D1

Basic Calculus

ALWAYS FILL-OUT THIS PORTION ↓

Name: ______________________________ Grade level and Section: _______________
Lesson: Derivative of a Function and the slope of a Date: _______________________________
tangent line to a curve
Learning Objectives:
1. Illustrate the tangent line to the graph of a function at a given point.
2. Applies the definition of the derivative of a function at a given number.

General Directions: Copy on a 1 whole sheet of yellow paper. Study the following examples.

Concept Notes

How to draw tangent lines to curves at a point ?

The definition of a tangent line is not very easy to explain without involving limits. One can imagine that locally,
the curve looks like an arc of a circle. Hence, we can draw the tangent line to the curve as we would to a circle.
Have you tried riding a roller coaster? The track of the roller coaster can be an example of a curve, while the
riding on it the line of sight of the passenger looking straight ahead and sitting erect in one of the wagons of the
roller coaster.

One more way to see this is to choose the line through a point that locally looks most like the curve. Among all
the lines through a point (c, f(c)), the one which best approximates the curve y = f(x) near the point (c, f(c)) is
the tangent line to the curve at that point.

Source: Learning Activity Sheet 4, Basic Calculus

Prepared by: Ms. Rinalyn D. Saballe

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Basic Calculus

There are cases that curves do not have a tangent line.

1. The case when the function is not continuous at 𝑥0 : It is clear from the definition of the tangent line that the
function must be continuous.
2. The case when the function has a sharp corner/cusp at P: This case produces different limiting positions of the
secant lines 𝑃𝑄 on whether Q is to the left or to the right of P.

Understanding the concept of tangent line and its connection to derivatives

Watch the video below and prepare for a short quiz next meeting.

Video: https://youtu.be/O_cwTAfjgAQ?si=vKsKTng3i1CwN7Vk

The Equation of a Tangent Line

To find the equation of the tangent line to the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) at the point P(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 ) follow this 2-step process:
𝒚−𝒚𝟎 𝒇(𝒙)−𝒇(𝒙𝟎 )
a. Get the slope of the tangent line using the formula: 𝒎 = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 or 𝒎 = 𝐥𝐢𝐦
𝒙→𝒙𝟎 𝒙−𝒙𝟎 𝒙→𝟎 𝒙−𝒙𝟎
b. Substitute the vale of the slope m and the coordinates of the unknown point P(𝑥0 , 𝑦0 ) in the point-slope
form to get the equation of the tangent line.
𝒚 − 𝒚𝟎 = 𝒎 (𝒙 − 𝒙𝟎 )

Example 1. Find the equation of the tangent line to 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒙𝟑 + 𝟒𝒙 − 𝟓 at 𝒙 = 𝟏.

SOLUTION:

GIVEN: 𝑥0 = 1

a) Solve for 𝑦0 𝑜𝑟 𝑓(𝑥0 ), b) Solve for the slope m,

𝒇(𝒙)−𝒇(𝒙𝟎 ) (𝑥 3 +4𝑥−5)−0
𝑓(1) = 𝒙𝟑 + 𝟒𝒙 − 𝟓 𝒎 = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 = lim
𝒙→𝒙𝟎 𝒙−𝒙𝟎 𝑥→1 𝑥−1

𝑥 3 +4𝑥−5
= (1)3 + 4(1) − 5 = lim
𝑥→1 𝑥−1

(𝑥−1)(𝑥 2 +𝑥+5)
𝒇(𝟏) = 𝟎 ∴ 𝑦0 = 0 = lim
𝑥→1 𝑥−1

= lim (𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 5)
𝑥→1

c. Substitute 𝑷(𝟏, 𝟎) and 𝒎 = 𝟕 = (1)2 + 1 + 5

𝒚 − 𝒚𝟎 = 𝒎 (𝒙 − 𝒙𝟎 ) 𝒎=𝟕

𝑦 − 𝑦0 = 𝑚 (𝑥 − 𝑥0 ) ∴ 𝑚 = 7 and passing through 𝑃(1,0)

𝑦 − 0 = 7(𝑥 − 1)

𝒚 = 𝟕𝒙 − 𝟕

Therefore, the equation of a tangent line to f(x) = x 3 + 4x − 5 at x = 1 is y = 7x − 7.

Prepared by: Ms. Rinalyn D. Saballe

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Basic Calculus

EXAMPLE 2. Show that the tangent line to 𝒚 = 𝟑𝒙𝟐 − 𝟏𝟐𝒙 + 𝟏 at that point (2, −11) is horizontal.

EXAMPLE 3. Verify that the tangent line to the line 𝑦 = 2𝑥 + 3 at (1, 5) is the line itself.

Prepared by: Ms. Rinalyn D. Saballe

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EXAMPLE 4. Compute for the indicated derivatives at x=1.

a. 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒙𝟑 + 𝟒𝒙 − 𝟓 ; 𝒇′(𝟏) Alternative way of computing derivatives using the
Differentiation Rules:
SOLUTION:
➢ Constant Function Rule
Solve for f(𝒙𝟏 ),
𝒅
𝑓(1) = (1)3 + 4(1) − 5 𝒄=𝟎
𝑓(1) = 1 + 4 − 5 𝒅𝒙
𝒇(𝟏) = 𝟎 ➢ Identity Function Rule

Now, solve for 𝒇′(𝟏) 𝒅

𝒙=𝟏
(𝒙𝟑 + 𝟒𝒙 − 𝟓) − 𝟎 𝒅𝒙
𝒇′ (𝟏) = 𝐥𝐢𝐦
𝒙→𝟏 𝒙−𝟏 ➢ Power Function Rule
𝑥 3 +4𝑥−5
= lim
𝑥→1 𝑥−1 𝒅 𝒏
(𝑥−1)(𝑥 2 +𝑥+5) 𝒙 = 𝒏(𝒙)𝒏−𝟏
= lim 𝒅𝒙
𝑥→1 𝑥−1

= lim (𝑥 2 + 𝑥 + 5)
𝑥→1
4.a. Alternative
= (1)2 + 1 + 5
𝒅
𝒇′ (𝟏) = 𝟕 (𝒙𝟑 + 𝟒𝒙 − 𝟓) = 𝟑𝒙𝟑−𝟏 + (𝟏)(𝟒)(𝒙𝟏−𝟏 )
𝒅𝒙

= 𝟑𝒙𝟐 + 𝟒

Then, substitute x=1 to solve for the value of 𝑓’(1)

𝒇′ (𝟏) = 3𝑥 2 + 4 = 3(1)2 + 4 = 𝟕

Prepared by: Ms. Rinalyn D. Saballe

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b. 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 −1 ; 𝒇′(𝟏) 4.b. Alternative

SOLUTION: 𝑓’(𝑥) = (1)(3)(𝑥 1−1 ) − 0 = 𝟑

Solve for f(𝒙𝟏 ), Then, substitute x=1 to solve for the value of 𝑓’(1)
𝑓(1) = 3(1) − 1 = 2
𝒇(𝟏) = 𝟐 𝒇′ (𝟏) = 𝟑

Now, solve for 𝒇′(𝟏)

(𝟑𝒙−𝟏)−𝟐
𝑓’(𝑥) = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒙−𝟏
𝒙→𝟏

𝟑𝒙−𝟑
= 𝐥𝐢𝐦
𝒙→𝟏 𝒙−𝟏
𝟑(𝒙 − 𝟏)
= 𝐥𝐢𝐦
𝒙−𝟏
𝒙→𝟏
= 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝟑
𝒙→𝟏
𝒇′ (𝟏) = 𝟑

𝟐𝒙
c. 𝑓(𝒙) = ; 𝒇′(𝟏)
𝒙+𝟏 Alternative way of computing derivatives using the
Quotient Function Rule.
SOLUTION:
𝒅 𝒇(𝒙) 𝒈(𝒙)𝒇′ (𝒙) − 𝒇(𝒙)𝒈′(𝒙)
Solve for f(𝒙𝟏 ), [ ]=
2(1) 𝒅𝒙 𝒈(𝒙) [𝒈(𝒙)]𝟐
𝑓(1) =
1+1
2
𝑓(1) =
2 4.c. Alternative
𝒇(𝟏) = 𝟏
𝒅 𝟐𝒙 (𝒙+𝟏)𝒇′(𝟐𝒙)−(𝟐𝒙)𝒈′(𝒙+𝟏)
( )=
𝒅𝒙 𝒙+𝟏 (𝒙+𝟏)𝟐
Now, solve for 𝒇′(𝟏)
𝟐𝒙 (𝒙+𝟏)(𝟐)−(𝟐𝒙)(𝟏)
(
)−𝟏 =
= 𝐥𝐢𝐦 + 𝟏
𝒙
′ (𝟏) (𝒙+𝟏)𝟐
𝒇
𝒙→𝟏 𝒙−𝟏 𝟐𝒙+𝟐−𝟐𝒙
𝟐𝒙−(𝒙+𝟏)
𝒙+𝟏
= (𝒙+𝟏)𝟐
= lim
𝑥→1 𝑥−1
𝟐𝒙−𝒙−𝟏 𝒅 𝟐𝒙 𝟐
= lim 𝒙+𝟏 ( )
𝒅𝒙 𝒙+𝟏
= (𝒙+𝟏)𝟐
𝑥→1 𝑥−1

𝒙−𝟏 Then, substitute x=1 to solve for the value of 𝑓’(1)

𝒙+𝟏
= lim
𝑥→1 𝑥−1 𝟐
𝒇′ (𝟏) =
𝑥−1 1 (𝒙 + 𝟏)𝟐
= lim ∙
𝑥→1 𝑥 + 1 𝑥 − 1
2
1
= (1+1)2
= lim
𝑥→1 𝑥+1
𝟐 𝟏
1 𝒇′ (𝟏) = or
= 𝟒 𝟐
1+1

𝟏
𝒇′ (𝟏) =
𝟐

Prepared by: Ms. Rinalyn D. Saballe

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Basic Calculus

d. 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥 + 8 ; 𝑓 ′ (1)
4.d. Alternative
SOLUTION:
Applying the Power Rule,
Solve for f(𝒙𝟏 ), 𝒅 𝒅
𝑓(1) = √𝑥 + 8 𝒅𝒙
(√𝑥 + 8) = 𝒅𝒙 (𝑥 + 8)𝟏/𝟐
𝑓(1) = √1 + 8 𝟏 𝟏

𝒇(𝟏) = 𝟑 = (𝒙 + 𝟖)𝟐−𝟏
𝟐

𝟏
𝟏
Now, solve for 𝒇′(𝟏) = (𝒙 + 𝟖)−𝟐
𝟐
(√𝑥 + 8) − 𝟑
𝒇′ (𝟏) = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 =
𝟏
∙
𝟏
𝒙→𝟏 𝒙−𝟏 𝟐 𝟏
(𝒙+𝟖)𝟐
(√𝑥+8)−𝟑 (√𝑥+8)+𝟑
= lim ∙
𝑥→1 𝒙−𝟏 (√𝑥+8)+𝟑
𝟏 √𝒙+𝟖
2 = ∙
(√𝑥+8) −(3)2 𝟐√𝒙+𝟖 √𝒙+𝟖
= lim
𝑥→1 (𝑥−1)[(√𝑥+8)+𝟑]
√𝒙+𝟖
= 𝟐
𝒙+𝟖−𝟗 𝟐(√𝒙+𝟖)
= lim
𝑥→1 (𝑥−1)[(√𝑥+8)+𝟑]
√𝒙+𝟖 √𝒙+𝟖
𝒙−𝟏 = =
𝟐(𝒙+𝟖) 𝟐𝒙+𝟏𝟔
= lim
𝑥→1 (𝑥 − 1)[(√𝑥 + 8) + 𝟑]
𝒅 √𝒙 + 𝟖
1 (√𝑥 + 8) =
= lim 𝒅𝒙 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟏𝟔
𝑥→1 (√𝑥+8)+𝟑

1
=
(√1+8)+𝟑
Then, substitute x=1 to solve for the value of 𝑓’(1)
1
=
3+3 √𝒙 + 𝟖
𝒇′ (𝟏) =
𝟏 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟏𝟔
𝒇′ (𝟏) =
𝟔
√𝟏+𝟖
= 𝟐(𝟏)+𝟏𝟔

𝟑 𝟏
𝒇′ (𝟏) = or
𝟏𝟖 𝟔

Prepared by: Ms. Rinalyn D. Saballe

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Basic Calculus

Answer the following exercises.

and the alternative way.

Prepared by: Ms. Rinalyn D. Saballe