Paper 1 · Differentiation ⏱ Tested in 3 exam questions since 2015 Lesson 19 of 21

Differentiation 19 – Tan of the angle made with the horizontal

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You’ll learn

  • Use the unifying identity slope = tan θ = f'(x) at any point on a curve
  • Find the angle a curve makes with the horizontal via θ = tan⁻¹(f'(x))
  • Convert to the obtuse angle with 180° − acute (or π − acute in radians)
  • Stop at the tan value when the question asks for tan θ, not the angle itself

Most recent exam questions

  • 2018 P1 Q3(a)
  • 2016 P1 Q8(a)(ii)
  • 2015 P1 Q7(b)(ii)

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