how do you use the TANGENT METHOD in finding the gradient of a curve????? (need answers asap!!)?

Question

oopppsss, sorry folks.. i asked the wrong question earlier.. i need info. on TANGENT METHOD not gradient method.. haha.. thanks

Answer 1

The slope of the tangent line to a curve at a point is the gradient of the curve at that point. That slope can be calculated by differentiating the curve and evaluating the derivative at that position.

Answer 2

Still i hoped my answer could have been chosen as best answer for the earlier question.

For the tangent method by accurate scale drawing. You draw the tangent to the curve at the point you wish to find the gradient and extend the tangent until it rests nicely on a point on the graph paper.
The tangent draw means a line that touches the curve on only one point (the pt u want to find the gradient of) and the line extended does no intersect with any part fo the curve. The tangent is a straight line.
Imagine you get the pts (3,4) and (7,7) on the line. Use the formula (y2-y1)/(x2-x1) to get the gradient in other words the differences between the 2 y values over the difference in the two x values.
if you take the first pt (3,4) to be 1, (7,7) will be 2
so taking the y value in 1which is 7, y value in 2 which is 4,
y2-y1 = 7-4 =3
then x2-x1= 7-3= 4
thus (y2-y1)/(x2-x1) = (7-4)/(7-3) = 3/4 = 0.75
and there you have it gradient of a curve

Hope this helped, and is understandable.

Answer 3

in case you have a function w=f(x,y,z) the gradient is G = df/dx*i+df/dy*j +df/dz*ok the place df/d-are the partial derivatives of f and that i,j,ok the unit vectors alon the x,y and z axis respectivly

Answer 4

Here's a tutorial on it:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/asguru/maths/12methods/03differentiation/16maxmin/index.shtml