Math Archives: Visual Calculus: Tangent Lines to Polar Graphs

Don't go off on a tangent while writing equations of tangent lines! Scholars determine the equations for tangent lines to circles. They attempt both concrete and abstract examples, such as a tangent line to the unit circle through...

You know about the tangent function, but what are tangent lines to a circle? Learners investigate properties of tangents through constructions. They determine that tangents are perpendicular to the radius at the point of tangency,...

Pupils learn how to find the derivative of a function by applying the definition using limits. Learners understand that the derivative provides the slope of the tangent line and use that information to find the equation of the tangent...

This is a detailed site concerning tangent lines to curves. The site gives the limiting definition of the slope of the tangent. This site has a link to a discussion and animation of the approaching secant line, a java applet for the...

This site provides information on tangent lines and parametric curves. It includes formulas and examples.

This video defines what it means for a line to be tangent to a circle. It also defines the term point of tangency and shows how the radius drawn to the point of tangency is perpendicular to the tangent line.

This site offers a tutorial for Polar Coordinates. After actively involving in the site, students should be able to convert from rectangular coordinates to polar and from polar to rectangular. Students will also be able to plot points...

This site visually explores the fundamental theorem of calculus. On-line animation helps the student visualize the process.

Visual Calculus briefly states the comparison test theorem with the proof and exercise solutions as links.

Take steps in the right direction. With a short demonstration, a video shows the steps to construct a perpendicular from a line to a point. Using a protractor, the narrator confirms the resulting construction is perpendicular, and then...