Calculus - Match the Graphs of f, f ', and f "

This set of 100 cards (25 sets of 4) can be duplicated on card stock and then cut apart for a great cooperative learning activity in Calculus. Duplicate the pages in the landscape mode so the cards are slightly larger.

Each set of four cards includes:

• a graph of a function,

• a graph of a derivative of a function,

• a graph of the second derivative of a function, and

• an algebraic description of a function.

Each of the four cards has been numbered with a random number between 1 and 75. A key for how the cards are numbered has been included.

Each person gets a card or two with a graph. (Do not distribute the cards with the algebraic description of the function. Hold these until the end of the activity.) The student does not know if they are getting a graph of a function, its derivative, or its second derivative. By studying their graph and beginning to study other student’s cards they begin to notice which graphs cards fit together. When three students have found three cards that match, they then pick out the algebraic description for their function.

You can differentiate the lesson by selecting different sets of cards. There are 75 graph cards and 25 cards with algebraic descriptions. Depending upon the size of the class you may only use 24 of the graph cards in one lesson. You can use the other cards in a follow up lesson.

A follow up activity could have the students use the graph of f as g' and have them to draw the graph of g.

This set of cards is easy to check by using the numbers on the card and the given chart.

Comments from buyers:

• Love this and the connections students make from completing the activity!

• Great resource, especially for my visual learners. You saved me hours of work! Thanks so much!

• Challenging, thanks!

• Great!