What does dy/dx represent?
dy/dx represents the gradient of a curve. The d represents an infinitesimally small range so it is essentially as though you are doing change in y over change in x like you would for a y = mx +c graph but over a very small range. This is why if you work out dy/dx for a straight line you would get a number whereas for a curve you will get a function of x as the gradient of the line changes depending where on the curve you are.
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Related Maths A Level answers
All answers ▸Write down the values of (1) loga(a) and (2) loga(a^3) [(1) log base a, of a (2) log base a of (a^3)]
Use chain rule and implicit differentiation to find dy/dx for y^3 = 1 + 3*x^2, then show that they are equal
How to solve the absolute-value inequalities?
A curve is described by the equation x^3 - 4y^2 = 12xy. a) Find the points on the curve where x = -8. b) Find the gradient at these points.