MA101: Single-Variable Calculus I

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

  Mark as completed

  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

  Mark as completed

  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

  Mark as completed

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