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