Derivatives and Tangent Slopes
by Anonymous
Slide two points together to watch the secant's slope approach the tangent's slope—the derivative at that point.
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About this app
An interactive calculus visualizer that shows how a secant slope approaches the tangent slope, or derivative, as the gap h shrinks. Explore three sections—Secant, Tangent, and Derivative—with graphs for y = x²/2 and additional functions including x³/6 − 2x and 3 − x²/2. Step through guided missions by moving the base or tangent point and comparing curve slopes.
Use cases
- High school students learning the definition of a derivative
- Teachers demonstrating secant-to-tangent convergence
- Learners exploring positive, negative, and zero slopes
- Classroom practice with tangent lines and derivative graphs
Features
- Interactive secant graph with adjustable base point a and gap h
- Tangent-line visualization with three selectable functions
- Derivative graph shown alongside the original function
- Guided missions with reset and next controls
- Live slope values and feedback about curve direction