2.

4 Rates of Change and Tangent Lines

Devil’s Tower, Wyoming

Photo by Vickie Kelly, 1993 Greg Kelly, Hanford High School, Richland, Washington
 y
The slope of a line is given by: m y
x x
The slope at (1,1) can be approximated by the
slope of the secant through (4,16).
y 16  1 15
  5
x 4 1 3

We could get a better approximation if we

move the point closer to (1,1). ie: (3,9)
y 9 1 8
  4
x 3 1 2
Even better would be the point (2,4).
f  x  x 2
y 4 1 3
  3
x 2 1 1 
 y
The slope of a line is given by: m y
x x

If we got really close to (1,1), say (1.1,1.21),

the approximation would get better still

y 1.21  1 .21
   2.1
x 1.1  1 .1

How far can we go?

f  x  x 2


 y f  1  h   f  1
slope  
f  1 h x h

 1 h
2
1
f  1 slope at  1,1  lim
h
h 0 h

1  2h  h 2  1 h  2  h
1 1 h  lim  lim 2
h 0 h h 0 h


The slope of the curve y  f  x  at the point P a, f  a  is: 
f  a  h  f  a
m  lim
h0 h

  
The slope of the curve y  f  x  at the point P a, f  a  is:

f  a  h  f  a
m  lim
h0 h

f  a  h  f  a
is called the difference quotient of f at a.
h

If you are asked to find the slope using the definition or using
the difference quotient, this is the technique you will use.


The slope of a curve at a point is the same as the slope of
the tangent line at that point.

In the previous example, the tangent line could be found

using y  y1  m  x  x1  .

If you want the normal line, use the negative reciprocal of

1
the slope. (in this case,  2
)

(The normal line is perpendicular.)


Example 4:
f  a  h  f  a
1 m  lim
Let f  x   h0 h
x 1 a  a  h 1 a  a  h
a Find the slope at x  a . 
 lim a  h a
h 0 h a  a  h
On the TI-89: 1 a   a  h
 lim 
h0 h a  a  h

aah
limit ((1/(a + h) – 1/ a) / h, h, 0)  lim 0
h0 h  a  a  h 

Note:
F3 Calc If it says “Find the limit” 1
on a test, you must  2
a
show your work!

Example 4:

1 On the TI-89:
Let f  x  
x
b Where is the slope  1 ?
4 Y= y=1/x

1 1 WINDOW
  2
4 a
6  x  6
3  y  3
a2  4 x scl  1
y scl  1
a  2
GRAPH

Example 4:
We can let the calculator
1 Ontangent:
plot the the TI-89:
Let f  x  
x
F5 Math
b Where is the slope  1 ?
4 Y= y=1/x
A: Tangent ENTER
WINDOW
2 ENTER
6  x  6
3  y  3
 1 x = -2
x scl for
Repeat
y scl  1

tangent equation GRAPH


 Review:
y These are
average slope: m 
x often
mixed up
f  a  h  f  a by
slope at a point: m  lim
h0 h Calculus
students!

total distance
average velocity: Vave 
total time
So are these!

instantaneous velocity: If f  t  is the position function:

f  t  h  f  t 
velocity = slope V  lim
h 0 h
