The Hot Plate

Highlights of the activity

1. This small group activity using surfaces introduces a geometric interpretation of partial derivatives in terms of measured ratios of small changes.
2. Students work in small groups to identify locations on their surface with particular properties.
3. The whole class wrap-up discussion emphasizes the equivalence of multiple representations of partial derivatives.

Reasons to spend class time on the activity

Provides practice interpreting partial derivatives as measured ratios of small changes.

Reflections

• Reflections from the original implementation.

• Reflections from "official" adapters/adopters.

• Reflections from the general public.

Instructor's Guide

• Wiki version

Student Handouts

mvhotplatehand.pdf