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The Water Table

Keywords: Multivariable Calculus, Partial Derivatives, Optimization, Surfaces

mvwater.jpg

Highlights of the activity

  1. This small group activity using surfaces is designed to provide a geometric representation of constrained optimization
  2. Students work in small groups to identify critical points both in the interior and on the boundary of a given region.
  3. The whole class wrap-up discussion emphasizes the geometry of optimzation problems.

Reasons to spend class time on the activity

Provides a nice geometric treatment of constrained optimization.

Reflections

Instructor's Guide

Student Handouts

mvwaterhand.pdf


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