Mathematics GCSE
Tangent
What Tangent means in Mathematics GCSE, as defined for Eduqas, OCR.
Definitions of Tangent
Exam boards and our study guides word this term in slightly different ways. Learn the version your board uses.
A straight line that touches a curve at exactly one point without crossing it.
A straight line that touches a circle at exactly one point.
Topics that use Tangent
- Geometry and measures (Eduqas GCSE)
- Graphs of Equations and Functions (OCR GCSE)
Related terms
Using Tangent in the exam
Definition questions usually carry one or two marks, and examiners look for the precise wording. Write the definition from memory, check it against the version above, and then use the term in a longer answer on the same topic so it sticks.
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