# 10 Examples of the Equation for the Tangent to a Curve

The equation of the tangent line to a curve is found using the form y=mx+b, where m is the slope of the line and b is the y-intercept. In turn, we find the slope of the tangent line by using the derivative of the function and evaluating it at the given point.

Here, we will look at 10 examples in which we will find the equation of the tangent line to a curve. Additionally, we will explore 5 practice problems.

##### CALCULUS

Relevant for

Solving some examples of the tangent line to a curve.

See examples

##### CALCULUS

Relevant for

Solving some examples of the tangent line to a curve.

See examples

## 10 Examples of the tangent line to a curve with answers

The following examples are solved by finding the equation of the tangent line to the given functions. Try to solve the problems yourself before looking at the solution.

### EXAMPLE 1

What is the equation of the tangent line to the curve $latex f(x)=x^2$ at the point P=(1, 3)?

To find the equation of the tangent line, we can use the form $latex y=mx+b$, where m is the slope and b is the y-intercept.

The slope of the tangent line is found by evaluating the derivative of the function at the given point. That is, the slope is equal to $latex f'(1)$. Therefore, we have:

$latex f(x)=x^2$

$latex f'(x)=2x$

$latex m=f'(1)=2(1)$

$latex m=2$

So far, we have the equation $latex y=2x+b$. Now, we can find the value of b using the point (1, 3) in the equation:

$latex y=2x+b$

$latex 3=2(1)+b$

$latex b=1$

The equation of the tangent line at the point (1, 3) is $latex y=2x+1$.

### EXAMPLE 2

Find the equation of the tangent line to the function $latex f(x)=x^3-10x$ at the point (2, 1).

We need the derivative of the function to find the slope of the tangent line. Thus, we have:

$latex f(x)=x^3-10x$

$latex f'(x)=3x^2-10$

To find the slope of the tangent line at the point (2, 1), we evaluate $latex f'(2)$:

$latex m=f'(2)=3(2)^2-10$

$latex m=2$

We form the equation $latex y=2x+b$. Now, we find the value of b, using the point (2, 1) in the equation:

$latex y=2x+b$

$latex 1=2(1)+b$

$latex b=-1$

The equation of the tangent line at the point (2, 1) is $latex y=2x-1$.

### EXAMPLE 3

If we have the function $latex f(x)=2x^3-7x^2$, find the tangent at the point (2, 3).

The derivative of the function allows us to find the slope of the tangent line. The derivative of the given function is:

$latex f(x)=2x^3-7x^2$

$latex f'(x)=6x^2-14x$

The slope of the tangent line at the point (2, 3) is equal to $latex f'(2)$. Thus, we have:

$latex m=f'(2)=6(2)^2-14(2)$

$latex m=24-28$

$latex m=-4$

Using the slope found, we have the equation $latex y=-4x+b$. Now, we find the value of b, using the point (2, 3) in the equation:

$latex y=-4x+b$

$latex 3=-4(2)+b$

$latex b=11$

The equation of the tangent line at the point (2, 3) is $latex y=-4x+11$.

### EXAMPLE 4

We have the function $latex f(x)=x^3+\frac{8}{x}$. What is the tangent line at the point (2, 4)?

We start by finding the derivative of the function:

$latex f(x)=x^3+8x^{-1}$

$latex f'(x)=3x^2-8x^{-2}$

$latex f'(x)=3x^2-\frac{8}{x^2}$

The slope of the tangent at the point (2, 4) is found by evaluating $latex f'(2)$. Therefore, we have:

$latex m=f'(2)=3(2)^2-\frac{8}{2^2}$

$latex =12-2$

$latex m=10$

We have the equation $latex y=10x+b$. Now, we use the point (2, 4) to find the value of b:

$latex y=10x+b$

$latex 4=10(2)+b$

$latex b=-15$

The equation of the tangent line at the point (2, 4) is $latex y=10x-15$.

### EXAMPLE 5

What is the tangent line to $latex f(x) = -x^{-2}+\sqrt{x}$ at the point (1, 3)?

We start by finding the derivative of the function to determine the slope of the tangent line:

$latex f(x)=-x^{-2}+x^{\frac{1}{2}}$

$$f'(x)=2x^{-3}+\frac{1}{2}x^{-\frac{1}{2}}$$

$$f'(x)=\frac{2}{x^3}+\frac{1}{2\sqrt{x}}$$

The slope of the tangent at the point (1, 3) is equal to $latex f'(1)$, so we have:

$$m=f'(1)=\frac{2}{(1)^3}+\frac{1}{2\sqrt{1}}$$

$latex =2+\frac{1}{2}$

$latex m=\frac{5}{2}$

Now that we have formed the equation $latex y=\frac{5}{2}x+b$, we use the point (1, 3) to find the value of b:

$$y=\frac{5}{2}x+b$$

$$3=\frac{5}{2}(1)+b$$

$latex b=\frac{1}{2}$

The equation of the tangent line at the point (1, 3) is $latex y=\frac{5}{2}x+\frac{1}{2}$.

### EXAMPLE 6

If we have the function $latex f(x)=\sin(x)-\cos(x)$, what is the equation of the tangent line at the point (0, 1)?

We start by finding the derivative of the function:

$latex f(x)=\sin(x)-\cos(x)$

$latex f'(x)=\cos(x)+\sin(x)$

Now, we know that the slope of the tangent line at the point (0, 1) is found by evaluating $latex f'(0)$. Thus, we have:

$latex m=f'(0)=\cos(0)+\sin(0)$

$latex m=1+0$

$latex m=1$

So far, we have the equation $latex y=x+b$ and we can use this equation with the point (0, 1) to find the value of b, using the point (0, 1) in the equation:

$latex y=x+b$

$latex 1=0+b$

$latex b=1$

The equation of the tangent line at the point (0, 1) is $latex y=x+1$.

### EXAMPLE 7

Find the tangent line to $latex f(x)=-2\sin(2x)+\cos(3x)$ at the point (0, 1).

We need the derivative of the function to find the slope of the tangent. Thus, we have:

$latex f(x)=-2\sin(2x)+\cos(3x)$

$latex f'(x)=-4\cos(2x)-3\sin(3x)$

Now, we can evaluate $latex f'(0)$ to determine the slope of the tangent line at the point (0, 1):

$latex m=f'(0)=-4\cos(2(0))-3\sin(3(0))$

$latex m=-4+0$

$latex m=-4$

Using the slope found, we have the equation $latex y=-4x+b$. Using this equation with the point (0, 1) we find the value of b:

$latex y=-4x+b$

$latex 1=0+b$

$latex b=1$

The equation of the tangent line at the point (0, 1) is $latex y=-4x+1$.

### EXAMPLE 8

What is the tangent line to $latex f(x)=x^2-3x+1$ at the point where the curve intersects the y-axis?

The derivative of the function is:

$latex f(x)=x^2-3x+1$

$latex f'(x)=2x-3$

The statement tells us that we have to find the tangent line at the point where the curve intersects the y-axis. This happens when the coordinates in x are equal to 0. Then, we have:

$latex y=x^2-3x+1$

$latex y=0^2-3(0)+1$

$latex y=1$

Therefore, the point of the tangent is (0, 1). Now, we evaluate $latex f'(0)$ to find the slope of the tangent, and we have:

$latex m=f'(0)=2(0)-3$

$latex m=-3$

The slope found gives us the equation $latex y=-3x+b$. To find the value of b, we use the point (0, 1) in the equation:

$latex y=-3x+b$

$latex 1=-3(0)+b$

$latex b=1$

The equation of the tangent line at the point (0, 1) is $latex y=-3x+1$.

### EXAMPLE 9

Find the equations of the two tangent lines to $latex f(x)=x^2-5x+4$ at the points where the function intersects the x-axis.

The points where the function intersects the x-axis are the zeros of the function. Therefore, we start by finding the zeros:

$latex x^2-5x+4=0$

$latex (x-4)(x-1)=0$

The function cuts the x-axis when $latex x=4$ and $latex x=1$. Also, the y-values at those points are 0, so we have (4, 0) and (1, 0).

Now, we find the derivative and evaluate $latex f'(4)$ and $latex f'(1)$ to determine the slopes of the tangent lines.

$latex f(x)=x^2-5x+4$

$latex f'(x)=2x-5$

$latex f'(4)=2(4)-5=3$

$latex f'(1)=2(1)-5=-3$

Now, we find the values of b using the form $latex y=mx+b$ with the slopes found and the coordinates of each point.

$latex 0=3(4)+b_{1}$

$latex b_{1}=-12$

$latex 0=-3(1)+b_{2}$

$latex b_{2}=3$

Therefore, the equations of the tangent lines are $latex y=3x-12$ and $latex y=-3x+3$.

### EXAMPLE 10

Find the two tangent lines to the function $latex f(x)=x^2$ at the points where $latex y=9$.

The statement tells us that the lines are tangent at the points where $latex y=9$. Therefore, we have to find the values of x when $latex y=9$:

$latex x^2=9$

$latex x=\pm \sqrt{9}$

$latex x=3~~$ or $latex ~~x=-3$

Now, we use the derivative of the function to find the slopes of the lines by evaluating $latex f'(3)$ and $latex f'(-3)$.

$latex f(x)=x^2$

$latex f'(x)=2x$

$latex f'(3)=2(3)=6$

$latex f'(-3)=2(-3)=-6$

Using the form $latex y=mx+b$ with the slopes found and the coordinates of each point (the y-values are 9 in both cases), we can find the values of b:

$latex 9=6(3)+b_{1}$

$latex b_{1}=-9$

$latex 9=-6(-3)+b_{2}$

$latex b_{2}=-9$

Therefore, the equations of the tangent lines are $latex y=6x-9$ and $latex y=-6x-9$.

## 5 Practice problems of the tangent to a curve

Solve the following practice problems by applying everything you have learned about the equation of the tangent line to a curve. Use the solved examples shown above as a guide.