Tangent lines, Mathematics

Assignment Help:

Tangent Lines : The first problem which we're going to study is the tangent line problem.  Before getting into this problem probably it would be best to define a tangent line.

A tangent line to the function f(x) at the instance x = a is a line which just touches the graph of the function at the point in question & is "parallel" (in some way) to the graph at that point. Consider the  graph below.

1835_common graph 11.png

In this graph the line is a tangent line at the specified point because just it touches the graph at that point and is also "parallel" to the graph at that point.  Similarly, at the second point illustrated, the line does just touch the graph at that point, hence it is not "parallel" to the graph at that point & hence it's not a tangent line to the graph at that point.

At the second point illustrated (the point where the line isn't a tangent line) we will sometimes call the line a secant line.

Now, we've used the word parallel a couple of times and we have to probably be a little careful with it.  Generally we will think of a line & a graph as being parallel at a point if they are both moving in the same direction at that point. So, in the first point above the graph and the line are moving in the same direction and so we will say they are parallel at that point.  At the second point, on the other hand, the line and the graph are not moving in the same direction and so they aren't parallel at that point.


Related Discussions:- Tangent lines

Sum of a number of terms in a.p., We know that the terms in an ...

We know that the terms in an A.P. are given by a, a + d, a + 2d, a + 3d, ........ a + (n - 2)d, a + (n -  1)d The sum of all t

gauss elimination method , Question: Use  Gauss elimination method to ...

Question: Use  Gauss elimination method to solve the following system of equations.  -y +3z=4  2x-y-2z= 2  2x-2y+z =6  4x-y-7z= 0

How many different words can be formed out from varanasi, Determine how man...

Determine how many different words can be formed out of the letters of the word VARANASI? Ans: 720 different words can be formed out of the letters of the word VARANASI.

.fractions, what is the difference between North America''s part of the tot...

what is the difference between North America''s part of the total population and Africa''s part

Adding equally sized groups-prerequisites for multiplication, Adding Equall...

Adding Equally Sized Groups:  Once children have had enough practice of making groups of equal size, you can ask them to add some of these equal groups. They can now begin to atte

Using karnaugh map, a) Using Karnaugh map, show X': A'BC'D'+ ABC'D'+ A'B...

a) Using Karnaugh map, show X': A'BC'D'+ ABC'D'+ A'BCD'+ ABCD'                                                                                           (b) If R is an equival

Piecewise, x=±4, if -2 = y =0 x=±2, if -2 = y = 0

x=±4, if -2 = y =0 x=±2, if -2 = y = 0

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd