Question:

Find the equations of the tangent and normal to the given curves at the indicated points: 
(i) y = x4 − 6x3 + 13x2 − 10x + 5 at (0, 5) 
(ii) y = x4 − 6x3 + 13x2 − 10x + 5 at (1, 3) 
(iii) y = x3 at (1, 1) 
(iv) y = x2 at (0, 0)
(v) x = cos t, y = sin t at t=\(\frac{π}{4}\)

Updated On: Oct 13, 2023
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Solution and Explanation

(i) The equation of the curve is y = x4 − 6x3 + 13x2 − 10x + 5 

On differentiating with respect to x, we get:

\(\frac{dy}{dx}\) = 4x3-18x2+26x-10

\((\frac{dy}{dx})   \bigg]_{(0,5)}\)=-10

Thus, the slope of the tangent at (0, 5) is −10. The equation of the tangent is given as: y − 5 = − 10(x − 0)

⇒ y − 5 = − 10x

⇒ 10x + y = 5

The slope of the normal at (0, 5) is \(\frac{-1}{\text{slop of the tangent at}\,(0,5)}\)\(\frac{1}{10}.\)

Therefore, the equation of the normal at (0, 5) is given as:

y-5=\(\frac{1}{10}.\)(x-0)

=10y-50=x

x=10y+50=0


(ii) The equation of the curve is y =x4 − 6x3 + 13x2 − 10x + 5 

On differentiating with respect to x, we get:

\(\frac{dy}{dx}\) = 4x3-18x2+26x-10

\((\frac{dy}{dx})  \bigg]_{(1,3)}\)=4-18+26-10=2

Thus, the slope of the tangent at (1, 3) is 2. The equation of the tangent is given as:

y-3=2(x-1)

=y-3=2x-2

=y=2x+1

The slope of the normal at (1, 3) is \(\frac{-1}{\text{slop of the tangent at}\,(1,3)}\)=-\(\frac{1}{2.}\)

Therefore, the equation of the normal at (1, 3) is given as:

y-3=-\(\frac{1}{2.}\)(x-1)

=2y-6=-x+1

x+2y-7=0


(iii) The equation of the curve is y = x3 .

On differentiating with respect to x, we get:

\(\frac{dy}{dx}\)=3x2

\((\frac{dy}{dx})   \bigg]_{(1,1)}\)=3(1)2=3

Thus, the slope of the tangent at (1, 1) is 3 and the equation of the tangent is given as:

y-1=3(x-1)

⇒ y=3x-2

The slope of the normal at (1, 1) is \(\frac{-1}{\text{slope of the tanget at}\,(1,1)}\)=\(\frac{-1}{3.}\)

Therefore, the equation of the normal at (1, 1) is given as:

y-1=\(\frac{-1}{3.}\)(x-1)

⇒3y-3=-x+1

⇒x+3y-4=0


(iv) The equation of the curve is y = x2 .

On differentiating with respect to x, we get:

\(\frac{dy}{dx}\)=2x

\((\frac{dy}{dx})  \bigg]_{(0,0)}\)=0

Thus, the slope of the tangent at (0, 0) is 0 and the equation of the tangent is given as: y − 0 = 0 (x − 0)

⇒ y = 0

The slope of the normal at (0, 0) is \(\frac{-1}{\text{slop of the tangent at}\,(0,0)}=\frac{-1}{0}\), which is not defined. 
Therefore, the equation of the normal at (x0, y0) = (0, 0) is given by 
x=x0=0


(v) The equation of the curve is x = cos t, y = sin t.

x=cost and y=sint

\(\therefore\frac{dx}{dt}\)=-sint,\(\frac{dy}{dt}\)=cost

=\(\therefore\frac{dy}{dx}\)=\(  \frac{(\frac{dy}{dt}  )}{  (\frac{dx}{dt}  )}\)=\(\frac{cost}{-sint}\)=-cot t

\((\frac{dy}{dt})  \bigg]_{t=\frac{π}{4}}\)=-cot t=-1

∴The slope of the tangent at t=\(\frac{π}{4}\) is-1.

When t=\(\frac{π}{4}\),x=\(\frac{1}{√2}\)and y=\(\frac{1}{√2}\)

Thus, the equation of the tangent to the given curve at t=\(\frac{π}{4}\) i.e., at [(\(\frac{1}{√2}\),\(\frac{1}{√2}\))] is

y-\(\frac{1}{√2}\) =-1(x-\(\frac{1}{√2}\)).

x+y-\(\frac{1}{√2}\)-\(\frac{1}{√2}\)=0

x+y-√2=0

The slope of the normal at t=\(\frac{π}{4}\) is \(\frac{-1}{\text{slop of the tangent at} t= \frac{π}{4}}\) =1.

Therefore, the equation of the normal to the given curve at t=\(\frac{π}{4}\) i.e., at[(\(\frac{1}{√2}\)\(\frac{1}{√2}\))] is

y-\(\frac{1}{√2}\)=1(x-\(\frac{1}{√2}\)).

⇒x=y

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Concepts Used:

Tangents and Normals

  • A tangent at a degree on the curve could be a straight line that touches the curve at that time and whose slope is up to the derivative of the curve at that point. From the definition, you'll be able to deduce the way to realize the equation of the tangent to the curve at any point.
  • Given a function y = f(x), the equation of the tangent for this curve at x = x0 
  • Slope of tangent (at x=x0) m=dy/dx||x=x0
  • A normal at a degree on the curve is a line that intersects the curve at that time and is perpendicular to the tangent at that point. If its slope is given by n, and also the slope of the tangent at that point or the value of the derivative at that point is given by m. then we got 

m×n = -1

  • The normal to a given curve y = f(x) at a point x = x0
  • The slope ‘n’ of the normal: As the normal is perpendicular to the tangent, we have: n=-1/m

Diagram Explaining Tangents and Normal: