1
$\begingroup$

I have drawn a circle by doing this in Matlab: syms x; ezplot(cos(x),sin(x))

I get the tangent point at which I want my tangent to be by taking $x = \cos(3.1415)$, $y = \sin(3.1415)$, but now I am confused because normally I would differentiate the function to get the slope.

Now I have two functions that created my curve, which one do I differentiate to get the slope?

  • 1
    Do you mean *differentiate* as opposed to *derive*?2012-11-08
  • 0
    @glebovg: I would have rejected the edit had I got there in time: you changed things that were perfectly understandable (and at least one that was correct as written). It’s useful to people answering the question to have an idea of the OP’s command of English: it may affect their choice of wording.2012-11-08
  • 0
    I honestly think Blub meant derive instead of differentiate. If they ask what a differential is, chances are they haven't taken Calculus. Perhaps he meant he'd normally derive an equation in the form $y=mx+b$ to determine the slope. (Unlikely, but possible.)2012-11-08

3 Answers 3