DIFFERENTIAL
CALCULUS
Topic 2: Slope
The slope of the curve 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) at any point
is identical to the derivatives of the function
SLOPE OF 𝑑𝑦
or 𝑦′.
𝑑𝑥
THE CURVE
Slope at any point = 𝑦′
CURVATURE
Curvature refers to the rate of change of the direction of the
curve. Thus, a circle with a smaller radius has great curvature,
or is sharply curved.
CURVATURE The curvature, k, of the curve 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) is:
𝑘=
𝑦 ′′
AND 1 + 𝑦 ′ 2 3Τ2
where 𝑦′′ is the second derivative of the function, and 𝑦 ′′ is
RADIUS OF the absolute or positive value of 𝑦′′.
CURVATURE RADIUS OF CURVATURE
The radius of curvature, 𝜌, is the reciprocal of the curvature, k,
or:
1 1 + 𝑦 ′ 2 3Τ2
𝜌= =
𝑘 𝑦 ′′
At any point on a curve 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥), where 𝑦′ and 𝑦′′ exist and
𝑦′′ ≠ 0, there is associated with the curve a circle, which is
called the circle of curvature with the following equation:
2 2
𝑥−ℎ + 𝑦−𝑘 = 𝜌2
CIRCLE OF The center (h, k) and radius 𝜌 of the curve is:
CURVATURE ℎ=𝑥−
𝑦 ′ 1+ 𝑦 ′
2
; k=𝑦+
1+ 𝑦 ′
2
𝑦 ′′ 𝑦 ′′
2 3Τ2
1 + 𝑦′
𝜌=
𝑦 ′′
The graph of a function 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) may be plotted using
calculus. Consider the graph shown below.
GRAPH OF A
FUNCTION
𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥)
As x increases, the curve rises if the slope is positive, as of arc
AB; it falls if the slope is negative, as of arc BC.
Relative Maximum and Minimum Points
At a point such as B, where the function is algebraically
greater than that at any neighboring point, the point is said to
GRAPH OF A have a maximum value, and the point is called a maximum
point (relative to adjacent points). Similarly, at D the function
FUNCTION has a minimum value (relative to adjacent points). At
maximum or minimum points, the tangent is horizontal, or
the slope is zero.
𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑑𝑦
= 𝑦′ = 0
𝑑𝑥
This does not necessarily mean that at these points the
function is maximum or minimum. It does only mean that the
tangent is parallel to the x-axis, or the curve is either concave
up or concave down. The points at which 𝑑𝑦Τ𝑑𝑥 = 0 are
called critical points, and the corresponding values of x are
critical values.
The second derivative of a function is the rate of change of the
first derivative or slope. It follows that as x increases and 𝑦′′ is
GRAPH OF A positive, 𝑦′ is increasing and the tangent turns in a
counterclockwise direction and the curve is concave upward.
FUNCTION When 𝑦′′ is negative, 𝑦′ decreases and the tangent turns in a
clockwise direction and the curve is concave downward.
𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥)
If 𝑦 ′ = 0 and 𝑦′′ is negative (i.e. 𝑦′′ < 0), the point is a
maximum point (concave downward).
If 𝑦 ′ = 0 and 𝑦′′ is positive (i.e. 𝑦′′ > 0), the point is a
minimum point (concave upward).
A point of inflection is a point at which the curve changes
from concave upward to concave downward, or vice versa
POINTS OF (see point E from the figure). At these points, the tangent
changes its rotation from clockwise to counterclockwise or
INFLECTION vice versa.
At points of inflection, the second derivative of y is zero
(𝒚′′ = 𝟎).
Example 1.
Find the slope of the line tangent to the curve 𝑦 = 𝑥 3 − 2𝑥 + 1 at 𝑥 = 1.
a. 1
b. ½
c. 1/3
d. ¼
Example 2.
Determine the slope of the curve 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 − 6𝑥 − 4𝑦 − 21 = 0 at 0, 7 .
a. 3/5
b. -2/5
c. -3/5
d. 2/5
Example 3.
Find the slope of the tangent to a parabola y = 𝑥 2 at a point on the curve where
𝑥 = 1/2.
a. 0
b. 1
c. ¼
d. -½
Example 4.
Find the slope of the ellipse 𝑥 2 + 4𝑦 2 − 10𝑥 + 16𝑦 + 5 = 0 at the point where
𝑦 = −2 + 80.5 and 𝑥 = 7.
a. -0.1654
b. -0.1538
c. -0.1768
d. -0.1463
Example 5.
Find the slope of the tangent to the curve y = 𝑥 4 − 2𝑥 2 + 8 through the point 2, 16 .
a. 20
b. 1/24
c. 24
d. 1/20
Example 6.
Find the slope of the tangent to the curve 𝑦 2 = 3𝑥 2 + 4 through the point −2, 4 .
a. -3/2
b. 3/2
c. 2/3
d. -2/3
Example 7.
Find the slope of the line whose parametric equations are x = 4𝑡 + 6 and 𝑦 = 𝑡 − 1.
a. -4
b. ¼
c. 4
d. -¼
Example 8.
1/2
What is the slope of the curve 𝑦 = 6 4 + 𝑥 at 0, 12 ?
a. 0.67
b. 1.5
c. 1.33
d. 0.75
Example 9.
Find the angle that the line 2𝑦 − 9𝑥 − 18 = 0 makes with the x-axis.
a. 74.77°
b. 4.5°
c. 47.77°
d. 77.47°
Example 10.
Find the equation of the tangent to the curve 𝑦 = 𝑥 + 2𝑥 1Τ3 through point 8, 12 .
a. 7x − 6y + 14 = 0
b. 8x + 5y + 21 = 0
c. 5x − 6y − 15 = 0
d. 3x − 2y − 1 = 0
Example 11.
Find the radius of curvature at any point of the curve 𝑦 + ln cos 𝑥 = 0.
a. cos x
b. 1.5707
c. sec x
d. 1
Example 12.
What is the radius of curvature of the curve 𝑥 = 𝑦 3 at point (1, 1)?
a. 4.72
b. 3.28
c. 4.67
d. 5.27
Example 13.
3/5
Where is the point of inflection of the graph 𝑦 = 𝑥 + 2 − 6𝑥?
a. (-2, 12)
b. (-1, 7)
c. (-3, 17)
d. (3, 17)
