Angle of Intersection of Two Curves

Definition:- The angle of intersection of two curves at a point of intersection is the

angle between the tangents to the curves at that point.
Consider two curves,
y = f(x) and y = g(x)
Let m1, m2 be the slopes of the tangent at P to y = f(x) and y = g(x)
respectively.
If , β be the angle that the tangents at P to y = f(x) and y = g(x) respectively
make with the x-axis, then
m1 = tanα = f’(x1)
m2 = tan β = g’(x1)
The angle θ, between the tangents is given by
m1  m2
tan  
1  m1m2
f '( x )  g '( x )
=
1  f '( x) g '( x)
 Note:- 1. The two curves cut each other orthogonally at (x1,y1) if f’(x1)g’(x1)=-1
2. The two curves touch each other at (x1,y1) if
f’(x1) = g’(x1)
LENGTH OF THE TANGENT, SUB-TANGENT, NORMAL
AND SUB-NORMAL AT ANY POINT OF A CURVE:
Let P(x,y) be any point on the curve y = f(x). Let the tangent and the normal to
the curve at P meet the x-axis at T and G respectively.
The length PT is called the length of the tangent at P and the length PG is called
the length of the normal at P. TM, the projection of the tangent on the x-axis, is
called length of the sub-tangent, and MG, the projection of the normal on the x-
axis is called the length of the sub-normal.
 dy
tan  , where   MPG
dx
From the figure 6.1,
(i) Length of the tangent:-
TP  MP cos ec = y  1  cot  
2

  dy 2 
= y 1    
  dx  

(ii) Length of the Sub-tangent:-

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

(iv) Length of Sub-normal:-

 MG  MP tan
dy
 y
dx
Example 1:- Find the angle of intersection of the cordioides
r = a (1+cosθ), r = b(1-cosθ)
Solution :- Let P(r1, θ1) be a point of intersection.
Let ø1, ø2 be the angles which OP makes with the two tangents to the two
curves at P.
For the curve, r = a (1+cosθ), we have
dr/dθ = -asinθ
d a (1  cos  )
 r 
dr a sin 
2 cos 2 
= 2   cot 
2sin  .cos  2
2 2
 
 tan = tan(  )
2 2
  
 = 
2 2
 1
Hence, 1  
2 2
For the curve, r=b(1-cos ), we have
dr
 b sin 
d
d
 tan = r
dr
b(1  cos  )
=
b sin 

= tan
2
 
 =
2
1
Hence, 2 
2
Therefore, 1   2   and hence the curves cut each other
2
at right angles.