Gradients & Differentiation – Team 1

We are going to investigate the gradient of the tangent to the curve 𝒚 = 𝒙𝟐 at 𝑥 = 1. By taking interval gradients
between 𝑥 = 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 1, we will identify and explain the pattern.

Remember the Gradient Formula between two intervals:

𝑦2 − 𝑦1
𝑚=
𝑥2 − 𝑥1

Intervals x1 y1 x2 y2 Gradient
Gradient between
𝑥 = 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 1
𝑥=1
Gradient between
𝑥 = 0.5 𝑎𝑛𝑑 1
𝑥=1
Gradient between
𝑥 = 0.75 𝑎𝑛𝑑 1
𝑥=1
Gradient between
𝑥 = 0.875 𝑎𝑛𝑑 1
𝑥=1
Gradient between
𝑥 = 0.95 𝑎𝑛𝑑 1
𝑥=1

Define a “asymptote”.

Do the gradients appear to get closer to a number? What is this number?

The gradient of 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 at 𝑥 = 1 is approximately

 Gradients & Differentiation – Team 2

We are going to investigate the gradient of the tangent to the curve 𝒚 = 𝒙𝟐 at 𝑥 = 1. By taking interval gradients
between 𝑥 = 1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 2, we will identify and explain the pattern.

Remember the Gradient Formula between two intervals:

𝑦2 − 𝑦1
𝑚=
𝑥2 − 𝑥1

Intervals x1 y1 x2 y2 Gradient
Gradient between
𝑥 = 1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 2
𝑥=2
Gradient between
𝑥 = 1.5 𝑎𝑛𝑑 2
𝑥=2
Gradient between
𝑥 = 1.75 𝑎𝑛𝑑 2
𝑥=2
Gradient between
𝑥 = 1.875 𝑎𝑛𝑑 2
𝑥=2
Gradient between
𝑥 = 1.95 𝑎𝑛𝑑 2
𝑥=2

Define a “asymptote”.

Do the gradients appear to get closer towards a number? What is this number?

The gradient of 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 at 𝑥 = 2 is approximately

 Gradients & Differentiation – Team 3

We are going to investigate the gradient of the tangent to the curve 𝑦 = 𝒙𝟐 at 𝑥 = 3. By taking interval gradients
between 𝑥 = 2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 3, we will identify and explain the pattern.

Remember the Gradient Formula between two intervals:

𝑦2 − 𝑦1
𝑚=
𝑥2 − 𝑥1

Intervals x1 y1 x2 y2 Gradient
Gradient between
𝑥 = 2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 3
𝑥=3
Gradient between
𝑥 = 2.5 𝑎𝑛𝑑 3
𝑥=3
Gradient between
𝑥 = 2.75 𝑎𝑛𝑑 3
𝑥=3
Gradient between
𝑥 = 2.875 𝑎𝑛𝑑 3
𝑥=3
Gradient between
𝑥 = 2.95 𝑎𝑛𝑑 3
𝑥=3

Define a “asymptote”.

Do the gradients appear to get closer towards a number? What is this number?

The gradient of 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 at 𝑥 = 3 is approximately

 Creating a Gradient Table

1. Table for 𝑦 = 𝒙𝟐 . Ask other teams what their gradients were and put them in the table below.

x Gradient
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3

a. To get from 𝑥 to the gradient, we do which of the following (please circle):

Add/Subtract/Multiply/Divide

b. Create a rule to find the gradient at any point.

𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 = _________ 𝑥

c. Using the rule, evaluate the gradient between the negative values of your investigation and put
them in the table above. Ask other teams about their values as well.

d. Plot a graph using the values from Part A, with 𝑥 on the horizontal and 𝐺𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 on the vertical.