Calculus 7.

3 Sketching Slope Fields Notes

Write your questions
and thoughts here!
A slope field represents a differential equation on an 𝑥𝑦-plane. It shows the “slope” of all the
particular solutions to the differential equation.

Below is a differential equation with its accompanying slope field.

2𝑥

Use the differential equation to create a slope field.

1. 𝑥𝑦 2. 𝑦 2𝑥

 

 

      
 

 

3. The figure below shows the slope for the differential equation 1 𝑥𝑦.
a. Let 𝑓 be the function that satisfies the given
differential equation. Write an equation for the
tangent line to the curve 𝑦 𝑓 𝑥 through the
point 1, 2 .
Write your questions 4. Below is a slope field for which of the following differential equations?
and thoughts here!

(A) 1 𝑥

(B) 𝑥

(C) 𝑥 𝑦

(D)

(E) ln 𝑦

7.3 Sketching Slope Fields

Calculus
Practice
Draw a slope field for each of the following differential equations. Use each of the coordinate points shown
in the graph.
1. 𝑥 𝑦 2. 2𝑦

 

 

       
 

 

𝑥 1
3. 4.
𝑦 2


y
 


   



    
 Write the letter of each slope field next to its matching differential equation.

5. _____ sin 𝑥 6. _____ 0.5𝑥 1 7. _____ 𝑥 𝑦 8. _____ 0.5𝑦

9. _____ 2 𝑦 10. _____ 11. _____ 𝑥 12. _____ 𝑥 𝑦

A. B. C.

D. E. F.

G. H.

13. Consider the differential equation given by and its slope field shown below.
a. Calculate at the point 1, 1 and verify that the result agrees with the figure.

b. Let 𝑓 be the function that satisfies the given differential equation. Write an
equation for the tangent line to the curve 𝑦 𝑓 𝑥 through the point 1, 1 . Then
use your tangent line equation to estimate the value of 𝑓 1.2 .
14. The figure below shows the slope field for the differential equation .
a. Calculate at the point 3, 2 and verify that the result agrees
with the figure.

b. Let 𝑓 be the function that satisfies the given differential equation.

Write an equation for the tangent line to the curve 𝑦 𝑓 𝑥
through the point 3, 2 .

15.
3

3
3 2 1 0 1 2 3

Shown above is a slope field for which of the following differential equations?

(A) 𝑥𝑦 𝑦

(B) 𝑥𝑦 𝑦

(C) 𝑥 𝑦

(D) 𝑥 1 𝑦

(E) 𝑥 1

No test prep for this lesson. We will have some fun slope fields in 7.4!