BASIC CALCULUS

Name of Learner: ____________________________________ Grade Level: ______________

Section: ___________________________________________ Date:____________________

Learning Activity Sheet 2, Week 4

Applying and Relating the Definition of Derivative to the Slope of Tangent
Line

Background Information for Learners

In the previous lesson, we studied and illustrated a tangent line. To recall, a tangent line is a
line that touches a curve at a point at the point of tangency. In Calculus, the tangent line has played
a vital role in solving for the derivative as the latter was defined as the slope of the tangent line. The
process of solving derivative is called differentiation. In this lesson, we will study the relationship of
the tangent line to the derivative of the given function.
The derivative of a function y=f (x ) at x=x 0 tells us that f ' (x 0) is the slope of the tangent
line to the graph of the function at P ¿. The slope can be solved using the formula
f ( x )−f ( x 0 )
m= lim
x→ x0 x−x 0
provided that limit exists.
Slope of the tangent line at x 0is sometimes called as gradient.
Examples:
Find the slope of the tangent line to the
curve at .
Solution: 2. Find the gradient of the graph at the
point .
Solution:

Therefore, the slope of the tangent line to

the curve at is
Therefore, the gradient to the graph of f(x)
at is .

The Alternative Definition of Derivative

The derivative of a function at y=f (x ) denoted by f ' ( x) at any x in the domain of f (x) is
f ( x +∆ x )−f ( x)
defined as f ' ( x )= lim
∆ x →0 ∆x
provided that limit exists.
Representations in various calculus books differ from one another. In some, ∆ x is written as
h , making the formula for derivative becomes
f ( x +h )−f ( x)
f ' ( x )=lim
h→ 0 h
This is done, as such, to avoid confusion dealing with numerous x variables.

The following are the different notations of the derivatives of f (x).

d
f ' ( x) y' [ f ( x) ] D x [ f (x) ]
dx
df dy d d
f y
dx dx dx dx

Let us use the alternative definition of derivative to solve for the gradient in illustrative
examples 1 and 2.

Find the slope of the tangent line to the 2. Find the gradient of the graph at the point
curve at Solution:
Solution: Step 1: Solve for the derivative of
Step 1: Solve for the derivative of

Step 2: Solve for.

Step 2: Solve for .

Hence , the gradient is

Hence, the slope is 4.

Equation of tangent line

To find the equation of a tangent line, you need to know its gradient. Then, complete the
equation of the line using the point-slope form of the equation of the line.

Point−Slope Form: ( y − y 0 ) =m( x−x 0)

Example 3: Find the tangent to the graph f (x)=8+2 x −x2 at the point(3,5).
Solution:
Step 1: Solve for the gradient at x=3.(We have done this in example 2.)
m=−4
 Step 2: Write the equation of the tangent in the form ( y − y 0 ) =m( x−x 0).
Step 3: Complete the equation using the coordinates of a point on the line and slope.

( y − y 0 ) =m ( x−x 0 ) → ( y−5 )=−4 (x−3)

y−5=−4 x+ 12
y=−4 x +12+5
y=−4 x +17
Therefore, the tangent to the graph f (x)=8+2 x −x2 at the point(3,5) is y=−4 x +17.

Example 4: Find the tangent to the graph f ( x )=4 x 2−x−4 at x=1.

Solution:
Step 1: Solve for f ( 1 ) to get the y-coordinate of the point of tangency.
f ( x )=4 x 2−x−4
f ( 1 ) =4 (1)2−1−4
f ( 1 ) =−1
y 0=−1
Step 2: Solve for the gradient at x=1.
2
f ( x )=4 x −x−4

f ( x )−f ( x 0 )
m= lim
x→ x0 x−x 0

f ( x )−f (1)
¿ lim
x →1 x−1

(4 x 2−x−4)−(−1)
¿ lim
x →1 x−1

4 x2 −x−4 +1
¿ lim
x →1 x−1

4 x2 −x−3
¿ lim
x →1 x−1

(4 x +3)(x−1)
¿ lim
x →1 x−1
¿ lim (4 x+3)
x →1
¿ 4 ( 1 )+3
m=7
Step 3: Write the equation of the tangent in the form ( y − y 0 ) =m( x−x 0).

Step 4: Complete the equation using the coordinates of a point on the line and slope.
( y − y 0 ) =m ( x−x 0 )
( y +1 )=7 ( x−1)
y +1=7 x−7
y=7 x−7−1
y=7 x−8
2
Therefore, the tangent to the graph f ( x )=4 x −x−4 at x=1 is y=7 x−8.
 Learning Competency with code

1. Apply the definition of the derivative of the function at a given point.

(STEM_BC11DIIIe-2)
2. Relate the derivative of a function to the slope of the tangent line.
(STEM_BC11DIIIe-3)

Exercises / Activities

Activity 1. Derivative? Let’s derive!

Solve the derivative of the following functions and write your answer on the space provided
for each item. Write your solution on a separate sheet.
1. f ( x )=3 Answer:__________________________________
2. f ( x )=3 x +5 Answer:__________________________________
2
3. f ( x )=5−x Answer:__________________________________
2
4. f ( x )=x +9 x +3 Answer:__________________________________
5. f ( x )=4 x 3−2 x Answer:__________________________________

Activity 2. Slopes and tangents, what is their real score?

Solve each of the following and write your answer on the space provided for each item.
Write your solution on a separate sheet.
1. What is the slope of the tangent line of the curve f (x)= x3 +5 Answer:___________________
at x=−3 ?
2. Find the equation of the tangent line to the curve f (x)= x3 +5 at Answer:___________________
P(1,6).
3. Find the equation of the tangent line to f (x)= x2−2 x−1 at Answer:___________________
point ( 3,2 ) .
4. Find the equation of the tangent line to the curve Answer:___________________
f ( x )=x 3−6 x +2 at x=2.
5. Show that the tangent line to the graph of f (x)= x3 −6 x2 at
P ( 4 ,−32 )is horizontal.
Answer:

Rubric for Scoring

Criterion Excellent (4) Good (3) Satisfactory (2) Needs

 Improvement(1)
The student has The student has The student has
Completenes completely and The student did
completely an incomplete
s and accurately not get the
answered the solution but has
Accuracy answered the correct answer.
problem. problem. a correct answer.

Reflection

We can solve the derivative using different and alternative ways just like the different
modalities of how you learn today. What is important is that you’re doing your best to learn and
adapt on our current situation.

What do you like most about the lesson?

__________________________________________________________________________________
Along the way while doing the activities from this lesson, what difficulty have you encountered?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
What are your plans to overcome those difficulties?
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________

References

Department of Education (2013). Basic Calculus. Teachers Guide

Comandante Jr., Felipe. (2008). Calculus Made Easy For High School Students.
Mandaluyong City: National Bookstore

Deauna, Melicio C. and Lamayo, Florita. (1999). Introduction to Analytic Geometry

And Calculus. Quezon City. SIBS Pubishing House, Inc.

Mercado, Jesus P. and Orines, Fernando. (2016). Next Century Mathematics 11 Basic
Calculus. Phoenix Publising House, Inc.

Leithold, L. College Algebra and Trigonometry. Addison Wesley Longman Inc.,

1989. Reprinted by Pearson Education Asia Pte. Ltd., 2002

Answer Key

Activity 1 Activity 2
1. f ' ( x )=0 1. m=27
2. f ' ( x )=3 2. y=3 x +3
3. f ' ( x )=−2 x 3. y=4 x−10
4. y=6 x −14
4. f ' ( x )=2 x+ 9
5. Sketch the graph and show that
5. f ' ( x )=12 x2 −2 m=0.
Prepared by:

JOSE B. BENAVENTE
Special Science Teacher I