APPLICATION OF DERIVATIVE

TANGENT & NORMAL

dy
Define : tan  =
dx P

(1) Equation of a tangent at P (x1, y1)

dy
y – y1 = ( x  x1 )
dx x1 , y1
(x1,y1)
P

(2) Equation of normal at (x1, y1)
1 dy 
y – y1 = – (x – x1) , if exists.
 dy  dx  x1 , y1
 
 dx  x1 , y1

dy
However in some cases fails to exist but still a tangent can be drawn e.g. case of vertical tangent.
dx

Note that the point (x1, y1) must lie on the equation of the curve, the tangent and normal.

Important notes to remember:

dy
(a) If = 0  tangent is parallel to x-axis and converse.
dx x1 , y1

dy a
If tangent is parallel to ax + by + c = 0  =–
dx b

dy dx
(b) If dx   or = 0  tangent is perpendicular to x-axis.
x1 , y1 dy x1 , y1

If tangent with a finite slope is perpendicular to ax + by + c = 0

dy  a
 dx ·    = – 1.
x1 , y1  b

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 (3) If the tangent at P (x1, y1) on the curve is equallyinclined
to the coordinate axes
dy
 = ± 1.
dx x1 , y1

(4) If the tangent makes equal non zero intercept on

dy
the coordinate axes then dx =–1
x1 , y1

dy
(5) If tangent cuts off from the coordinate axes equal distance from the origin  = ± 1.
dx

(6) OT is called the initial ordinate of the tangent

dy
Y–y= (X – x)
dx
put X = 0 to get
dy
 Y = OT = y – x (It is the y intercept of a tangent at P)
dx

(7) Concept: F(x)=f(x)·g(x) are such that f (x) is continuous at x = a and g(x) is differentiable at x = a with
g(a)=0 then the product function f(x)·g(x) is differentiable at x = a.

SOME COMMON PARAMETRIC COORDINATES ON A CURVE:

(a) for x 2 3  y 2 3  a 2 3 take parametric coordinate x = a cos3 & y = a sin3.

(b) for x  y  a take x = a cos4 & y = a sin4.
xn yn
(c) n
 n
 1 taken x = a (sin ) 2 n & y = b(sin ) 2 n .
a b
(d) for c2 (x2 + y2) = x2 y2 take x = c sec and y = c cosec.
(e) for y2 = x3, take x = t2 and y = t3.
(x1,y1) (x2,y2)
P Q
Note: The tangent at P meeting the curve again at Q.
t
dy y  y1
  2 T
dx P x 2  x1
O

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 ANGLE OF INTERSECTION OF TWO CURVES :
Definition :
The angle of intersection of two curves at a point P is defined as
the angle between the two tangents to the curve at their point of
intersection.

If the curves are orthogonal then

 dy1   dy 2 
   = – 1 everywhere whereever they intersect.
 dx   dx 

 dy1   dy 2   dy1   dy 2 
If     = – 1 but     –1
 dx  P  dx  P  dx  Q  dx Q
then the two curves are orthogonal at P but not at Q hence they are not orthogonal.
e.g. y2 = 4ax & y = e  x 2 a ; xy = a2 & x2 – y2 = b2 and y = ax & x2 + y2 = c2 are orthogonal
but y2 = 4ax and x2 = 4by are not orthogonal.
Note : If the curves touch at P(x1, y1) then  = 0 hence f '(x1) = g'(x1)

LENGTH OF TANGENT, NORMAL, SUBTANGENT AND SUBNORMAL:

(i) Tangent :
2
 dy 
y 1  
 dx 
PT = MP cosec  = y 1  cot 2  =
dy
dx

(ii) Subtangent : TM = MP cot  = y

dy dx 
2
2  dy 
(iii) Normal : GP = MP sec  = y 1  tan   y 1   
 dx 

 dy 
(iv) Subnormal : MG = MP tan y = y  
 dx 

APPROXIMATION AND DIFFERENTIALS :

For the figure it is clear that if x and y are
sufficientlysmall quantities then
y dy
= tan   = f ' (x)
x dx
Hence approximate change in the value of y, called its
differential is given by
y = f ' (x) ·x ....(1)

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