SENIOR HIGHSCHOOL – SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND

MATHEMATICS

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEETS

QUARTER 4, WEEK 1 -3
Slope of the Tangent Line to a Curve
MELC WITH CODE:
1. Illustrate the tangent line to the graph of a function at a given point. (STEM_BC11DIIIe-1)
Subtask: Define a tangent line.
Identify the properties of tangent lines.
Identify the cases wherein curves do not have tangent lines.
2. Relate the derivative of a function to the slope of the tangent line (STEM_BC11DIIIe-3)
Subtask: Define the equation of a tangent line.
Finds the slope of a tangent line.
3. Applies the definition of the derivative of a function at a given number. (STEM_BC11DIIIe-2)
Subtask: Define a derivative.
Prepared by:
CHRISTINE ANN ANDILLO – SALUBON
SHS Teacher
Subject: Basic Calculus Student No.:
Name: Grade and Section:
Subject Teacher: CHRISTINE ANN A. SALUBON Date:
Direction: Copy the Concept Notes in your notebook. Copy and answer the
Seatwork in a 1 whole sheet of yellow paper.

I. Introduction
II. Concept Notes
From the examples above, we can come up with the following properties of tangent
lines:
1. Tangent lines drawn at the maximum or minimum points are horizontal.
(Example1)
2. Tangent lines drawn to a line, is the line itself. (Example 2)
3. Vertical tangents may exist even for continuous functions. (Example 3)
However, there are cases wherein curves do not have tangent lines at specific
points. The following are these instances.

Remember that tangent line is a “line” per se. By definition, a line is determined by
two points. How are we going to do that if a tangent touches a graph at exactly one
point? This is where the concept of secant line is important. We can say that the
accurate definition of a tangent line depends on the concept of a secant line.

If a Point Q will slide down to point P, it will get closer to point P and the slope of
secant PQ will then approach the value of the slope of line l tangent to the curve at
point P.

This is where the slope of a tangent line is derived. As the difference in the distance
in x gets smaller, the slope of the secant line gets closer and closer to the slope of the
tangent line. Thus, the definition of the slope of a tangent line is shown below.

Seatwork # 01
Illustrate the line tangent to the following curves at the given points.
Seatwork # 02
Find the equation of the tangent line to the following functions at the specified
points if it exists.

Example:
Another example:

Seatwork # 03
I. Find 𝑓′(𝑥) using the definition of the derivative.

II. Search for the shortcut method in finding the derivative. Give 2 examples.

Reference:
Napana, S. et al. (2020). Basic Calculus quarter 3 – module 5: Slope of the tangent line to a
curve. Department of Education, 1-27.

Prepared by: Checked by:

CHRISTINE ANN A. SALUBON IRENE BELLE LESIGUES

SHS Teacher II Dept. Head

Reviewed by: Concurred by:

CLARESA M. CAÑEDA LORLITA S. RICABLANCA

Master Teacher II Asst. Principal II

Noted by:

MICHAEL A. REGIS, CE, MM, MAT

Secondary School Principal IV