Finding Gradients of Tangents (AQA GCSE Maths)

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Daniel I

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Daniel I

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Finding Gradients of Tangents

What is the gradient of a graph?

  • The gradient of a graph at any point is equal to the gradient of the tangent to the curve at that point
  • Remember that a tangent is a line that just touches a curve (and doesn’t cross it)

GoNL Notes fig4, downloadable IGCSE & GCSE Maths revision notes

How do I estimate the gradient under a graph?

  • To find an estimate for the gradient:
    • Draw a tangent to the curve
    • Find the gradient of the tangent using Gradient = RISE ÷ RUN

    cie-igcse-2-15

      • In the example above, the gradient at x = 4 would be fraction numerator negative 2.5 over denominator 4 end fraction equals negative 0.625
  • It is an estimate because the tangent has been drawn by eye and is not exact

What does the gradient represent?

  • In a y-x graph, the gradient represents the rate of change of y against x
  • This has many practical applications, for example;
    • in a distance-time graph, the gradient (rate of change of distance against time) is the speed
    • in a speed-time graph, the gradient (rate of change of speed against time) is the acceleration

Examiner Tip

  • This is particularly useful when working with Speed-Time and Distance-Time graphs if they are curves and not straight lines

Worked example

The graph below shows y space equals space cube root of x for 0 space less or equal than space x space less or equal than space 1.

estimating-areas-and-gradients-of-graphs-worked-example-1

Find an estimate of the gradient of the curve at the point where x space equals space 0.5.

Draw a tangent to the curve at the point where = 0.5.

estimating-areas-and-gradients-of-graphs-worked-example-1-image-2

Find suitable, easy to read coordinates and draw a right-angled triangle between them.

Find the difference in the y coordinates (rise) and the difference in the x coordinates (run).

estimating-areas-and-gradients-of-graphs-worked-example-1-image-3

 Divide the difference in (rise) by the difference in x. 

Gradient space equals space rise over run space equals fraction numerator space 0.3 over denominator 0.5 end fraction equals fraction numerator space 3 over denominator 5 end fraction

Estimate of gradient = 0.6

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Daniel I

Author: Daniel I

Expertise: Maths

Daniel has taught maths for over 10 years in a variety of settings, covering GCSE, IGCSE, A-level and IB. The more he taught maths, the more he appreciated its beauty. He loves breaking tricky topics down into a way they can be easily understood by students, and creating resources that help to do this.