Tangents and Normals Lesson Plan

Unit/Topic:
Tangents and Normals
Lesson Number: Differentiation Chapter 9 (Rates of Change & Calculus)
Year Level:
VCE Units 1 & 2
Lesson Duration: 100 minutes
Domain(s) & Dimension(s) covered: First principle approach to
Differentiation of
Polynomial
Functions including Graph Sketching
Progression Points covered: Progression Point 10.5 to 11.0
Lesson Objectives:
At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

Understand a tangent to a curve.

Understand a normal to the tangent.
Draw the graph of (x) and (x) for a given function over a specified domain.
Draw Tangents to curves of (x). Work out the equation of the Tangent Line.
Use the gradient of a tangent at a point on the curve to describe instantaneous
rate of change of y = (x) with respect to x.
Draw a Normal to the tangent at the point on the curve of (x). Work out the
equation of the Normal Line.

Lesson Structure:
Time

Major Content:

Teaching Strategies/Approaches

5
min

Recap
on
the
lesson
covered in the last class on
finding
derivatives
of
curves by rule.

Formative assessment on the

knowledge of the students on
finding the derivatives or gradient
f'(x) of any function f(x) by using
the rule.

15mi Students
n
function
Desmos
calculator
point of
curve and

graphing
the
f(x)
on
their
graphing
and finding the
contact of the
its gradient.

Students will be asked to graph

f(x) = x+6x-8 on their laptops
using the Desmos
Graphing
Calculator.
By using the rule of finding the
derivatives of f(x), they will be
asked to calculate the gradient of
the curve f'(x) by finding the
derivative by rule.
Students will then be asked to find
the point of intersection of the
curve f(x) where the gradient
(derivative) is equal to 8 or when
f'(x) = 8. By substituting the value
of the gradient as 8, the students

15mi Introduction to Tangents to

n
the given curve f(x) at a
point of contact (x, y).
Working out the equation
of the Tangent line on the
curve.

will then be able to work out the

point of contact of the gradient on
the parabola as (1, -1).
A tangent is a straight line that
touches the curve f(x) at only one
given point. Once the gradient of
the curve is found at the point (1,1), the students can then work out
the equation of the tangent line as
y-y1=m(x-x1)
where (x1, y1) are (1, -1) and m
is the gradient of the curve i.e. 8.
Hence the equation of the normal
to the curve f(x) is y = 8x - 9
The students then can graph out
the tangent line using the Desmos
calculator and understand how
the line falls on the curve.

15mi Introduction
to
Normal
n
Lines to the given curve
f(x) at the point of contact
(x, y). Working out the
equation of the Normal line
of the curve.

A Normal line is a line that is

perpendicular to the tangent line
on the curve at the point of
contact. Hence, the gradient of
the perpendicular line can be
calculated as per the rule where
the Products of two perpendicular
lines is equal to -1. The students
will work out the gradient of the
Normal line as -1/8. They will then
work out the equation of this
Normal line by using the formula
y-y1=m(x-x1)
The students then can graph out
the Normal line using the Desmos
calculator and understand how
the line falls on the curve.
This way the students will be able
to plot the Tangent and Normal
Lines on the curve f(x) and
visualize
how
the
different
equations with their different
40mi Using
techniques
of colors fall on the function. (See
n
diagnostic
assessments, Appendix 1)

the students will then be

handed out worksheets on
the topic learnt.
Worksheets will be handed out to
students where they will be asked

to graph the Tangent and Normal

Lines to the function curve
10mi Students will be asked to depicted as f(x) using the Desmos
Graphing Calculator. They are
n
save
their
work
for then to save their work and print
assessment and to log off out their graphs with well labeled
their laptops.
equations. (See Appendix 2)
Use the summative technique of
assessment to make sure all the
students have an understanding
of the properties of Normals,
Tangents and Equations of lines.
Make
sure
they
have
an
understanding of how to use the
Desmos calculator to help them
with visualizing these properties.
Resources

For the successful completion of this lesson, the teacher needs a few
resources that include:
A Projector
Laptops with access to the internet to use the Desmos Graphing Calculator
from the website
https://www.desmos.com/calculator
Maths Methods VCE Units 1 & 2 Textbook
Worksheets on Tangents
andConsiderations/Materials
Normals
Safety
Students need to have a sound understanding of cyber safety while using
the internet to access the Desmos Graphing Calculator.

Assessment

The students will be assessed on their understanding of the concepts of

finding the gradient using the derivatives rules. They will also be assessed
on the concepts of Tangents and Normal lines to the function f(x). They
will be assessed on the graphs that they create using the Desmos
Graphing Calculator as a tool. Their graphs will be assessed for accurate
labelling, plotting of points, lines and curves.
Self evaluation and reflection

Desmos really works well as a graphing tool for teachers and students to
visualize the functions, curves, tangent lines, normal lines and points of
contact on the graphs. It can be easily saved for further work or printed
when the task has been completed. The different colours on the graph
also give a clear indication of which line pertains to different equations.