Teach A Level Maths

Vol. 1: AS Core Modules

12: Tangents and Gradients

Christine Crisp

Gradients and Tangents

Module C1

Module C2

AQA

MEI/OCR

Edexcel
OCR

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Gradients and Tangents

Points with a Given Gradient
e.g. Find the coordinates of the points on the curve
y x 3 8 x 7 where the gradient equals 4
Gradient of curve
= gradient of tangent
= 4
We need to be able
to find these points
using algebra

Gradients and Tangents

Points with a Given Gradient
e.g. Find the coordinates of the points on the curve
y x 3 8 x 7 where the gradient is 4
The gradient of the curve is given by dy
Solution:

y x3 8x 7
dy
4
dx

Gradient is 4

3x 8 4

dy
3x2 8
dx

dx

Quadratic equation
with no linear x -term

3 x 2 12

x2 4 x 2
x 2 y ( 2) 3 8( 2) 7 1
x 2 y ( 2) 3 8( 2) 7 15

Gradients and Tangents

Points with a Given Gradient
The points on

y x 3 8 x 7 with gradient 4

(2, 15) x

( 2, 1)

Gradients and Tangents

SUMMARY
To find the point(s) on a curve y f ( x ) with a given
gradient:

dy
dx

find the gradient function

dy
let
equal the given gradient
dx

solve the resulting equation

Gradients and Tangents

Exercises
Find the coordinates of the points on the curves with
the gradients given
1.

y x2 4x 3

where the gradient is -2

Ans: (-3, -6)

3
2
y

3
x
21 x 20
2.

where the gradient is 3

( Watch out for the common factor in the
quadratic equation )
Ans: (-2, 2) and (4, -88)

Gradients and Tangents

Increasing and Decreasing Functions

An increasing function is one whose

gradient is always greater than or equal to
zero.

dy
0
dx

for all values of x

A decreasing function has a gradient that

is always negative or zero.

dy
0
dx

for all values of x

Gradients and Tangents

3

e.g.1 Show that y x 4 x is an increasing

function
dy
3
3x2 4
Solution: y x 4 x
dx
dy is the sum of

dx

a positive number ( 3 ) a perfect

square ( which is positive or zero for
all values of x, and
a positive number ( 4 )

dy

0 for all values of x

dx
3
so, y x 4 x is an increasing function

Gradients and Tangents

e.g.2 Show that y 13 x 3 3 x 2 9 x is an
increasing function.
Solution: y

1
3

x 3x 9x

dy
x2 6x 9
dx

2
x
6 x 9 is never negative ( in
To show that

spite of the negative term ), we need to

complete the square.

x 2 6 x 9 ( x 3) 2

Since a square is always greater than or equal

dy
to zero,
0 for all values of x

dx
y 13 x 3 3 x 2 9 x is an increasing function.

Gradients and Tangents

The graphs of the increasing functions
y x 3 4 x and y 13 x 3 3 x 2 9 x

y x3 4x

and

1
3

x3 3x2 9x

are

Gradients and Tangents

Exercises
1. Show that y x 3 is a decreasing function and
sketch its graph.

2. Show that y 13 x 3 2 x 2 5 x is an increasing

function and sketch its graph.
Solutions are on the next 2 slides.

Gradients and Tangents

Solutions
1. Show that y x 3 is a decreasing function and
sketch its graph.

dy
Solution:
3x 2 . This is the product of a
dx
square which is always 0 and a negative number,
dy
so
0 for all x. Hence y x 3 is a
dx
decreasing function.

y x3

Gradients and Tangents

Solutions
2. Show that y 13 x 3 2 x 2 5 x is an increasing
function and sketch its graph.

dy
Solution:
x2 4x 5 .
dx
dy
Completing the square:
( x 2) 2 1
dx
which is the sum of a square which is 0
and a positive number. Hence y is an increasing
function.

1
3

x3 2x2 5x

Gradients and Tangents

The equation of a tangent
e.g. 1 Find the equation of the tangent at the point
(-1, 3) on the curve with equation

y x3 3x2 2x 1
3
2
Solution:
y

3
x
2 at
x a1 point and the gradient of
The gradient of a curve
dy the tangent
Gradient
-5
are =equal

3 x 2 6 x 2at that point

dx
At x = 1
(-1, 3) x
m 3( 1) 2 6( 1) 2
5
y mx c y 5 x c
(-1, 3) on line: 3 5( 1) c 2 c
So, the equation of the tangent is y 5 x 2

Gradients and Tangents

An Alternative Notation
The notation f ( x ) for a function of x can be used
instead of y.
dy
f
(
x
)
When
is used, instead of using
for the
dx
gradient function, we write
f / ( x ) ( We read this as f dashed x )
This notation is helpful if we need to substitute for x.
e.g.

f ( x) x 3 2 x 2 3 x 1

f / ( x) 3 x 2 4 x 3

f / ( 2 ) 3( 2) 2 4( 2) 3 17

Gradients and Tangents

e.g. 2 Find the equation of the tangent where x = 2 on
the curve with equation y f ( x ) where

f ( x) x 3 2 x 2 3 x 4

Solution: To use y mx c
the point as well as x and m

we need to know y at

f ( x ) x 3 2 x 2 3 x 4 (1)
y f ( 2) ( 2) 3 2( 2) 2 3( 2) 4
8864 2
From (1), f / ( x ) 3 x 2 4 x 3
m f / ( 2) 3( 2) 2 4( 2) 3
12 8 3 7
y mx c

y 7x c
(2, 2) on the line 2 7( 2) c 12 c
So, the equation of the tangent is y 7 x 12

Gradients and Tangents

SUMMARY
To find the equation of the tangent at a point on
the curve y f ( x ) :
if the y-value at the point is not given,
substitute the x -value into the equation of the
curve to find y

dy
( or f / ( x ) )
find the gradient function
dx
dy
substitute the x-value into
( or f / ( x ) )
dx
to find the gradient of the tangent, m

substitute for y, m and x into y mx c to find c

Gradients and Tangents

Exercises
1.

Find the equation of the tangent to the curve

y x 3 2 x 2 x 3 at the point (2, -1)

Ans:
2.

y 5 x 11

Find the equation of the tangent to the curve

y f ( x ) at the point x = -1, where

f ( x ) x 3 3 x 2 11 x 6
Ans: y 2 x 1

Gradients and Tangents

Gradients and Tangents

The following slides contain repeats of

information on earlier slides, shown without
colour, so that they can be printed and
photocopied.
For most purposes the slides can be printed
as Handouts with up to 6 slides per sheet.

Gradients and Tangents

SUMMARY
To find the point(s) on a curve y f ( x ) with a
given gradient:

dy
dx

find the gradient function

dy
let
equal the given gradient
dx

solve the resulting equation

Gradients and Tangents

e.g. Find the coordinates of the points on the curve
y x 3 8 x 7 where the gradient is 4
The gradient of the curve is given by dy
Solution:

y x3 8x 7
dy
Gradient is 4
4
dx

3x2 8 4

dy
3x2 8
dx

dx

Quadratic equation
with no linear x -term

3 x 2 12

x2 4
x 2 y ( 2) 3 8( 2) 7 1
x 2 y ( 2) 3 8( 2) 7 15

x 2

Gradients and Tangents

Increasing and Decreasing Functions

An increasing function is one whose

gradient is always greater than or equal to
zero.

dy
0
dx

for all values of x

A decreasing function has a gradient that

is always negative or zero.

dy
0
dx

for all values of x

Gradients and Tangents

e.g.

Show that y 13 x 3 3 x 2 9 x
increasing function.

Solution: y

1
3

x 3x 9x

is an

dy
x2 6x 9
dx

2
x
6 x 9 is never negative ( in
To show that

spite of the negative term ), we need to

complete the square.

x 2 6 x 9 ( x 3) 2

Since a square is always greater than or equal

dy
to zero,
0 for all values of x

dx
y 13 x 3 3 x 2 9 x is an increasing function.

Gradients and Tangents

SUMMARY
To find the equation of the tangent at a point on
the curve y f ( x ) :
if the y-value at the point is not given,
substitute the x -value into the equation of the
curve to find y

dy
( or f / ( x ) )
find the gradient function
dx
dy
substitute the x-value into
( or f / ( x ) )
dx
to find the gradient of the tangent, m

substitute for y, m and x into y mx c to find c

Gradients and Tangents

The equation of a tangent
e.g. 1 Find the equation of the tangent at the point
(-1, 3) on the curve with equation

y x3 3x2 2x 1
Solution: y x 3 3 x 2 2 x 1
Gradient = -5
dy
2

3x 6x 2
dx
At x = -1
(-1, 3) x
m 3( 1) 2 6( 1) 2
5
y mx c y 5 x c
(-1, 3) on line: 3 5( 1) c 2 c

So, the equation of the tangent is y 5 x 2

Gradients and Tangents

e.g. 2 Find the equation of the tangent where x = 2 on
the curve with equation y f ( x ) where

f ( x) x 3 2 x 2 3 x 4
Solution: To use y mx c we need to know y at
the point as well as x and m
f ( x ) x 3 2 x 2 3 x 4 (1)
y f ( 2) ( 2) 3 2( 2) 2 3( 2) 4
8864 2
From (1), f / ( x ) 3 x 2 4 x 3
m f / ( 2) 3( 2) 2 4( 2) 3
12 8 3 7
y mx c

y 7x c
(2, 2) on the line 2 7( 2) c 12 c
So, the equation of the tangent is y 7 x 12