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AP®︎/College Calculus BC
Course: AP®︎/College Calculus BC > Unit 2
Lesson 2: Defining the derivative of a function and using derivative notation- Formal definition of the derivative as a limit
- Formal and alternate form of the derivative
- Worked example: Derivative as a limit
- Worked example: Derivative from limit expression
- Derivative as a limit
- The derivative of x² at x=3 using the formal definition
- The derivative of x² at any point using the formal definition
- Finding tangent line equations using the formal definition of a limit
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Finding tangent line equations using the formal definition of a limit
This structured practice takes you through three examples of finding the equation of the line tangent to a curve at a specific point.
We can calculate the slope of a tangent line using the definition of the derivative of a function
Once we've got the slope, we can find the equation of the line. This article walks through three examples.
Example 1: Finding the equation of the line tangent to the graph of
Usually, that point will be the point where the tangent line touches the graph of
And we're done! Using the definition of the derivative, we were able to find the equation for the line tangent to the graph of
Example 2: Finding the equation of the line tangent to the graph of
Example 3: Finding the equation of the line tangent to
Let's do this one without all the steps.
Want to join the conversation?
Why do we need to know this? Couldn't we just take the derivative using derivative rules and be faster/easier?(19 votes)
Yes, derivative rules are faster and easier than using the "first principles" definition of the derivative (with limits and the definition of slope), but the only reason we have those rules is because of that definition of the derivative. In practice, you do use the derivative rules, not the first principles definition, to find derivatives, but it's really important to understand the intuition of why we can even find instantaneous slope in the first place (which was a nonsensical idea to people more recently than you would think).(118 votes)
y = -10(x + 5) + 28
y = -10x - 50 + 28
y = -10x - 22(32 votes)
I found using point-slope form to solve for the final equation to be easier than this. I entered my answer to the third question as -10x-22 and that is correct (if you simplify the answer given, it is the same) but it might be confusing to others.(29 votes)- Deat Khan Academy, please communicate it clearer that the "Example 3: Finding the equation of the line tangent" MUST contain "y=" at the front of the answer.
I nearly lost my mind trying to understand where was my arithmetic wrong.(14 votes)
it asks for the equation of a line. a line equation is typically of the form y=mx+b(16 votes)
- Example 3 is bugged, yet it has been bugged for a year apparantly. Fix it already.(13 votes)
- Now example 3 does not accept the correct equation(5 votes)
- Well, I answered, y=-10x+22, but it said wrong. But this is correct too, right?(3 votes)
Sign error. It should be y = -10x - 22, not y=-10x + 22(9 votes)
I don't understand step 2 of Example 2. How do they get the expanded version of (-1+h)^3?(3 votes)
(-1+h) x (-1+h) = get the result then multiply it in (-1+h) again(4 votes)
- For question 1: what is step 4? How should I even interpret the question? This is so frustrating.
For question 2: Why do we use the large formula? What is indicating that we have a g(t+h) function instead of a g(x)-g(t) function?
And then I am asked to choose a point on the line after finding out what the slope of the tangent is. Is this darts?(2 votes)- Step 4 is just asking you to use all the information you already solved for (the slope and point) to get the equation of the tangent. You must already know that a unique line can be defined by a slope and a single point, so that's what they want you to do.
You could use that formula too. With it, you'll get lim (x --> -1) (x^(3)+1)/(x+1). Expanding the numerator with the identity (a^(3) + b^(3) = (a+b)(a^(2) - ab + b^(2)), we get lim (x --> -1) (x+1)(x^(2) - 2x + 1)/(x+1). The x+1's cancel out, and you're left with lim (x --> -1) (x^(2) - 2x + 1). Substitute x = -1, and we get 3, which is exactly what we got with the other formula too.
I reckon they used the other one because (a ± b)^(3) is more easy to calculate (incase you forget the identity) than a^(3) ± b^(3) (for which deriving the identity requires a but more effort)
You could go the other way too, honestly. You can first find a point on the line and then find the slope. The exercise just wants to familiarize you with the idea and give an algorithm for students to follow. You are more than welcome to experiment and do stuff in a different way, as long as you obey all the rules of maths.(5 votes)
- In example 3, why does (-5+h) get squared instead of (-5+3)?(2 votes)
- The function is f(x)=x^2+3 (For each value of x you gonna to square it then plus 3)
And so for f(-5+h), you have to square (-5+h) first and then plus 3
Another way to say it, to calculate f(-5+h), whenever you see x in the function, you replace x with -5+h, and you'll get f(-5+h)=(-5+h)^2+3
That's why (-5+h) get squared(5 votes)
- Can we replace y with the x^2 +3 in the answer above?(3 votes)
- Nope, you can't. x^2 + 3 is f(x), which is the equation of the curve. y is −10(x+5)+28, which is the equation of the line tangent to the curve. Clearly, they aren't the same thing and hence, cannot be equated to each other.(3 votes)
