Gradients on a curved graph
• Estimate the gradient of this line where x = 1 Draw a straight line that just
touches the curve and equal
space either side of where x = 1
is.
This line is known as a tangent
to the curve
You can calculate the gradient
4 of it like on a straight line
graph
The value will be an estimate
of the gradient of the curve
2 at the given 𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑒
point
𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡=
𝑟𝑢𝑛
4
𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡=
2
𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡=2
Gradient of a Cubic Graph
f(x) = x3 + 3x2 + 2x
Find the gradient where
x = -1
𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑒
𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡=
𝑟𝑢𝑛
4
−4
𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡=
4
𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡=− 1
4
GRADIENTS ON A CURVED GRAPH
Estimate the gradient of this line where Draw a straight line that just touches
the curve where x = 2
This line is known as a tangent to
5 the curve
You can calculate the gradient of it
like on a straight line graph
2.2 The value will be an estimate of
x=2 the gradient of the curve at the
2 given point
-5 5
𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑒
𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡=
𝑟𝑢𝑛
2.2
𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡=
2
-5
𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡=1.1
e.g.
12
(2, 4) x
Tangent at
The gradient of the tangent at (2, 4) is
So, the gradient of the curve at (2, 4) is 4