AB Calculus Rates of Change and Tangent Lines Practice Name: _________________________________

1. What is the difference quotient?

2. How do you find the slope of a curve at a point (a.k.a. slope of the tangent line to a curve) at 𝑥 = 𝑎?

3. What is a normal line?

4. What is the difference between average rate of change and instantaneous rate of change?

5. Find the average rate of change of each function over the indicated interval.
a) ℎ(𝑥) = 2 + sin 𝑥 over [− 𝜋 , 𝜋] b) 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 over [2, 5]
2 2

6. Let 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 3
a) Write and simplify an expression for 𝑓(𝑎 + ℎ).

b) Find the slope of 𝑓(𝑥) at 𝑥 = 𝑎.

c) When does the slope equal 12?

d) Write the equation of the tangent line to the curve at 𝑥 = 4.

e) Write the equation of the normal line to the curve at 𝑥 = 4.

7. Let 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥
a) Find the average rate of change from 𝑥 = 4 to 𝑥 = 9.

b) Find the instantaneous rate of change at 𝑥 = 9.

c) Write the equation of the tangent line at 𝑥 = 9.

d) Write the equation of the normal line at 𝑥 = 9.

8. An object is dropped from the top of a 150-meter tower. It’s height above the ground after t seconds is
given by the function 𝑠(𝑡) = 150 − 4.9𝑡 2 . How fast is the object falling 2 seconds after it was dropped?