The Water Table

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

• Reflections from the original implementation.

• Reflections from "official" adapters/adopters.

• Reflections from the general public.

Instructor's Guide

• Wiki version

Student Handouts

mvwaterhand.pdf