Derivatives and Slopes
The following Java applet lets you choose a function by writing
in an expression for f(x) in Maple-like syntax. The only real
difference is that the applet understands only a small portion
of the full Maple language, but enough to get the point across.
For example, you would specify the function
f(x) = 5x2 - 8x + arctan(x)
as
5*x^2 - 8*x + atan(x);
Don't forget the semicolon at the end! Also note that arcsine,
arccosine, and arctangent are specified as asin, acos, and atan
for the applet. Otherwise, follow the instructions on the window
that popped up when you opened this page. To see it again, click
the Help button on the bottom right.