MATH 200

WEEK 6 - MONDAY

TANGENT PLANES
MATH 200

GOALS
▸ Be able to compute an equation of the tangent plane at a point on the
surface z = f(x,y).

▸ Given an implicitly defined level surface F(x,y,z) = k, be able to compute

an equation of the tangent plane at a point on the surface.

▸ Know how to compute the parametric equations (or vector equation) for
the normal line to a surface at a specified point.

▸ Be able to use gradients to find tangent lines to the intersection curve of

two surfaces.

▸ And, be able to find (acute) angles between tangent planes and other
planes.
MATH 200

WHAT WE KNOW
▸ In the last section we saw that
the gradient at a point is
normal to the level curve
through that point

▸ By extension, the gradient of

a function of three variables,
F(x,y,z), is normal to the level
surface through a given point

▸ We need two things for a plane:

(1) a point on the plane and
(2) a vector normal to the
plane
MATH 200

EXAMPLE
▸ Consider the surface S: z = y2 - x2 (saddle). Let’s find the
tangent plane to S at A(1,2,3).

▸ We can treat the surface as the level surface of a

function of three variables

▸ If F(x,y,z) = y2 - x2 - z, then S is the level surface F = 0:

▸ Check: 0 = y2 - x2 - z —> z = y2 - x2

▸ Now find the gradient of F at A

MATH 200

F (x, y, z) = 2x, 2y, 1 F (1, 2, 3) = 2, 4, 1

▸ We’ll use the gradient vector as our normal vector for the
tangent plane…
2(x 1) + 4(y 2) (z 3) = 0
2x + 4y z=3
MATH 200

YOU TRY
▸ Find the tangent plane to the ellipsoid E: x2 + y2 + 2z2 = 4
at A(1,-1,1)
 MATH 200

▸ First we treat the surface as the level surface of some

function of three variables:

▸ x2 + y2 + 2z2 = 4

▸ Let F(x,y,z) = x2 + y2 + 2z2

▸ Then the surface E is the level surface F = 4

▸ Find the gradient of F at A

F (x, y, z) = 2x, 2y, 4z
F (1, 1, 1) = 2, 2, 4
▸ Tangent Plane:

▸ 2(x-1) - 2(y+1) + 4(z-1) = 0 or 2x - 2y + 4z = 8

MATH 200

NORMAL LINES
▸ We can easily find normal lines to surfaces using the same
basic steps:

▸ Treat the surface as a level surface

▸ Compute the gradient of F(x,y,z) at the desired point

▸ Use the gradient as the direction vector

MATH 200

▸ E.g. For S: z = y2 - x2 at ⎧
A(1,2,3) we had ⎪
⎨x = 1 − 2t
l : y = 2 + 4t
F (x, y, z) = y 2
x 2
z ⎪
⎩
z =3−t
F (x, y, z) = 2x, 2y, 1

F (1, 2, 3) = 2, 4, 1

▸ So, using <-2,4,-1> as the

direction vector for the
normal line…
MATH 200

ONE MORE EXAMPLE BEFORE MOVING ON

▸ Consider the function f(x,y) = 2xy - xy2

▸ Find the tangent plane to the surface at (-1,-1)

▸ Find the normal line to the surface at (-1,-1)

 MATH 200

▸ First, we rewrite the surface ▸ f(-1,-1) = 3 so the point we

as the level surface of some care about it (-1,-1,3)
function of three variables: −→
∇F (−1, −1, 3) = ⟨−3, −4, −1⟩
▸ f(x,y) = 2xy - xy2
▸ Plane:
▸ z = 2xy - xy2 −3(x + 1) − 4(y + 1) − (z − 3) = 0

▸ 0 = 2xy - xy2 - z 3x + 4y + z = −4

▸ F(x,y,z) = 2xy - xy2 - z ▸ Normal line:

⎧
▸ Now we can compute the ⎪
⎨x = −1 − 3t
gradient of F l : y = −1 − 4t
⎪
⎩
−
→
∇F (x, y, z) = ⟨2y − y 2 , 2x − 2xy, −1⟩
z =3−t
MATH 200
MATH 200

GENERALIZING SOME
▸ Consider any function of two variables, f(x,y).

▸ To find the tangent plane at (x0,y0), we should treat the

surface z = f(x,y) as a level surface of some function of three
variables:

▸ z = f(x,y) can be written as 0 = f(x,y) - z

▸ F(x,y,z) = f(x,y) - z

▸ Notice that Fx = fx, Fy = fy, and Fz = -1

−
→
▸ So, ∇F = ⟨fx , fy , −1⟩

▸ And this will be the case for any function of two variables!
MATH 200

▸ We can use this to write a general formula for the tangent

plane to f(x,y) at (x0,y0):

fx (x0 , y0 )(x − x0 ) + fy (x0 , y0 )(y − y0 ) − (z − z0 ) = 0

▸ Solve for z:
z = fx (x0 , y0 )(x − x0 ) + fy (x0 , y0 )(y − y0 ) + z0

▸ Since z0 = f(x0,y0),

z = fx (x0 , y0 )(x − x0 ) + fy (x0 , y0 )(y − y0 ) + f (x0 , y0 )

MATH 200

FOR EXAMPLE
▸ We looked at f(x,y) = 2xy - xy2 at (-1,-1)

▸ Let’s use this newly derived formula:

▸ fx = 2y - y2; fy = 2x - 2xy

▸ fx(-1,-1) = -3 and fy(-1,-1) = -4

▸ f(-1,-1) = 3

▸ So the plane is

▸ z = -3(x+1) - 4(y+1) + 3

▸ z = -3x - 4y - 4
MATH 200

AN APPLICATION
▸ Consider two surfaces:

▸ The cylinder y2 + z2 = 5
and the plane y = x - 1

▸ The point (2,1,2) is on the

intersection of these two
surfaces

▸ Q: How can we find the

line tangent to the
intersection of these two
surfaces?
MATH 200

▸ We know how to find the tangent planes to the surfaces

at the given point

▸ The line tangent to the intersection is the line of

intersection of the two tangent planes

▸ We’ve already done this type of problem!

▸ To get a vector parallel to the intersection of the two

planes, we just need to cross their normal vectors

▸ Let’s find the normal vectors to the surfaces at the point

A(2,1,2) and cross them.
MATH 200

▸ For y2 + z2 = 5, let’s define ▸ Cross the normals:

F(x,y,z) = y2 + z2 v = 0, 2, 4 1, 1, 0
▸ For y = x - 1, let’s write it as î ĵ k̂
x - y = 1 and then define = 0 2 4
G(x,y,z) = x - y 1 1 0
−
→ = 4, 4, 2
∇F = ⟨0, 2y, 2z⟩
▸ The line tangent to the
−
→ intersection is
∇G = ⟨1, −1, 0⟩
−
→ x = 2 + 4t
∇F (2, 1, 2) = ⟨0, 2, 4⟩
−
→
l: y = 1 + 4t
∇G(2, 1, 2) = ⟨1, −1, 0⟩
z = 2 2t
MATH 200
MATH 200

▸ We can also find the angle 0, 2, 4 · 1, 1, 0

= arccos
between the tangent || 0, 2, 4 || || 1, 1, 0 ||
planes to these two 2
= arccos
surfaces 20 2
2
= arccos
▸ The angle between the 40
planes is the angle 2
= arccos
between their normal 2 10
vectors 1
= arccos
10
▸ The normal vectors
▸ If we want the acute
are the gradients
angle…
1
acute = arccos
10
MATH 200

A TRICKY PROBLEM
▸ Consider the ellipsoid
E: 2x2 + y2 + 3z2 = 72

▸ And also the plane

P: 4x+4y-12z=-100

▸ Find all of the points

on the ellipsoid
where the tangent
plane to E is parallel
to the plane P
MATH 200

▸ Treat both the plane and the ellipsoid as level surfaces:

▸ F(x,y,z) = 2x2 + y2 + 3z2

▸ G(x,y,z) = 4x+4y-12z

▸ If the tangent planes are parallel (the plane is its own

tangent plane of course), then their gradients are scalar
multiples:

F =k G
x=k
4x, 2y, 6z = k 4, 4, 12

SETTING THE 4x = 4k
y = 2k
X, Y, AND Z
COMPONENTS 2y = 4k z = 2k
EQUAL 6z = 12k
MATH 200

▸ What we’re looking for is any point on the ellipsoid of the

form (k, 2k, -2k)

▸ 2x2 + y2 + 3z2 = 72

▸ 2(k)2 + (2k)2 + 3(-2k)2 = 72

▸ 2k2 + 4k2 + 12k2 = 72

▸ 18k2 = 72

▸ k2 = 4

▸ k = -2 or +2

▸ So there are two points on the ellipsoid where the tangent

plane is parallel to 4x+4y-12z=-100: (-2, -4, 4) and (2, 4, -4)
 MATH 200

▸ Testing our answers:

F (x, y, z)) = 4x, 2y, 6z
F ( 2, 4, 4) = 8, 8, 24
F (2, 4, 4) = 8, 8, 24

▸ Planes:
P1 : 8(x + 2) 8(y + 4) + 24(z 4) = 0
P2 : 8(x 2) + 8(y 4) 24(z + 4) = 0

▸ Or (better yet):
P1 : x + y 3z = 18
P2 : x + y 3z = 18