Derivative of a cubic function

Use in conjunction with the corresponding student activity. Drag the sliders to change the cubic function. Use the check boxes to show the slope of the tangent at a point on the graph, to show the value of the derivative at that point and to show the derivative of the function. Move point A around the graph and observe the shape traced out by the slope of the tangent. Does the slope follow a particular pattern?

Copyright: Project Maths Development Team 2014