To find the equation of a tangent to a curve:

dy
1) find the derivative, dx
2) find the gradient, m, of the tangent by
substituting in the x-ccordinate of the
point;
3) use one of the following formulae to get
the equation of the tangent:
EITHER
y = mx + c
( y y1 ) m( x x1 )
OR
Example:
Find the equation of the tangent to the curve

y (2 x 1)( x 2) at the point where the curve

crosses the y-axis.

To find the equation of a normal to a curve:

To find the coordinates of maximum/ minimum
points on a curve:
dy
dy
1) find the derivative dx ;
2) Substitute in the x-coordinate of the point
1) differentiate to get dx
to find the value of the gradient there.
dy
0

1
m dy
2) solve the equation dx
dx .
3) the gradient of the normal is
3) find the y-coordinates of the points
4) Use one of the following formulae to get
4) determine whether the points are a
the equation of the normal:
maximum or minimum EITHER using
EITHER
y = mx + c
the second derivative OR by considering
(
y

y
)

m
(
x

x
)
1
1
the gradient either side of the point.
OR

Applications of
Differentiation

Recall: A turning point is a maximum if

A turning point is a minimum if

d2 y
0
dx 2

d2y
0
dx2

Solution:
2
Expanding the brackets: y 2 x 3 x 2

dy
4x 3
Differentiate: dx
The curve crosses the y-axis at the point (0, -2).
The gradient of the tangent at x = 0 is:

m 4 0 3 3

To find the equation of the tangent:

y = mx + c
y = 3x + c
Substitute x = 0, y = -2: -2 = 3(0) + c i.e. c = -2.
So equation is y = 3x - 2

Example:
Find the equation of the normal to the curve

i.e.

y = 3x - 2

3
2
curve y 2 x 9 x 24 x 15 .

y 3 x x at the point where x = 4.

dy
6 x 2 18 x 24
Solution: dx
dy
0
At a stationary point, dx
.

Solution:
The curve can be written as y 3 x

1/ 2

dy 3 1/ 2
2 x 1
Therefore, dx
When x = 4, y 3 4 4 2

EITHER:

( y y1 ) m( x x1 ) where m = 3
OR:
Substitute x = 0, y = -2: ( y (2)) 3( x 0)

Example:
Find the coordinates of the stationary points on the

and

dy 3 1/ 2
2 4 1 32 12 1 14
dx
m 1 1 4

So the gradient of the normal is

To find the equation of the tangent:

y = mx + c y = 4x + c
Substitute x = 4, y = 2: 2 = 4(4) + c i.e. c = -14.
So equation is y = 4x 14.

2
2
Therefore, 6 x 18 x 24 0 or x 3 x 4 0 .
Factorising gives (x + 1)(x 4) = 0.
Therefore x = -1 or x = 4.

When x = -1, y = 28. When x = 4, y = -97.

d2y
12 x 18
2
The 2nd derivative is dx
.
d2y
30 0
2
When x = -1, dx
so (-1, 28) is a MAX.
2
d y
30 0
2
When x = 4, dx
so (4, -97) is a MIN.