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L2: Limits and Equations of Tangent Lines

Learning Goal: To use first principles to determine the slope of a tangent line.

Consider the function f ( x ) = x 2 .

Question: How could you estimate the slope of the tangent to the curve at the point P(3, 9)?

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Let Q be another point on the curve. Let the horizontal distance between the points be h.

The general slope of secant PQ is

Δy
Δx
= f Cxth f Cx forth fox
xth T
tangent
If Q is moved closer to P, the secant line will be closer to being a line.

Consider what happens to the slopes of the secant lines as h becomes smaller and smaller, i.e.
as the
distance between X values h approaches zero
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MHF4UP
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You can find the slope of a tangent to a curve using the method of First Principles.

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h so
approaches I
QCxth faiths
You can find an expression for the slope, in general, first. Then you can find the slope at any
specific x- value.

Example 1 a) Determine the general slope of a tangent to y = x2. 2

b) Determine the specific slope when x = 3. fix _X

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o h 2
2
him Hh
h o T
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x+3
Example 2: Determine the general slope formula for f ( x ) = and then the specific slope at
x
P ( 3,2).

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h 2

lifo XIII XII 08general slope

h

fi c

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slope is m
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y
A curve can also have a normal line at a particular point. A normal is a line that is
perpendicular to the tangent line at that particular value.

Consider f (x) = 2x - 5x + 3 .
2
Example 3

a) Determine the slope of the tangent to the curve, in general.

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h
2x t5 3
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b) Where does this curve have a tangent line with a slope of 7?

7 4 5 f 2cg SG t3
125 E's tangent

ooo At 3,6 the slope is m 7

c) Determine the equation of the normal to the curve at x = -1.

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at x b slope of tangent
need y value of point
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x x
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slopeofnormal Mn gt
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d) Where does the curve have a vertical normal? on one side

normal vertical undefined slope

horizontal slope is zero
tangent
4 5 0 p f or

4x S
x
PG 25 0.125
4
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Example 4: Determine the general slope formula for f x = x .
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