Gradients and Tangents

Chpt 18: Differentiation

 Gradients and Tangents

The gradient of a straight line is given by

th e d if f erence in th e y - values
m
th e d if f erence in th e x  values

We use this idea to get the gradient at a point on a

curve
Gradients are important as they measure the rate
of change of one variable with another. For the
graphs in this section, the gradient measures how y
changes with x

This branch of Mathematics is called

Calculus
 Gradients and Tangents

The Gradient at a point on a Curve

Definition: The gradient of a point on a curve equals
the gradient of the tangent at that point.
e.g.

y  x2
(2, 4)x 12

3
Tangent at ( 2 , 4 )

The gradient of the tangent at (2, 4) is m  12 4

3
So, the gradient of the curve at (2, 4) is 4
Generally

f ( x)  kx n y  kx n
n 1 dy
f ' ( x)  nkx  nkx n 1
dx

f ( x)  kx n y  kx n
n 1 dy n 1
f ' ( x)  nkx  nkx
dx
Q1 Gradients and Tangents
Q2 Gradients and Tangents

Q3
 Gradients and Tangents
Q4
Q5 Gradients and Tangents
Gradients and Tangents
Gradients and Tangents
Gradients and Tangents
Gradients and Tangents
Gradients and Tangents
 Gradients and Tangents
Ex 18.11 Pg 446 -447
 Gradients and Tangents
Points with a Given Gradient

e.g. Find the coordinates of the points on the curve

3
y  x  8 x  7 where the gradient equals 4

Gradient of curve
= gradient of tangent
= 4

We need to be able
to find these points
using algebra
 Gradients and Tangents

e.g. Find the coordinates of the points on the curve

3
y  x  8 x  7 where the gradient equals 4

&
 Gradients and Tangents

Exercises

Find the coordinates of the points on the curves with

the gradients given

1. y  x2  4x  3 where the gradient is -2

Ans: (-3, -6)

3 2
2. y  x  3 x  21 x  20
where the gradient is 3
( Watch out for the common factor in the
quadratic equation )

Ans: (-2, 2) and (4, -88)

Gradients and Tangents
 Gradients and Tangents
Your turn: Pg 446 - 448

Ex18.12
Q1 a, h, j
Q2 a, b, c
Q4.

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