AS level	Pure Maths C1 --------------------- Differentiation This is mainly about tangents to a curve, their gradient and points.	A Revision Aid
	This takes the equation of a curve and helps you to calculate the gradient which then allows you to calculate the equation of the tangent. There are two levels of differentiation - the first helps you with the tangent, the second differentiation helps you to find the nature of stationary points. Differentiation is far easier to do than it is to describe !!! If y = xn then dy/dx = nxn-1 If y = axn then dy/dx = anxn-1 a few examples linear ......y = 6x + 3 ......dy/dx = 6 linear ......y = 4x + 5 ......dy/dx = 4 quadratic......y = 3x2 + 6x + 3 ......dy/dx = 6x + 6 quadratic......y = x2 - 2x + 3 ......dy/dx = 2x - 2 cubic......y = 7x3 + 7x2 + 6x + 3 ......dy/dx = 21x2 +14x + 3 cubic......y = 7x3 - 2x-1 + 3x8 ......dy/dx = 21x2 - 2x-2 + 24x7	notes A "normal" is another name for a perpendicular line from a tangent.
	Just remember - Convert the equation into powers before you start differentiating	website by LJ Middleton www.lawrencejohn.net