Danniel Victor R.

Estera
BE STEM 12Y1-10TECP
BASIC CALCULUS
Ms. VALIENTE

THE SLOPE AND TANGENT LINE

I. INTRODUCTION

The problem of finding the tangent to a curve has been studied by numerous
mathematicians since the time of Archimedes. The slope of a tangent line at a point on
a curve is known as the derivative at that point S Tangent lines and derivatives are
some of the main focuses of the study of Calculus. The tangent line at a point on a
curve is a straight line that “just touches” the curve at that point.

The first definition of a tangent was "a right line which touches a curve, but which
when produced, does not cut it". This old definition prevents inflection points from
having any tangent. It has since been dismissed. - Leibniz, a German philosopher and
mathematician, defined the tangent line as the line through a pair of infinitely close
points on the curve. - - Pierre de Format, Rene’ Descartes, Christian Huygens, and
Isaac Barrow are mathematicians given credit for finding partial solutions. - - Isaac
Newton is credited for finding the general solution to the tangent line problem.

OBJECTIVES:

 Determine what is a slope and what is a tangent line,

 Learn the concepts of the slope and the tangent line, and
 Solve problems involving slope and tangent line.
 II. DISCUSSION

IMPORTANT CONCEPTS: SLOPE OF CURVES

 To find the average slope of a curve over

a distance h, we can use a secant line
connecting two points on the curve.
 The average slope of this line between x
and (x+h) is the slope of the secant line
connecting those two points.

SLOPES OF CURVES

This can be represented mathematically by the equation

This equation solves for the slope of the tangent line at

a specific point, otherwise known as the derivative. The
derivative is most often notated as dy/dx or f’(x) for a
typical function.

FINDING THE EQUATION OF A TANGENT LINE

Once the derivative has been found, it is possible to determine an equation for the
tangent line at that point,

To do this, one must simply use the equation:

By plugging in the tangent point and the derivative

EXAMPLES:

1.) Find all points on the graph of y = x 3 - 3 x where the tangent line is parallel to the
x axis (or horizontal tangent line).

SOLUTION:

Lines that are parallel to the x axis have slope = 0. The slope of a tangent line to the
graph of y = x 3 - 3 x is given by the first derivative y '.
y'=3x2-3

We now find all values of x for which y ' = 0.

3x2-3=0

Solve the above equation for x to obtain the solutions.

x = - 1 and x = 1

The above values of x are the x coordinates of the points where the tangent lines are
parallel to the x axis. Find the y coordinates of these points using y = x 3 - 3 x

for x = - 1 , y = 2
for x = 1 , y = - 2

The points at which the tangent lines are parallel to the x axis are: (-1 , 2) and (1 , -2).
See the graph of y = x3 - 3 x below with the tangent lines.
 2.) Find a and b so that the line y = - 3 x + 4 is tangent to the graph of y = a x3 + b x
at x = 1.

SOLUTION:

We need to determine two algebraic equations in order to find a and b. Since the point
of tangency is on the graph of y = a x3 + b x and y = - 3 x + 4, at x = 1 we have a(1)3 +
b(1) = - 3(1) + 4

Simplify to write an equation in a and b

a+b=1

The slope of the tangent line is -3 which is also equal to the first derivative y ' of y = a
x3 + b x at x = 1
y ' = 3 a x2 + x = - 3 at x = 1.

The above gives a second equation in a and b

3 a + b = -3

Solve the system of equations a + b = 1 and 3 a + b = - 3 to find a and b

a = - 2 and b = 3.

See graphs of y = a x3 + b x, with a = - 2 and b = 3, and y = - 3 x + 4 below.

SAMPLE PROBLEMS:

1.) Find conditions on a and b so that the graph of y = a e x + bx has NO tangent line
parallel to the x axis (horizontal tangent).
2.) Find all points on the graph of y = x 3 - 3 x where the tangent line is parallel to the
line whose equation is given by y = 9 x + 4.
3.) Find a and b so that the line y = - 2 is tangent to the graph of y = a x2 + b x at x =
1.

REFERENCES:

https://www.analyzemath.com/calculus/Problems/tangent_lines.html

https://www.math.tamu.edu/~shatalov/POWERPOINT%20FINALLLLLLLLLLpdf.pdf

https://www.codecogs.com/latex/eqneditor.php

https://www.mathwarehouse.com/calculus/derivatives/how-to-find-equations-of-tangent-
lines-practice-problems.php

https://www.khanacademy.org/math/ap-calculus-ab/ab-differentiation-1-new/ab-2-
1/e/derivative-at-a-point-as-slope-of-tangent-line

https://www.math.utah.edu/online/1210/Practice_Problems/Probs1/Probs1ans.pdf
ANSWER KEY

PROBLEM NUMBER 1

The slope of a tangent line is given by the first derivative y ' of y = a e x + bx. Find y '
y'=aex+b

To find the x coordinate of a point at which the tangent line to the graph of y is horizontal, solve
y ' = 0 for x (slope of a horizontal line = 0)
aex+b=0

Rewrite the above equation as follows

e x = - b/a

The above equation has solutions for -a/b >0. Hence, the graph of y = a e x + bx has NO
horizontal tangent line if -a/b <= 0

PROBLEM NUMBER 2

(2 , 2) and (-2 , -2)

PROBLEM NUMBER 3
2) a = 2 and b = - 4