Tangent Line Approximation

Definition

Tangent line approximation, also known as linear approximation or tangent line estimation, is a method that uses the equation of a tangent line at a specific point on a curve to approximate the value of the function near that point. It provides a close estimate when dealing with small intervals.

Related terms

Derivative: The derivative represents the rate of change of a function at any given point and plays a crucial role in tangent line approximation.

Linearization: Linearization is another term for tangent line approximation, where we approximate complex functions with simpler linear functions.

Error Bound: The error bound refers to the maximum difference between the actual value and the estimated value obtained through tangent line approximation.