Calculus and Vectors – How to get an A+

1.2 The Slope of the Tangent

A Lines Ex 1. The equation of the line L1 is: 2 x − 3 y + 6 = 0 .

a) Find the slope of the line L1 .
2 2
y = x + 2 ⇒ ∴ m1 =
3 3
b) Find the equation of the line L2 , that is parallel to the
line L1 and passes through the point P(2,−1) .
2 2 4
y − (−1) = ( x − 2) ⇒ y = x − 1 − ⇒
3 3 3
2 7
rise ∆y y 2 − y1 ∴ L2 : y = x −
The slope of a line: m = = = 3 3
run ∆x x 2 − x1 c) Find the equation of the line L3 , that is perpendicular
Slope y-intercept equation of a line: y = mx + b to the line L1 and passes through the point Q(4,2) .
Slope-point equation of a line: y − y1 = m( x − x1 ) 1 3 3
m3 = − =− ⇒ y − 2 = − ( x − 4) ⇒
For parallel lines, slopes are equal: m1 = m 2 m1 2 2
For perpendicular lines, slopes are negative 3
reciprocal: ∴ L3 : y = − x + 8
2
1
m2 = − or m1 m 2 = −1
m1

B Function Notation
Ex 2. Let f ( x) = x 2 − 1 . Find:
y = f (x)
a) f (1)
where:
x is the argument, input or independent variable f (1) = 12 − 1 = 0 ⇒ ∴ f (1) = 0
y is the value, output or dependant variable
b) f (a )
f is the name of the function.
∴ f (a ) = a 2 − 1
c) f (a + 1)

f (a + 1) = (a + 1) 2 − 1 = a 2 + 2a + 1 − 1 = a 2 + 2a

∴ f (a + 1) = a 2 + 2a

C Secant Line 2
Ex 3. Consider f ( x) = . Find the equation of the
Let y = f (x) be a function and P( x1 , y1 ) and Q( x 2 , y 2 ) x +1
two points on its graph. secant line that passes through the points A(0,2) and
The slope of the secant line that passes through the B(−3,−1) .
points P and Q is given by:
y − y1 (−1) − (2)
rise ∆y y 2 − y1 f ( x 2 ) − f ( x1 ) m= 2 = =1
m= = = = x2 − x1 (−3) − (0)
run ∆x x 2 − x1 x 2 − x1
y − 2 = 1( x − 0)
∴y = x+2

1.2 The Slope of the Tangent

©2010 Iulia & Teodoru Gugoiu - Page 1 of 3
 Calculus and Vectors – How to get an A+

If P(a, f (a )) and Q (a + h, f (a + h)) then the slope of

the secant line is given by:
f ( a + h) − f ( a )
m=
h
D Tangent Line
As the point Q approaches the point P , the secant
line approaches the tangent line at P . See the
diagram on the right side.
The slope of the tangent line at P(a, f (a )) is:

f ( a + h) − f ( a )
m = lim (1)
h →0 h

E Graphical Computation Ex 4. Find the slope of the tangent line to the curve
1. Draw the tangent line using a ruler y = 2 x − 1 at the point P(5,4) .
2. Choose two points on the tangent line A( x1 , y1 ) and
B( x2 , y 2 )
3. Use the formula:
y − y1
m≅ 2
x 2 − x1
to estimate the slope of the tangent line.

Note. The slope of the tangent line can be calculated

using:
m = tan α
where α is the angle between the tangent line and the
positive direction of the x-axis.

A(1,2), B(9,6)
x1 = 1, y1 = 2, x2 = 9, y 2 = 6
y 2 − y1 6 − 2 1 1
m= = = ∴m =
x2 − x1 9 − 1 2 2

F Numerical Computation Ex 5. Consider y = f ( x) = x 3 . Estimate numerically the

f ( a + h) − f ( a )
1. Use the formula m ≅ ( 2) slope of the tangent line at P(1,1) using
h
2. Choose a sequence h1 , h2 , h3 , ... → 0 . h1 = 0.1, h2 = 0.0001, h3 = 10 −20 .
3. Compute m1 , m 2 , m3 , .. . a = 1, f (1) = 1
4. Observe the pattern and conclude. (1 + 0.1) 3 − 1
m1 ≅ ≅ 3.31
5. Be careful at “difference catastrophe”. 0.1
(1 + 0.0001) 3 − 1
Note. The difference catastrophe is related to the m2 ≅ ≅ 3.0003
limited capacity of memorizing numbers by any 0.0001
technologic device (scientific calculator, computer, (1 + 10 −20 ) 3 − 1
m3 ≅ ≅ 0 (difference catastrophe)
etc). If two numbers are very close, then they have the 10 −20
same internal representation in the memory. ∴m ≅ 3

1.2 The Slope of the Tangent

©2010 Iulia & Teodoru Gugoiu - Page 2 of 3
 Calculus and Vectors – How to get an A+

G Algebraic Computation Ex 6. Find the slope of the tangent line to the graph of
f ( a + h) − f ( a ) y = f ( x) = x 2 − 3x at the point P (1,−2) .
1. Use the formula m = lim .
h→0 h a = 1, f (1) = −2
2. Do not substitute h by 0 because you will get the
0 f (a + h) = f (1 + h) = (1 + h) 2 − 3(1 + h) =
indeterminate case .
0 = 1 + 2h + h 2 − 3 − 3h = −2 − h + h 2
3. Compute algebraic the difference quotient f (a + h) − f (a) f (1 + h) − f (1)
f ( a + h) − f ( a ) DQ = = =
DQ = until you succeed to cancel out h h
h
(−2 − h + h 2 ) − (−2) h 2 − h
the factor h . = = = h −1
h h
4. Substitute in the remaining expression h by 0 .
m = lim (h − 1) = 0 − 1 = −1 ⇒ ∴ m = −1
h →0

Ex 7. Find the equation of the tangent line to the graph Ex 8. Consider y = f ( x ) = x 2 − 2 x .

1
of y = f ( x) = at the point P (2,1) .
x −1 a) Find the slope of the tangent line at the generic point
a = 2, f (a ) = f (2) = 1 P(a, f (a )) .
1 1 f (a ) = a 2 − 2a
f ( a + h) = f ( 2 + h) = =
2 + h −1 1+ h f (a + h) = (a + h) 2 − 2(a + h) = a 2 + 2ah + h 2 − 2a − 2h
1 1 1
−1 −1 +1 f (a + h) − f (a ) (a 2 + 2ah + h 2 − 2a − 2h) − (a 2 − 2a)
f ( a + h) − f ( a ) 1+ h 1+ h 1+ h DQ = =
DQ = = = h h
h h h 1
+1 2
2ah + h − 2h
1+ h = = 2a + h − 2
1 h
−1 m = lim (2a + h − 2) = 2a − 2 ⇒ ∴ m = 2a − 2
1 + h −h −1 x →0
= = =
⎛ 1 ⎞ ⎛ 1 ⎞ ⎛ 1 ⎞
h⎜⎜ + 1⎟⎟ h(1 + h)⎜⎜ + 1⎟⎟ (1 + h)⎜⎜ + 1⎟⎟ b) Find the point where the tangent line is horizontal.
⎝ 1+ h ⎠ ⎝ 1+ h ⎠ ⎝ 1+ h ⎠
⎧m = 0
−1 −1 1 ⎨ ⇒ 0 = 2a − 2 ⇒ a = 1, f (1) = −1 ⇒ ∴ P(1,−1)
m = lim = =− ⎩m = 2 a − 2
x →0 ⎛ 1 ⎞ ⎛ 1 ⎞ 2
(1 + h)⎜⎜ ⎟
+ 1⎟ (1 + 0)⎜⎜ ⎟
+ 1⎟
⎝ 1+ h ⎠ ⎝ 1+ 0 ⎠ c) Find the point P such that m P = 2 .
⎧ 1 2a − 2 = 2 ⇒ a = 2, f (2) = 0 ⇒ ∴ P (2,0)
⎪m = − 1 1
⎨ 2 ⇒ y − 1 = − ( x − 2) ⇒∴ y = − x + 2
⎪⎩ P (2,1) 2 2
d) Find the point P such that the tangent line at P is
perpendicular to the line L2 : x − 3 y = 3 .

1 1 1
L2 : y = x − 1 ⇒ m2 = ⇒ m = − = −3
3 3 m2
⎧m = −3 1 ⎛ 1⎞ 1 5
⎨ ⇒ −3 = 2a − 2 ⇒ a = − , f ⎜ − ⎟ = + 1 =
⎩ m = 2 a − 2 2 ⎝ 2 ⎠ 4 4
⎛ 1 5⎞
∴ P⎜ − , ⎟
⎝ 2 4⎠

Reading: Nelson Textbook, Pages 10-18

Homework: Nelson Textbook: Page 18, #1a, 2a, 3ac, 4a, 5a, 6a, 8a, 9a, 10a, 11a, 15, 21, 25

1.2 The Slope of the Tangent

©2010 Iulia & Teodoru Gugoiu - Page 3 of 3