Geometric interpretation of the derivative

Geometrically, the derivative of a function f(x) at a given point is the slope of the tangent to f(x) at the point a.

(See the figure to understand it).

imagen

The straight line forms a certain angle that we call β.

Obviously, this angle will be related to the slope of the straight line, which we have said to be the value of the derivative at the given point.

So we have tanβ=f(a)