Tangent Line - Curve at a Point & Local Linear Approximation


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Lecture Notes

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Section 1, Page 1 to page 2

Secant line and tangent line formally defined, with calculation example.

Instructor: Prof. Jason Starr
Prior Knowledge: None
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Section 1, Page 1 to page 2

Linearizations of functions are defined with an example.

Instructor: Prof. Jason Starr
Prior Knowledge: Concept of derivative (section 2 of lecture 1)
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Section 2, Page 2

Several important linear approximations.

Instructor: Prof. Jason Starr
Prior Knowledge: Linear Approximations (section 1 of this lecture)
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Section 3, Page 2 to page 4

Linear approximations at x=a of f(x), f(c*x), c*f(x), (f+g)(x), f(x)g(x), f(x)/g(x), and f(g(x)). Includes derivations of each and a worked example.

Instructor: Prof. Jason Starr
Prior Knowledge: Linear Approximations (section 1 of this lecture)
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Section 3, Page 3 to page 4

Problems and answers without full explanation. Finding tangent lines to an ellipse, minimizing surface area of a grain silo, finding the volume of a solid of revolution, computing an antiderivative using trig substitution, and computing an antiderivative using integration by parts.

Instructor: Prof. Jason Starr
Prior Knowledge: Tangent lines (section 1 of lecture 2), Max/Min problems (section 2 of lecture 10), Volume of solids of revolution (section 3 of lecture 19), Inverse substitution (section 3 of lecture 25), Integration by parts (section 1 of lecture 27)
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Document PDF#
Page 1 to page 2

Definition and equation for the linear approximation of a function at a point. Includes diagrams and examples of basic linearizations.

Instructor: Prof. David Jerison
Prior Knowledge: None
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Page 2 to page 3

Relating linear approximation formulas to algebraic concepts of geometric series, the binomial theorem, and the sine function. Includes examples and a diagram for the sine function.

Instructor: Prof. David Jerison
Prior Knowledge: Linear Approximations (page 1 of this file)
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Page 3 to page 5

Using linearization to find the mass of a body according to special relativity and the mass of a body as it moves away from the earth.

Instructor: Prof. David Jerison
Prior Knowledge: Linear Approximations (page 1 of this file)
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Online Textbook Chapters

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Definition, including differentials and an applet for graphing a function and its derivative.

Instructor: Prof. Daniel J. Kleitman
Prior Knowledge: None
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Estimating the values of an unknown function using linear approximation.

Instructor: Prof. Daniel J. Kleitman
Prior Knowledge: Linear Approximation (OT6.1)
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Method for using iterated linear approximations to find an inverse function.

Instructor: Prof. Daniel J. Kleitman
Prior Knowledge: Linear Approximation (OT6.1)
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Practice Problems

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Problem 1 (page 1 to page 2)

Three part question involving the tangent lines to the graph of f(x) = 1/x.

Instructor: Prof. Jason Starr
Prior Knowledge: None
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Problem 1 (page 1)

Finding the equation for the tangent line to an exponential function through a point not on the graph of the function.

Instructor: Prof. Jason Starr
Prior Knowledge: None
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Exam Questions

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Problem 3 (page 4)

Finding the equation of a tangent line to the graph of a function that is defined with an implicit equation.

Instructor: Prof. Jason Starr
Prior Knowledge: None
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Problem 4 (page 5)

Finding a tangent line to the graph of a function through a point not on the graph.

Instructor: Prof. Jason Starr
Prior Knowledge: None
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Problem 11 (page 1)

Finding the lines through a given point which are tangent to a hyperbola.

Instructor: Prof. Jason Starr
Prior Knowledge: None
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Problem 1.1 (page 1)

Finding the tangent lines to the graph of the exponential function through a point not on the graph.

Instructor: Prof. Jason Starr
Prior Knowledge: None
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Problem 1.2 (page 1)

Finding the tangent lines to the graph of a function defined with an implicit equation through a point not on the graph.

Instructor: Prof. Jason Starr
Prior Knowledge: None
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Problem 6 (page 1) to problem 7 (page 1)

Two questions, one finding the horizontal tangent lines to a given curve and the other finding where a tangent line to a curve crosses the x-axis.

Instructor: Prof. David Jerison
Prior Knowledge: None
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Problem 7 (page 1)

Using an exponential function to track the movement of a hawk as it chases a mouse.

Instructor: Prof. David Jerison
Prior Knowledge: None
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Problem 1 (page 1)

Finding the tangent line to a curve at a point.

Instructor: Prof. David Jerison
Prior Knowledge: None
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Problem 2 (page 1)

Finding the equation in slope-intercept form of a line tangent to a graph at a given point.

Instructor: Prof. David Jerison
Prior Knowledge: None
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Java Applets

Java Applet Java Applet
Requires Java Virtual Machine

Applet which plots the derivative of a function and shows the relationship between the derivative and the tangent line at a point.

Instructor: Prof. Daniel J. Kleitman
Prior Knowledge: Differentiability (OT6.1)
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Java Applet Java Applet
Requires Java Virtual Machine

Applet which will show some or all of these problems for a specified function at a chosen point.

Instructor: Prof. Daniel J. Kleitman
Prior Knowledge: Differentiability and Linear Approximation (OT6.1)
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Analysis of Graphs Limits of Functions Asymptotic & Unbounded Behavior Continuity: Property of Functions Parametric, Polar & Vector Function Concept of the Derivative Derivative at a Point Derivative as a Function Second Derivatives Applications of Derivatives Computation of Derivatives Interpretations & Properties of Definite Integrals Applications of Integrals Fundamental Theorem of Calculus Applications of Antidifferentiation Numerical Approximations to Definite Integ Concept of Series Series of Constants Taylor Series Graphs of Functions Intuitive Understanding: Limiting Process Calculating Limits Using Algebra Asymptotic Behavior: Infinity Continuity Continuity in Terms of Limits Analysis of Planar Curves Derivative Presented Graphically, Numerically & Analytically Derivative Interpreted as Instantaneous Rate of Change Derivative: Limit of the Difference Quotient Differentiability & Continuity Tangent Line - Curve at a Point & Local Linear Approximation Instantaneous Rate of Change Approximate Rate of Change Characteristics of f & f Relationship Between Behavior of f & Sign of f Mean Value Theorem & Geometric Consequences Characteristics: Graphs of f, f & f Relationship Between Concavity of f & Sign of f'' Points of Inflection - Concavity Changes Analysis of Curves Applications of Derivatives Optimization: Absolute & Relative Extrema Modeling Rates of Change Implicit Differentiation & Derivatives of Inverse Functions Derivative as a Rate of Change l'Hôpital's Rule Geometric Interpretation of Differential Equations Derivatives of Basic Functions Rules: Derivative of Sums, Products & Quotients of Functions Chain Rule & Implicit Differentiation Derivatives: Parametric, Polar & Vector Functions Definite Integral - Limit of Riemann Sums Rate of Change of a Quantity/Change of Quantity over Interval Properties of Definite Integrals Appropriate Integrals Evaluate Definite Integrals Representation of Specific Antiderivatives Antiderivatives From Derivatives of Basic Functions Integration by Substitution, Parts & Partial Fractions Improper Integrals Separable Equations & Modeling Riemann & Trapezoidal Sums Series, Convergence, Divergence Motivating Examples Geometric Series with Applications The Harmonic Series Alternating Series - Error Bound Series as Riemann Sums & the Integral Test Ratio Test - Convergence/Divergence Comparison Test Taylor Polynomial Approximation Maclaurin & Taylor Series Maclaurin Series for Basic Functions Manipulating Taylor Series Power Series Defining Functions Radius/Interval of Convergence Lagrange Error Bound