Unit 1 - Objective 2 - Slope of a tangent line

The slope of a tangent line to a curve can be found using limits.

The tangent line to a curve is the limit of the secant lines as point Q approaches point P or as Dx 0.

Slope of a secant line through the points (x,y) and (x+ Dx, y+ Dy)

	(divide by Dx because Dy/Dx is the slope)
	(slope of the secant line)

The tangent line to a curve is the limit of secant lines as point Q approaches point P or as Dx 0.

Slope of the tangent line to any point on the curve

Slope of the tangent line at a specific point

At the point (2,5) the slope would equal 2(2) = 4

So 4 is the slope of the tangent line to the curve y = x² + 1 at the point (2,5)

The limiting value of the ratio Dy/Dx is the 1st derivative of the function

(Definition of a derivative)