Final answer:
The method used to determine the equation of a tangent line at a specific point on a curve is differentiation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The method used to determine the equation of a tangent line at a specific point on a curve is differentiation. Differentiation is a mathematical operation that calculates the rate at which a function is changing at a given point. By finding the derivative of the curve equation, you can obtain the slope of the tangent line at the desired point. This slope can then be used, along with the point's coordinates, to determine the equation of the tangent line using the point-slope form.