The Roller Coaster

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 analyze the properties of a roller coaster drawn on their contour map.
3. The whole class wrap-up discussion emphasizes the geometric relationship between level curves and constraints.

Reasons to spend class time on the activity

Provides an opportunity to explore the geometry of constrained optimization.

Reflections

• Reflections from the original implementation.

• Reflections from "official" adapters/adopters.

• Reflections from the general public.

Instructor's Guide

• Wiki version

Student Handouts

mvcoasterhand.pdf