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ANGLE BETWEEN TWO CURVES

If two curves intersect at P then the angle between the tangents to the curves at P is called
the angle between the curves at P.

Angle between the curves:

Let y = f ( x ) and y = g ( x ) be two differentiable curves intersecting at a point P. Let
m1 = [ f ′( x )]P , m2 = [ g′( x )]P be the slopes of the tangents to the curves at P. If θ is the
m1 − m2
acute angle between the curves at P then tan θ =
1 + m1m2

Note 1: If m1 = m2 then θ = 0 . In this case the two curves touch each other at P. Hence the
curves have a common tangent and a common normal at P.

π
Note 2: If m1m2 = −1 then θ = . In this case the curves cut each other orthogonally at P.
2

1
Note 3: If m1 = 0 and =0 then the tangents to the curves are parallel to the coordinate axes.
m2
π
Therefore the angle between the curves is θ = .
2

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Exercise

I. Find the angle between the curves given below.

1. x + y + 2 = 0; x 2 + y 2 − 10y = 0

Sol: x + y + 2 = 0 ⇒ x = − ( y + 2 ) ---- (1)

Equation of the curve x 2 + y 2 − 10y = 0 -- (2)

Solving above equations, ( y + 2 )2 + y 2 − 10y = 0

⇒ y 2 + 4y + 4 + y 2 − 10y = 0

⇒ 2y 2 − 6y + 4 = 0

⇒ y 2 − 3y + 2 = 0 ⇒ ( y + 1)( y − 2 ) = 0
⇒ y = 1 or y = 2

x = − ( y + 2)

y = 1 ⇒ x = − (1 + 2 ) = −3

y = 2 ⇒ x = − ( 2 + 2 ) = −4

The points of intersection are P ( −3,1) and Q ( −4, 2 ) ,

Equation of the curve is x 2 + y 2 − 10y = 0

Differentiate x 2 + y 2 − 10y = 0 w.r.to x.

dy dy dy
= 0 ⇒ 2 ( y − 5 ) = −2x ⇒
dy x
⇒ 2x + 2y − 10 =−
dx dx dx dx y−5

Equation of the line is x + y + 2 = 0

Slope is m2 = -1.

Case (i):

dy −3 3
⇒ slope m1 = atP = − = − and Slope is m2 = -1.
dx 1− 5 4

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m1 − m2
Let θ be the angle between the curves, then tan θ =
1 + m1m2

3
− +1
1 −1  1 
= 4 = ⇒ θ = tan  
1+
3 7 7
4

Case (ii):

dy 4 4
⇒ slope m1 = atQ = − = − and Slope is m2 = -1.
dx 2−5 3

4
m − m2 − +1
1
⇒ tan θ = 1 = 3 =
1 + m1m2 4 7
1+
3

1
⇒ θ = tan −1  
7

2. y 2 = 4x and x 2 + y 2 = 5 .

Ans: Points of intersection of P (1, 2 ) and Q (1, −2 ) and θ = tan −1 ( 3)

3. x 2 + 3y = 3 and x 2 − y 2 + 25 = 0 .

 22 6 
Ans: θ = tan −1 
 69 
 

8
4. x2 = 2 ( y + 1) , y =
x +4
2

 16 + 2x + 8
2
 8
Sol: x 2 = 2  2 + 1 =
x +4  x2 + 4

( )
⇒ x 2 x 2 + 4 = 2x 2 + 24

⇒ x 4 + 4x 2 − 2x 2 − 24 = 0

⇒ x 2 + 2x 2 − 24 = 0
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( )( )
⇒ x 2 + 6 x 2 − 4 = 0 ⇒ x 2 = −6 or x 2 = 4

x 2 = −6 ⇒ x is not real

8 8 8
y= = = =1
x +4
2 4+4 8

∴ Points of intersection are P ( 2,1) and Q ( −2,1)

Equation of the first curve is x 2 = 2 ( y + 1)

dy dy
2x = 2. ⇒ =x
dx dx

dy
⇒ slope m1 = atP ( 2,1) = 2
dx

8
Equation of the second curve is y =
x2 + 4

dy 8 ( −1) 16x
= − 2x = −
( x2 + 4) ( x2 + 4)
dx 2 2

dy 16.2 32 1
⇒ slope m2 = atP ( 2,1) = = =
( 4 + 4 ) 64 2
2
dx

m1m2 = 2.-1/2 =-1

∴ The given curves cut orthogonally.

π
Therefore angle between them is θ =
2

π
Similarly, at Q ( −2,1) the angle between the curves is θ =
2

5. 2y 2 − 9x = 0, 3x 2 + 4y = 0 (In the 4th quadrant)

2
Sol: Given curves are 2y 2 − 9x = 0 ⇒ 9x = 2y 2 ⇒ x = y2 -
9

Second curve is 3x 2 + 4y = 0

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Solving above equations,

4 4
⇒ 3. y + 4y = 0
81

4y 4 + 108y
⇒ =0
27

(
⇒ 4y y3 + 27 = 0 )
y = 0 or y3 = −27 ⇒ y = −3

9x = 2y 2 = 2 × 9 ⇒ x = 2

Point of intersection in 4th quadrant is P ( 2, −3)

Equation of the first curve is 2y 2 = 9x

Differentiate w.r.t. x,

dy dy 9
4y =9⇒ =
dx dx 4y

dy 9 3
⇒ slope m1 = atP ( 2, −3) = =−
dx 4. − 3 4

Equation of the second curve is 3x 2 + 4y = 0

⇒ 4y = −3x 2 differentiate w.r.t x,

dy
⇒ 4. = −6x
dx

dy −6x −3x
⇒ = =
dx 4 2

dy −3.2
⇒ slope m2 = atP ( 2, −3) = = −3
dx 2

m1 − m2
If θ is the angle between the curves then tan θ =
1 + m1m2

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9
θ = tan −1   .
 13 

6. y 2 = 8x, 4x 2 + y 2 = 32

Ans: θ = tan −1 ( 3) ?

7. ( )
x 2 y = 4, y x 2 + 4 = 8 .

1
Points P ( 2,1) , Q ( −2,1) angle θ = tan −1  
 3

1 1
8. Show that the curves 6x 2 − 5x + 2y = 0 and 4x 2 + 8y 2 = 3 touch each other at  ,  .
 2 2

Sol: Equation of the first curve is 6x 2 − 5x + 2y = 0

dy dy 5 − 12x
⇒ 2y = 5x − 6x 2 ⇒ 2. = 5 − 12x ⇒ =
dx dx 2

1
5 − 12.
 dy 
m1 =   = 2 = 5−6 = − 1
 dx atP 1 , 1  2 2 2
2 2

Equation of the second curve is 4x 2 + 8y 2 = 3

⇒ dy = − 8x = − x
dy dy
⇒ 8x + 16y. =0 ⇒ 16y. = −8x
dx dx dx 16y 2y

1
−
 dy  2 =−1
m2 =   =
 dx atP 1 , 1  2  1  2
2 2  
2

∴ m1 = m2

1 1
The given curves touch each other at P  ,  .
 2 2

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PROBLEMS FOR PRACTICE

1. Find the slope of the tangent to the following curves at the points as indicated.

i. y = 5x 2 at ( −1, 5 ) ii. y = 1 − x 2 at ( 2, −3 )

1  1 x−1
iii. y = at  3,  iv. y= at ( 0, − 1 )
x−1  2 x+1

n n
π x y
v. x = a sec θ , y = a tan θ at θ = vi.  a  +  b  = 2 at ( a, b ) .
6    

2. Find the equations of the tangent the normal to the curve y = 5x4 at the point ( 1, 5 ) .

3. Find the equation of the tangent and the normal to the curve y 4 = ax 3 at ( a,a )

4. Find the equations of the tangent to the curve y = 3x 2 − x 3 , where it meets the

X-axis?

5. Find the points at which the curve y = sin x horizontal tangents. ?

Sol: y = sin x

dy
= cos x
dx
Y

ñ4x ñ3x ñ2x ñx 0 x 2x 3x 4x X

π
A tangent is horizontal if and arial its slope is cos x = 0 ⇒ x = ( 2n + 1) , n ∈ 2
2

Hence the given curve has horizontal tangents at points ( x 0 , y0 )

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π
⇔ x 0 = ( 2n + 1) and y 0 = ( − 1)n for same n ∈ z .
2

6. Verify whether the curve y = f ( x ) = x1/ 3 has a vertical tangent at the point with x = 0 .

Sol:
y

y = f(x)

f (0 + h ) − f (0) h1/ 3 1
Lt = Lt − Lt 2 / 3
h→0 h h →0 h h →0 h

1
Lt =α
h →0
(h )
1/ 3 2

The function has a verified tangent at the point whose x co-ordinate is 0.

7 Find whether the curve y = f ( x ) = x 2 / 3 has a vertical tangent at the point with

x = 0.

Sol:

f (0 + h ) − f (0) h 2 / 3
For h ≠ 0, we have =
h h

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1
Thus left handed be normal
1/ 3
as h → 0 is − α
h
While the right handed limit is α ,
1
Hence Lt does not exist. The vertical tangent does not exit.
h → 0 h1/ 3

At the point x = 0.

8. Show that the tangent of any point θ on the curve x = c sec θ , y = c tan θ is
y sin θ = x − c cos θ .

9. Show that the area of the triangle formed by the tangent at any point on the curve
xy = c ( c ≠ 0 ) with the coordinate axis is constant. ?
Sol: Observe that c ≠ 0
If c = 0 the equation xy = 0 represents the co-ordinate circle which is against the definite.
Let P ( x1 , y1 ) be a point on the curve xy = c
c dy c
y= = 1, =− 2
x dx x
Equation of the tangent at ( x1 , y1 ) is
c
y − y1 = − ( x − x1 )
x2
⇒ x 2 y − x12 y1 = −α + α1
⇒ α + x12 .y = x12 + α1 = α1 + α1 ( x1y1 = c ) = 2α1

xy = c
B

P (x1 , y 1 )

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α x 2 .y x y
+ 1 =1 ⇒ + =1
2α1 2α1 2x1  2c 
 
 x1 

1
Area of the triangle formed with co-ordinate axes = OA.OB
2

1  2c 
= ( 2x1 )   = 2c = constant .
2  x1 

n n
x y
10. Show that the equation of the tangent to the curve   +   = 2 ( a ≠ 0, b ≠ 0 ) at
a b

the point ( a,b ) is +

x y
= 2.
a b

n n
Sol: Equation of the curve is   +   = 2
x y
a b

Differentiating w.r.to x1 we get

n −1 n −1
x 1 y 1 dy
n  . + n  . . =0
a a b b dx

x −1
 n  a 
 −  
 dy 
=
a  a  b
⇒   x −1
=−
 dx ( a,b )  n  b  a
  
 b  b 

Equation of the tangent to the curve at the point ( a, b ) is

b y x x y
y−b = − (x − a) ⇒ −1 = − +1 ⇒ + =2
a b a a b

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n n
=1
 x  n −1  y  n −1
11. If the line x cos α + y sin xα = p touches the curve   +  then show
a b
that pn = ( a cos α ) + ( b sin α ) .
n n

12. If the normal at the curve ay 2 = x 3 ( a ≠ 0 ) at a point makes equal intercepts with the
co-ordinate axes, then find the x co-ordinate of the point

Sol: Let P ( x1, y1 ) be the point on the curve ay 2 = x 2

Differentiating w.r.to x

2
dy  dy  3x
2ay = = 3x 2 ⇒   = 1
dx  dx  2ay1

2ay1
Equation of the normal to the curve at a y − y1 = − ( x − x1 )
3x12

3x12 y − 3x12 y1 = −2ay1x + 2ax1y1

⇒ 2ay1x + 3x12 y = 2ax1y1 + 3x12 y1

x y
+ =1
 3x12 y1 + 2ax1y1   3x12 y1 + 2ax1y1 
   
 2ay1   3x12 

3x12 + 2ay1 3x12 y1 + 2ax1y1

Given =
2ay1 3x12

3x14 = 2ay1 ⇒ 9x14 = 4a 2 y12

But ay12 = x13

4a
∴ 9x14 = 4ax13 ⇒ x13 ( 9x1 − 4a ) = 0 ⇒ x1 = 0 ( or )
9

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 x
13. The tangent to the curve y 2 = 4a  x + a sin  ( a ≠ 0 ) at a point P on it is parallel to x-
 a
axis. Prove that all such points P lie on the curve y 2 = 4ax

 x
Sol: Equation the curve y 2 = 4a  x + a sin 
 a

Differentiating w.r.to x

dy  x dy 2a  x
2y. = 4a 1 + cos  ⇒ = 1 + cos 
dx  a dx y  a

P ( x1, y1 ) be a point o the curve at which the tangent parallel to x-axis.

∴ Slope of the tangent is zero

 dx  2a  x1 
⇒  P = 0 ⇒ 1 + cos  = 0
 dy  y a 

x1 x
1 + cos = 0 ⇒ cos 1 = −1
a a

x1
sin =0 --- (1)
a

 x
P ( x1, y 1 ) lies on the given curve y 2 = 4a  x + a sin 
 a

 x 
⇒ y12 = 4a  x1 + a sin 1  = 4ax1 + 0 by (1)
 a 

i.e., y12 = 4ax1

∴ P lies on the curve y 2 = 4ax

14. Show that the length of the sub-normal at any point of the curve y 2 = 4ax is a
constant.

15. Show that the length of the sub tangent at any point on the curve y = a x ( a > 0 ) is
constant a.

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16. Show that the square of the length of sub tangent at any point on the curve
by 2 = ( x + a ) ( b ≠ 0 ) varies as the square of the length of the sub-normal at that
2

point.

Length of the curve is by 2 = ( x + a )

2
Sol:
Differentiating w.r.to x
dy
= 3( x + a )
2
2by
dx
dy
L.N= length of the subnormal of any point p ( x, y ) = y.
dx

3( x + a ) 3( x + a )
2 2
= y. =
2by 2b

L.T=length of the sub tangent

2(x + a)
3
y 2by 2.by 2 2
= = y. = = = (x + a)
 dy  3( x + a ) 3( x + a ) 3( x + a )
2 2 2 3
 
 dx 

L.N 3 ( x + a )
2
9 27
= . =
4( x + a)
2 2
L.T 2b 8b

Square of the length of sub tangent at any point on the curve varies as the square
of the length of the sub-normal .at

17. Find the value of k, so that the length of the subnormal at any point on the curve
y = a1-k .xk is constant.

18. Show that at any point o the curve xm + n = am −n .y 2n ( a > 0,m + n ≠ 0 ) mth power of the
length of the sub tangent varies of the nth power of length of the sub-normal.

19. Find the angle between the curve xy = z and x 2 + 4y = 0 .

−x
20. Find the angle between the curve 2y = e2 and y-axis.

Sol: Equation of y-axis is x = 0

−x
 1
The point of intersection of the curve 2y =e 2 and x = 0 is P  0, 
 2

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−x
The angle ψ made by the tangent to the curve 2y =e 2 at P with x – axis is given by
−x
dy −1 −1
tan ψ =  1= e 2 =
dx  0,  4 4
 2  1
 0, 
 2

−x
Further, if φ is the angle between the y − axis and 2y = e2 , then we have
π 
tan φ = tan  − ψ  − cot ψ = 4
 2 

−1
∴ The angle between the curve and the y-axis is tan 4.

21. Show that the condition of the orthogonally of the curves ax 2 + by 2 = 1 and
1 1 1 1
a1x 2 + b1y 2 = 1 is − = − .
a b a1 b1

Sol: Let the curves ax 2 + by 2 = 1 and a1x 2 + b1y 2 = 1 intersect at p ( x1, y1 ) so that
ax12 + by12 = 1 and a1x12 + b1y12 = 1 , from which we get,

x12 y2 1
= 1 = --- (1)
b1 − b a 1 − a ab1 − a1b

Differentiating ax 2 + by 2 = 1 with respect to x, we bet dy = − ax

dx by

Hence, if m1 is the slope of the tangent at P ( x1 , y1 ) to the curve

−ax1
ax 2 + by2 = 1, m1 =
by1

−a1x1
Similarly, the slope ( m 2 ) of the tangent at P to a1x 2 + b1y 2 = 1 is given by m2 =
b1y1

Since the curves cut orthogonally we have m 1m 2 = − 1 .

aa1x12 x12 −bb1

i.e., = −1 or =− --- (2)
bb1y12 y12 aa 2

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Now from (1) and (2), the condition for the orthogonally of the given curves is
b1 − b bb1
=
a − a1 aa1

Or ( b − a ) a1b1 = ( b1 − a1 ) ab

1 1 1 1
Or − = −
a b a1 b1

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