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
dy
Solution: The gradient of the curve is given by

y x 8x 7
3

dy
4
dx

Gradient is 4

3x 8 4
2

dy
3x2 8
dx

Quadratic equation
with no linear x -term

3 x 2 12

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

dx

Gradients and Tangents

Points with a Given Gradient

The points on

y x 8 x 7 with gradient 4
3

(2, 15) x

( 2, 1)

Gradients and Tangents

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

find the gradient function dy

dx

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
2. y x 3 x 21 x 20 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

e.g.1 Show that y x 3 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
so, y x 3 4 x is an increasing function

Gradients and Tangents

e.g.2 Show that y 1 x 3 3 x 2 9 x is an

3
increasing function.
Solution: y

1
3

x 3x 9x
3

dy
x2 6x 9
dx

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

spite of the negative term ), we need to
complete the square.
2

x 2 6 x 9 ( x 3) 2

Since a square is always greater than or equal

to zero,
dy
0 for all values of x

dx
2
1 3
y 3 x 3 x 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

y 13 x 3 3 x 2 9 x

are

Gradients and Tangents

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

2. Show that y 1 x 3 2 x 2 5 x is an increasing

3
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 1 x 3 2 x 2 5 x is an increasing
3
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.

y 13 x 3 2 x 2 5 x

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
=equal
-5
2
at
that
point
are

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

An Alternative Notation
The notation f ( x ) for a function of x can be used
instead of y.
dy
When f ( x ) 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 2 x 3 x 4
3

Solution: To use y mx c we need to know y at

the point as well as x and m

f ( x ) x 2 x 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 7 x c
(2, 2) on the line 2 7( 2) c 12 c
So, the equation of the tangent is y 7 x 12
3

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
find the gradient function
( or f / ( x ) )
dx
substitute the x-value into dy ( 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: y 5 x 11
2.

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:

find the gradient function dy

dx

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
3
y x 8 x 7 where the gradient is 4
dy
Solution: The gradient of the curve is given by

y x3 8x 7
dy
Gradient is 4
4
dx

3x 8 4
2

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 1 x 3 3 x 2 9 x is an
3
increasing function.

Solution: y

1
3

x 3x 9x
3

dy
x2 6x 9
dx

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

spite of the negative term ), we need to
complete the square.
2

x 2 6 x 9 ( x 3) 2

Since a square is always greater than or equal

to zero,
dy
0 for all values of x

dx
2
1 3
y 3 x 3 x 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
find the gradient function
( or f / ( x ) )
dx
substitute the x-value into dy ( 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 2 x 3 x 4
Solution: To use y mx c we need to know y at
3

the point as well as x and m

f ( x ) x 2 x 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 7 x c
(2, 2) on the line 2 7( 2) c 12 c
So, the equation of the tangent is y 7 x 12
3