Thread: Can someone help me with secants and tangents?

Can anyone tell me a creative diagram, acronym or a jingle to remember how secants relate to average rate of change and how tangents relate to instantaneous rate if change?
Thanks!

It isn't creative or an acronym, but tangents have only ONE point of intersection. This hardly can be construed as an average of anything.

Well the reason is because for one of my text book questions "You have studied how secants relate to average rates of change and how tangents relate to instantaneous rates of change. Find a creative way - a diagram, an acronym, or a jingle for example -- to make this easier to remember. I have no creativity and I'm absolutely stomped, and I'm hoping there are some creative members on this forum that can help me.
-geb

Originally Posted by Gebraroest

Well the reason is because for one of my text book questions "You have studied how secants relate to average rates of change and how tangents relate to instantaneous rates of change. Find a creative way - a diagram, an acronym, or a jingle for example -- to make this easier to remember. I have no creativity and I'm absolutely stomped, and I'm hoping there are some creative members on this forum that can help me.
-geb

Use a diagram - if you understand the concepts you should be able to easily draw one.

I can go where I want,
I'm a secant.
Poor old tangent.
Only has one song.

Needs work.

What a silly assignment.

What does only have one song mean in this situation?
Thanks

Originally Posted by Gebraroest

What does only have one song mean in this situation?
Thanks

You really need to come up with your own answer to the posted question. Something that has meaning to you. I have already suggested that you use a diagram .....