MathLiveEquation of the tangent line
Gives the straight line that touches the graph of a differentiable function f at the point where x = a, using the slope f'(a). It is used in calculus to find tangent lines and to make linear approximations of f near a.
y=f(a)+f'(a)(x-a)What the symbols mean
| height of the tangent line at horizontal position x | |
| horizontal coordinate | |
| x-coordinate of the point of tangency | |
| value of the function at x = a | |
| derivative of the function at x = a, the slope of the tangent line |
About this formula
- FieldMathematics
- TopicDifferential calculus
- LevelHigh school
- Also calledtangent line equation, tangent to a curve, tangent line at a point, linear approximation tangent, point-slope tangent line, derivative tangent line
- SourceWikidata Q131251
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