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4 Applications of Differential
Calculus
CONCEPTS AND SKILLS
In this chapter, we review how to use derivatives to
find slopes of curves and equations of tangent lines;
find a function’s maxima, minima, and points of inflections;
describe where the graph of a function is increasing, decreasing,
concave upward, and concave downward;
analyze motion along a line;
create local linear approximations;
and work with related rates.
For BC Calculus students, we also review how to
find the slope of parametric and polar curves
and use vectors to analyze motion along parametrically defined
curves.
A. SLOPE; CRITICAL POINTS
