2.

3 Exploring Rates of Change Using Graphs

What is a secant line?

A secant is a line that intercepts a curve at exactly 2 points on a curve.

What is the slope of a secant line?

The slope of a secant represents the average rate of change between those two
points.

What is a tangent line?

A tangent line is a line that intercepts a curve at exactly 1 point on the curve.

What is the slope of a tangent line?

The slope represents the instantaneous rate of change of the relation at that
point.

Let’s take a look at a following graph f(x) = x2 and try to find the slope of each
line.

Q(x,f(x)) = Q (2,4)

P(a,f(a))

Q P ∆ Y ∆ X Slope

(2,4) (1, 1) 4 -1 = 3 2-1 =1

(1.5, 2.25) (1,1) 1.25 0.5

(1.1, 1.21) (1,1) 0.21 0.1

(1.01, 1.0201) (1,1) 0.0201 0.01

 Observation as Q approaches P from the right side, the slope of QP decreases
and approaches the slope of the tangent line

Conclusion
1. The slope of a secant line represents the average rate of change between two
points on the graph of a relation

2. As Q moves closer to P, x gets closer to 1 and the slope of the

corresponding secant line get closer to the slope of the tangent line
3. The slope of the tangent at P is the limiting value of the slope of the secants,
PQ, as Q approaches point P

What we have just seen in our investigation is the fundamentals in understanding

limits. By understanding the idea of limits this forms the building blocks to
calculus.

To extend our knowledge of instantaneous rate of change we can say that:

Slope of the tangent = Instantaneous Rate of Change

Example 1
Find the equation of the tangent line to f(x) = 3x3 +2x - 4 at point (-1,-9).
Solution:

Right Side
X f(x) = 3x3 +2x - 4 P ∆Y ∆X Slope
0 5/1 = 5
3(0)3 + 2(0) -4 = -4 (-1, -9) -4 – (-9) = 5 0 – (-1) = 1

-0.5 -5.38 – (-9) -0.5- (-1) = 3.62/0.5 = 7.24

3(-0.5)3 + 2(-0.5) -4 = -5.38 (-1, -9)
= 3.62 0.5
-0.9 -7.99 – (-9) -0.9 – (-1) = 1.01/0.1 =10.1
3(-0.9)3 + 2(-0.9) -4 = -7.99 (-1, -9)
= 1.01 0.1
-0.99 3(-0.99)3 + 2(-0.99) -4 = -8.89 – (-9) -0.99 – (-1) = 0.11/ 0.01 = 11
(-1,-9)
-8.89 = 0.11 0.01
3
-0.999 3(-0.999) + 2(-0.999) -4 = -8.989 – -0.99 – (-1) = 0.011/0.001 =
(-1,9)
-8.989 (-9) =0.011 0.001 11
 Left Side
X f(x) = 3x3 +2x - 4 P ∆Y ∆X Slope
-2
(-1, -9)

-1.5
(-1, -9)

-1.1
(-1, -9)

-1.01
(-1,-9)

-1.001
(-1,-9)

Using this slope and the point of tangency (-1,-9) we can use it to find the
equation of the tangent line:
y = mx + b
- 9 = (11)(-1) + b

Example 2:
Complete the table to estimate the slope of the tangent to y = x2 – 2x -2 at point
P(2,-2).

Approaching Right
X P ∆Y ∆X Slope

(2.5, -0.75) (2,-2)

(2.1,-1.79) (2,-2)

(2.01,-1.98) (2,-2)

(2.001,-1.998) (2,-2)

Approaching Left
X P ∆Y ∆X Slope

(1.95,-2.10) (2,-2)

(1.99,-2.02) (2,-2)

(1.999,-2.002) (2,-2)

(1.9999,-2.0002
(2,-2)
)