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The Hillside

Keywords: Multivariable Calculus, Gradient, Surfaces

mvhillside.jpg

Highlights of the activity

  1. This small group activity using surfaces introduces the gradient.
  2. Students work in small groups to determine the steepest slope and direction at a given point, then compare these results with the computed gradient.
  3. The whole class wrap-up discussion emphasizes the geometric properties of the gradient.

Reasons to spend class time on the activity

This is the first activity using gradient, introducing some of its geometric properties using surfaces.

Reflections

Instructor's Guide

Student Handouts

mvhillsidehand.pdf


Authors: (c) Aaron Wangberg and the "Raising Calculus to the Surface" team; used by permission.
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