tangent line

American  

noun

1. tangent.

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Example Sentences

If we zoom in on a curve at that point, the curve appears linear, and the slope of the curve at that point is close to the slope of the tangent line at that point.

From Textbooks • Dec. 1, 2021

Find an equation of the tangent line to the graph of a function at a point.

From Textbooks • Dec. 1, 2021

Then, a tangent line to the surface at that point in any direction does not have any abrupt changes in slope because the direction changes smoothly.

From Textbooks • Mar. 30, 2016

The analog of a tangent line to a curve is a tangent plane to a surface for functions of two variables.

From Textbooks • Mar. 30, 2016

The line you get isn’t exactly the tangent line, but if the curve isn’t too bumpy, the two lines will be pretty close.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife