jerison discusses quadratic approximations to functions, which are in a certain sense one step beyond linear approximations. If you are interested, please continue viewing the lecture to the end.

    • Whitman College: David Guichard's "Calculus, Chapter 6: Applications of the Derivative, Exercises 6.4: Problems 1-4" URL

      Work through problems 1-4 for Exercise 6.4. When you are done, check your answers against Appendix A.

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