For some of you, my homework assignments may be enough; most of you would probably benefit from extra practice. Fortunately, tons of information and practices problems about linear approximation can be found online. I searched the web for "linear approximation practice problems." Some of my top hits: http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/Classes/CalcI/LinearApproximations.aspx http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/Problems/CalcI/LinearApproximations.aspx http://www.sosmath.com/calculus/diff/der06/der06.html http://www.math.drexel.edu/classes/math121/201215/resources/Chapter3/Homework3.5_Ans.pdf http://www.maths.tcd.ie/~richardt/1S3/ch4.pdf http://cims.nyu.edu/~kiryl/Calculus/Section_2.8--Linear_Approximations_and_Differentials/Linear_Approximations_and_Differentials.pdf You may also already own a book with linear approximation problems. Check the index! Unfortunately, everybody seems to use slightly different notation from everyone else. In my years of reading and teaching calculus, I've seen some use x to denote the old input, some use x to denote the change in input, and some use x to denote the new input! To make sense of things, ask yourself, What symbol or formula is the author using to represent... the old input value? the new input value? the change in input? the old output value? the new output value? the change in output? Keep in mind that change equals new minus old; new equals old plus change. If you can't figure out somebody else's notation, don't be shy about asking me about it. I've probably seen it before, and can translate it into my favored notation (or your favored notation, if you've developed an opinion on the subject). A copy of this email has been archived at: http://dkmj.org/2cd875e4f5f6ffc05f86be274af19af9/notes/04.txt Go to http://dkmj.org/2cd875e4f5f6ffc05f86be274af19af9/ and look under "Notes" to find all archived messages.