To find the equation of a tangent to a curve:

1) find the derivative,

dy
dx
2) find the gradient, m, of the tangent by
substituting in the x-ccordinate of the
point;
3) use one of the following forulae to get
the equation of the tangent:
!"T#!$ y = mx + c
%$
1 1
& ) & ) y y m x x =
To find the equation of a noral to a curve:
1) find the derivative
dy
dx
;
2) 'ubstitute in the x-coordinate of the point
to find the value of the gradient there(
3) the gradient of the noral is
1
dy
dx
m

=
(
)) *se one of the following forulae to get
the equation of the noral:
!"T#!$ y = mx + c
%$
1 1
& ) & ) y y m x x =
To find the coordinates of a+iu, iniu
points on a curve:
1) differentiate to get
dy
dx
2) solve the equation -
dy
dx
=
3) find the y-coordinates of the points
)) deterine whether the points are a
a+iu or iniu !"T#!$ using
the second derivative %$ by considering
the gradient either side of the point(
!+aple:
.ind the equation of the tangent to the curve
&2 1)& 2) y x x = + at the point where the curve
crosses the y-a+is(
'olution:
!+panding the brac/ets:
2
2 3 2 y x x = +
0ifferentiate: ) 3
dy
x
dx
= +
The curve crosses the y-a+is at the point &-, -2)(
The gradient of the tangent at x 1 - is:
) - 3 3 m = + =
To find the equation of the tangent:
!"T#!$: y = mx + c
y 1 3x + c
'ubstitute x 1 -, y 1 -2: -2 1 3&-) 2 c i(e( c 1 -2(
'o equation is y 1 3x - 2
%$:
1 1
& ) & ) y y m x x = where m 1 3
'ubstitute x 1 -, y 1 -2: & & 2)) 3& -) y x =
i(e( y 1 3x - 2
Applications of
Diferentiation
$ecall: 3 turning point is a a+iu if
2
-
2
d y
dx
<
3 turning point is a iniu if
2
-
2
d y
dx
>
(
!+aple:
.ind the equation of the noral to the curve
3 y x x = at the point where x 1 )(
'olution:
The curve can be written as
1, 2
3 y x x =
Therefore,
3 1, 2
2
1
dy
x
dx

=
4hen x 1 ), 3 ) ) 2 y = =
and
3 1 1, 2 3 1
2 2 2 )
) 1 1
dy
dx

= = =
'o the gradient of the noral is 1
)
1
) m

= =
(
To find the equation of the tangent:
y = mx + c y 1 )x + c
'ubstitute x 1 ), y 1 2: 2 1 )&)) 2 c i(e( c 1 -1)(
'o equation is y 1 )x 5 1)(
!+aple:
.ind the coordinates of the stationary points on the
curve
3 2
2 6 2) 17 y x x x = + (
'olution:
2
8 19 2)
dy
x x
dx
=
3t a stationary point, -
dy
dx
= (
Therefore,
2
8 19 2) - x x = or
2
3 ) - x x = (
.actorising gives &x 2 1)&x 5 )) 1 -(
Therefore x 1 -1 or x 1 )(
4hen x 1 -1, y 1 29( 4hen x 1 ), y 1 -6:(
The 2
nd
derivative is
2
2
12 19
d y
x
dx
= (
4hen x 1 -1,
2
2
3- -
d y
dx
= < so &-1, 29) is a ;3<(
4hen x 1 ),
2
2
3- -
d y
dx
= > so &), -6:) is a ;"=(