IB Maths AI HL SL 5.4 Tangents & normals
IB Maths AI HL SL 5.4 Tangents & normals
Students practise finding equations of tangents and normals to curves using derivatives, often at specified points or after solving for coordinates.
How this is tested
- calculate f′(x), substitute x-coordinate to find gradient, then use point–gradient form y−y₁=m(x−x₁)
- find normal gradient as −1∕f′(x) before applying point–gradient form with same point on curve
- find where a normal meets the curve again by solving simultaneous equations