Tangent Problem

Slope of a Tangent Line

Move the point Q along the x-axis (red dot). Note that when the points P and Q coincide the slope of QP is not given. How can you determine the slope of the tangent line at the point p.

  1. Using the graph below estimate the slope of the the tagent line when the x-coordinate of P is 0?
  2. Using the idea of limits, determine the the slope of the the tangent line when the x-coordinate of P is 0?

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