Tangents and Normals
Students will find equations of tangents and normals to curves at given points.
About This Topic
Students will find equations of tangents and normals to curves at given points.
Key Questions
- Explain the geometric relationship between a tangent, a normal, and the curve at a point.
- Construct the equation of a tangent line using the derivative.
- Differentiate between the gradient of a tangent and the gradient of a normal.
Active Learning Ideas
See all activities→Activities & Teaching Strategies
See all activities
Planning templates for Mathematics
5E Model
The 5E Model structures lessons through five phases (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate), guiding students from curiosity to deep understanding through inquiry-based learning.
Unit PlannerMath Unit
Plan a multi-week math unit with conceptual coherence: from building number sense and procedural fluency to applying skills in context and developing mathematical reasoning across a connected sequence of lessons.
RubricMath Rubric
Build a math rubric that assesses problem-solving, mathematical reasoning, and communication alongside procedural accuracy, giving students feedback on how they think, not just whether they got the right answer.
More in Differential Calculus
Differentiation of Polynomials
Students will apply basic differentiation rules to find derivatives of polynomial functions.
8 methodologies
Rates of Change
Students will solve problems involving related rates of change in various contexts.
8 methodologies
Stationary Points and Nature of Stationary Points
Students will find stationary points and determine their nature (maxima, minima, points of inflexion) using first and second derivative tests.
8 methodologies
Optimization Problems
Students will apply differentiation to solve optimization problems in various real-world contexts.
8 methodologies