SLOPE OF

A
TANGENT
Objectives:
1. Illustrate the tangent line to the graph of a function at a
given point.
2. Define the properties of a tangent line to the graph of a
function at a given point.
3. Apply the definition of the derivatives of a function at a
given point.
4. Relate the derivative of a function to the slope of the
tangent line.
5. Solve word problems involving the derivative of a function.
 Definition:
•Tangent Line
A line is tangent
to a circle if it
intersects the
circle at exactly
one point.
What if the given
curve is not a circle?
How will we draw the
lines tangent to it?
 EXAMPLE • What have you observed
with the tangent line
1. drawn on the minimum
point (point B) of the
curve?
• How do you think will
the tangent line be
drawn at the
maximum point
 EXAMPLE
2.
• How are you going to
draw a tangent line to
another line?
 EXAMPLE
3. • Do you think vertical
tangent line may also
exist?
PROPERTIES OF TANGENT LINES:
1. Tangent lines drawn at the maximum
or minimum points are horizontal.
2. Tangent lines drawn to a line, is the
line itself.
3. Vertical tangents may exist even for
continuous functions.
CURVES DO NOT HAVE TANGENT LINES
AT SPECIFIC POINTS:

1.
CURVES DO NOT HAVE TANGENT LINES
AT SPECIFIC POINTS:

2.
 Definition:
Let C be the graph of a continuous function
y= f(x) and let P be a point on C.
1. A secant line to y=f(x) through P is any
line connecting P and another point Q on
C.
2. The tangent line to y = f(x) at P is the
limiting position of all secant lines as
 Equation of the Tangent Line
To find the equation of the tangent line to the graph of
y = f(x) at the point , ), follow this 2 – step process:
• Get the slope of the tangent line by computing:
or
• Substitute this value of m and the coordinates of the
known point , ) into the point slope form to get
 Examples:
1. Find the equation of the tangent line to
at x = 2.
2.Find the slope – intercept form of the
tangent line to at x = 4
3. Show that the tangent line to at the
point (2, - 11) is horizontal.
 Examples:
4. Find the equation of the tangent
line to f(x) at (-1, 5).
5. Find the slope of the tangent line to
the graph of at point (5,2).
The Definition of the
Derivative
Let f be a function defined on an open interval I ⊆
ℝ, and let . The derivative of the function f at is
if this limit exists.

That is, the derivative of f is equal to the slope of

the tangent line at , )
 NOTATIONS:
If y = f(x), the derivative of f is commonly
denoted by
 NOTE
• The limit definition of the derivative is inherently
indeterminate that is . Hence, we can use these usual
techniques for evaluating limits which are
indeterminate of types: factoring, rationalization or
using one of the following established limits.
a. b. c.
EXAMPLES:
Compute for each of the following
functions.
Rationalizing the numerator means
multiplying the complex fraction by its
conjugate.
(For binomials, this can be obtained by
changing the sign of the second term.)
Alternative Definition of
the Derivative
Let f be a function defined on an open interval
I ⊆ ℝ, and let . The derivative of the function f
at is
if this limit exists.

(This definition of derivative may be used if

we are tasked only to find the derivative of
the function)
EXAMPLES:
1. Let .Use the definition of
derivative to find
2. Let , find
The concept of the slope of the tangent line can be
used to solve real-life problems. There are lots of things
that occur in nature that depend on other factors,
especially time. These are some examples:
1. The distance covered by a vehicle moving at
constant speed depends on the time travelled.
2. The temperature of heated water depends on the
heating time.
3. The cost and profit of producing calculators depend
on the time allotted to the production.
 Two types of Rate of Change
INSTANTANEOUS RATE OF AVERAGE RATE
CHANGE OF CHANGE
• The derivative of the • for a given increment
function which is the (change) in time the
slope of a tangent line average rate of change
to the graph of 𝒇(𝒙) is of 𝒇(𝒙) in the interval is
also interpreted as the defined as
instantaneous rate of
change.
 How are average and
instantaneous rates of
change important in
real-life?
Space exploration is a big thing
nowadays in search for probable
solutions to our planet’s problems.
It is not a simple experiment that
may be done over and over
again because it will cost not only
large amount of money but also
risk on the lives of the crew. The
average rate of change in the
velocity of the space craft needs to
be calculated to see if it will be able to escape earth’s gravitational pull to
make the mission successful. Also, the instantaneous rate of change also
needs to be computed to check if the materials of the rocket as well as the
crews will cope with the stress of the acceleration.
Example:
Sepak Takraw is a sport
associated to our traditional
native sport “sipa.” This sport
requires agility, flexibility, and
strength. It is a sport native to
Southeast Asian countries
such as the Philippines. A
Sepak Takraw player kicked a
ball at a certain height. Its
height (in inches) from the
ground at any time 𝑡 (in
seconds) is given by
 Find:
a) the height at which the ball was kicked
b) the time when the ball hits the ground
c) the average velocity of the ball on the
interval [1, 2]
d) the instantaneous velocity at 𝑡 = 1 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡 = 2
e) the instantaneous velocity at any time .