Real-world optimization with derivatives

MathematicsCalculusAges 17–18

Pick a real-world problem – designing a can that uses the least material, folding an open-top box with the largest volume, or setting a price for the largest profit – then drag the variable to watch the picture change alongside the graph of the objective function f(x), its derivative f'(x) and the variation table. The optimum sits exactly where f'(x) changes sign, and the simulation compares it with real-world designs.