Tangent and Normal

Tangent:

In geometry, the tangent line (or simply the tangent) to a plane curve at a given
point is the straight line that “just touches” the curve at that point.

Q
T

If 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) is a curve and P is any point on it, PQ is any intersecting straight

line and PT any straight line on the limiting point of PQ, when 𝑄 → 𝑃 , then PT

is called the tangent line on P.

Equation of Tangent:

Let, 𝑃(𝑥, 𝑦) and 𝑄(𝑥 + ∆𝑥, 𝑦 + ∆𝑦) be two point on the explicit curve 𝑦 =

𝑓(𝑥).
 𝑄(𝑥 + ∆𝑥, 𝑦 + ∆𝑦)

∆𝑦

T
𝑃(𝑥, 𝑦)

∆𝑥

𝑦 +∆𝑦 −𝑦 ∆𝑦
Slope of the chord PQ, = =
𝑥+∆𝑥−𝑥 ∆𝑥

∆𝑦
Equation of Chord PQ, 𝑌 − 𝑦 = (𝑋 − 𝑥)
∆𝑥

Now when 𝑄 → 𝑃 then ∆𝑥 → 0 and the limiting position of PQ is PT, which is

the tangent at P.

So, the equation of tangent at P(x, y)

∆𝑦
𝑌 − 𝑦 = lim∆𝑥→0 𝑋−𝑥
∆𝑥

𝑑𝑦
⇒𝑌−𝑦= 𝑋−𝑥
𝑑𝑥

𝑵𝒐𝒕𝒆:

1. If 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) is a explicit function then the equation of tangent at the point

𝑥1 , 𝑦1 , where 𝑥, 𝑦 are current point

𝑑𝑦 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 0
𝑌−𝑦 = 𝑋−𝑥
𝑑𝑥 𝑥 1 ,𝑦 1 𝜕𝑓 𝜕𝑓
⇒ 𝜕𝑥 𝑑𝑥 + 𝜕𝑦 𝑑𝑦 = 0
𝑑𝑦 𝑓𝑥
2. If 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 0 is an implicit function, then =− ⇒
𝑑𝑦 𝑓
= − 𝑓𝑥
𝑑𝑥 𝑓𝑦
𝑑𝑥 𝑦
The equation of tangent at the point 𝑥, 𝑦 is given by,

𝑋 − 𝑥 𝑓𝑥 + 𝑌 − 𝑦 𝑓𝑦 = 0
3. If 𝑥 = 𝜙 𝑡 , 𝑦 = 𝜓(𝑡) are parametric equation, then
𝑑𝑦
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑡 𝜓 ′ (𝑡)
= =
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝜙 ′ (𝑡)
𝑑𝑡
𝑆𝑜, 𝑡𝑕𝑒 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑎𝑡 𝑡𝑕𝑒 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡 (𝑥, 𝑦) is given by,
𝜓 ′ (𝑡)
𝑌−𝜓 𝑡 = 𝑋 − 𝜙(𝑡)
𝜙 ′ (𝑡)

⇒ 𝑌 − 𝜓 𝑡 𝜙 ′ 𝑡 = 𝑋 − 𝜙 𝑡 𝜓 ′ (𝑡)

𝒅𝒚
Geometrical meaning of :
𝒅𝒙

The equation of tangent is,

𝑑𝑦
𝑌−𝑦 = (𝑋 − 𝑥)
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
⇒𝑌= 𝑋+ 𝑦−𝑥
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

𝑃(𝑥, 𝑦)

𝜓
X
0 Type equation here.
T
Which being of the form 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑐,the standard equation of a straight line.
𝑑𝑦
We conclude that is the ′𝑚′ of the tangent at 𝑥, 𝑦 .
𝑑𝑥

Let, 𝜓 be the angle which is make with the positive direction of the x-axis of
tangent at P.then,
𝑑𝑦
tan 𝜓 = 𝑚 =
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
Hence the derivative at (𝑥, 𝑦) is equal to the trigonometrical tangent of the
𝑑𝑥
angle which is the tangent to the curve at (𝑥, 𝑦) makes with the positive
direction of x-axis.

Example 01: Show that the equation of the tangent to the circle 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 𝑎2 at
𝑥1 , 𝑦1 is 𝑥𝑥1 + 𝑦𝑦1 = 𝑎2 .

Solution: Given the equation, 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 𝑎2 …………………………….(1)

Let, the equation of tangent at the point 𝑥1 , 𝑦1 is,

𝑦 − 𝑦1 = 𝑚 𝑥 − 𝑥1 ……………………………………………………..(2)

𝑑𝑦
𝑤𝑕𝑒𝑟𝑒, 𝑚 =
𝑑𝑥 𝑥 1 ,𝑦 1

Now, differentiating (1) w.r.to x, we get,

2𝑥 + 2𝑦𝑦 ′ = 0

𝑑𝑦 𝑥
⇒ =−
𝑑𝑥 𝑦
 𝑑𝑦 𝑥1
=− ……………………………………………..(3)
𝑑𝑥 𝑥 1 ,𝑦 1 𝑦1

𝑥1
𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 (2), 𝑦 − 𝑦1 = − 𝑥 − 𝑥1
𝑦1

⇒ 𝑦𝑦1 − 𝑦12 = − 𝑥𝑥1 − 𝑥12

⇒ 𝑥𝑥1 + 𝑦𝑦1 = 𝑥12 + 𝑦12 ……………………………………..(4)

𝑆𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑒 , 𝑥1 , 𝑦1 lie on 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 = 𝑎2 , then 𝑥12 + 𝑦12 = 𝑎2 ……………………(5)

𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 (4) and (5) we get, 𝑥𝑥1 + 𝑦𝑦1 = 𝑎2

𝑤𝑕𝑖𝑐𝑕 𝑖𝑠 𝑡𝑕𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑡.

𝑥𝑚 𝑦𝑚
𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒎 𝟎𝟐: Find the equation of tangent to the curve + = 1 at (𝑥, 𝑦).
𝑎𝑚 𝑏𝑚

𝑥𝑚 𝑦𝑚
Solution: Given equation, + =1
𝑎𝑚 𝑏𝑚

𝑥𝑚 𝑦𝑚
Let, 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = + −1=0
𝑎𝑚 𝑏𝑚

𝜕𝑓 𝑚 𝑥 𝑚 −1
∴ 𝑓𝑥 = =
𝜕𝑥 𝑎𝑚

𝜕𝑓 𝑚 𝑦 𝑚 −1
And , 𝑓𝑦 = =
𝜕𝑦 𝑏𝑚

Equation of tangent at (𝑥, 𝑦)

𝑋 − 𝑥 𝑓𝑥 + 𝑌 − 𝑦 𝑓𝑦 = 0
𝑚 𝑥 𝑚 −1 𝑚 𝑥 𝑚 −1
⇒ 𝑋−𝑥 + 𝑌−𝑦 =0
𝑎𝑚 𝑎𝑚
𝑥 𝑚 −1 𝑦 𝑚 −1 𝑥𝑚 𝑦𝑚
⇒ 𝑋+ 𝑌= +
𝑎𝑚 𝑏𝑚 𝑎𝑚 𝑏𝑚
𝑥 𝑚 −1 𝑦 𝑚 −1
⟹ 𝑋+ 𝑌=1
𝑎 𝑚 −1 𝑎 𝑏 𝑚 −1
Which is the required equation of tangent.

Normal: The line perpendicular to the tangent line to a curve at the point of
tangency is called the normal line to the curve at that point. The slope of
perpendicular lines have product -1, so if the equation of the curve is, 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥)
1
then slope of the normal line is, − 𝑑𝑦 .
𝑑𝑥

And it follows that the equation of normal line is,

𝑑𝑦
𝑋−𝑥 + 𝑌−𝑦 =0
𝑑𝑥

Similarly, if the equation of the curve 𝑓 𝑥, 𝑦 = 0, then the equation of the normal
line is given by

𝑋 − 𝑥 𝑓𝑦 − 𝑌 − 𝑦 𝑓𝑥 = 0

𝑋−𝑥 𝑌−𝑦
⇒ =
𝑓𝑥 𝑓𝑦

N
Normal
NormalL
T
P
N
Tangent

P
Subtangent and Sub-normal in Cartesian:

Let, P(x, y) be any point on the curve 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥). Now PT is the tangent and PN

is the normal at the point P, which cut the X-axis at T and N respectively. Again

draw perpendicular PM at the point P, which cut the X- axis at M.

Then the projection TM of the tangent PT along X- axis is called the subtangent

and the projection MN of the normal PN is called the subnormal. If 𝜓 is the

angle with tangent PT along X-axis, then ∟𝑃𝑇𝑀 = ∟𝑀𝑃𝑁 = 𝜓.

𝑃(𝑥, 𝑦)

𝜓
X
T M N

𝑇𝑀
Now, Subtangent TM: = cot 𝜓
𝑃𝑀

⇒ 𝑇𝑀 = 𝑃𝑀 cot 𝜓

𝑃𝑀 𝑦 𝑦
= = 𝑑𝑦 =
tan 𝜓 𝑦1
𝑑𝑥
 𝑀𝑁
𝑺𝒖𝒃𝒏𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒍 𝑀𝑁: = tan 𝜓
𝑃𝑀

⇒ 𝑀𝑁 = 𝑃𝑀 tan 𝜓

𝑑𝑦
⇒ 𝑀𝑁 = 𝑦 = 𝑦𝑦1
𝑑𝑥

𝑳𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒕: 𝑃𝑇 = 𝑃𝑀2 + 𝑇𝑀2

𝑦 2
= 𝑦2 +
𝑦1

𝑦
= 1 + 𝑦12
𝑦1

𝑳𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝒏𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒍: 𝑃𝑁 = 𝑃𝑀2 + 𝑀𝑁 2

= 𝑦 2 + 𝑦𝑦1 2

= 𝑦 1 + 𝑦12

# Derivation of Arc length

𝑬𝒙𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒔:

𝑥 𝑛 𝑦 𝑛
𝑬𝒙𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝟎𝟏: Show that the equation of normal to the curve + =2
𝑎 𝑏
𝑥−𝑎 𝑦−𝑏
at the point (a, b) is = .
𝑏 𝑎

𝑥 𝑛 𝑦 𝑛
𝑺𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏: Given curve, + =2
𝑎 𝑏

𝑥 𝑛 −1 1 𝑦 𝑛−1 1
∴𝑛 ∙ +𝑛 ∙ ∙ 𝑦1 = 0
𝑎 𝑎 𝑏 𝑏
 𝑥 𝑛 −1
𝑑𝑦 𝑏
⇒ = − 𝑎𝑦 𝑛 −1
𝑑𝑥 𝑎
𝑏

𝑎 𝑛−1
𝑑𝑦 𝑏 𝑎 𝑏
⇒ =− 𝑏 =−
𝑑𝑥 𝑎 ,𝑏 𝑎 𝑎
𝑏

𝑆𝑜, 𝑡𝑕𝑒 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑛𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑡 (𝑎, 𝑏)

1
𝑌−𝑦 =− 𝑋−𝑥
𝑚

𝑎
⇒𝑦−𝑏 = 𝑥−𝑎
𝑏

𝑥−𝑎 𝑦−𝑏
⇒ =
𝑏 𝑎

𝑬𝒙𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝟎𝟐: Find the subtangent, subnormal, length of tangent and length of
normal to the curve, 𝑥 = 𝑎 𝑡 + sin 𝑡 , 𝑦 = 𝑎 1 − cos 𝑡 .

𝑺𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏: Given the curve,

, 𝑥 = 𝑎 𝑡 + sin 𝑡 , 𝑦 = 𝑎 1 − cos 𝑡

Now,

𝑑𝑥
Now, = 𝑎 1 + cos 𝑡
𝑑𝑡

𝑑𝑦
= 𝑎 sin 𝑡
𝑑𝑡

𝑡 𝑡
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑡 𝑎 sin 𝑡 2 sin ∙ cos
𝑁𝑜𝑤, = 𝑦1 = ∙ = = 2 2 = tan 𝑡
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑡 𝑑𝑥 𝑎(1 + cos 𝑡) 𝑡 2
2𝑐𝑜𝑠 2
2
𝑡
𝑦 𝑎 1−cos 𝑡 2𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛 2
2
Now, subtangent, = 𝑡 = 𝑡 = 𝑎 sin 𝑡
𝑦1 tan tan
2 2
 𝑡 𝑡 𝑡
Subnormal, 𝑦𝑦1 = 𝑎 1 − cos 𝑡 ∙ tan = 2𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛2 ∙ tan
2 2 2

𝑦 𝑡 𝑡
Length of tangent, = 1 + 𝑦12 = 𝑎 sin 𝑡 1 + 𝑡𝑎𝑛2 = 2𝑎 ∙ sin
𝑦1 2 2

𝑡 𝑡 𝑡 𝑡
Length of normal, = 𝑦 1 + 𝑦12 = 2𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑛2 . sec = 2𝑎 sin ∙ tan
2 2 2 2

Problem03 : Find the equation of tangent to the curve 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 1 at the

point (1,4).

Problem 04: Find the equation of tangent and normal to the curve 𝑦 𝑥 −
2 𝑥 − 3 − 𝑥 + 7 = 0 at the point of x-interception.

Solution;

Given, 𝑦 𝑥 − 2 𝑥 − 3 − 𝑥 + 7 = 0 ……………….(10

At the x- axis, 𝑦 = 0

∴ 1 ⇒𝑥=7

∴ cut x axis at 7, 0

𝑁𝑜𝑤, 𝑤𝑒 𝑕𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑡𝑕𝑒 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑛𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑡 (7, 0)

Differentiating (1) w.r.to x,

𝑑𝑦
𝑥−2 𝑥−3 +𝑦 𝑥−3 +𝑦 𝑥−2 −1=0
𝑑𝑥

𝑑𝑦
𝑎𝑡 , 7, 0 , ∙ 20 − 1 = 0
𝑑𝑥 7,0

𝑑𝑦 1
⇒ =
𝑑𝑥 7,0 20
 1
𝑡𝑕𝑒 𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑕𝑒 𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑎𝑡 (7,0), 𝑚1 =
20

𝑡𝑕𝑒 𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑛𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑡 7, 0 = 𝑚2 = −20

Now, the equation of tangent at (7,0)

𝑦 − 0 = 𝑚1 (𝑥 − 7)

1
⇒𝑦= (𝑥 − 7)
20

⇒ 𝑥 − 20𝑦 = 7

⇒ 𝑥 − 20𝑦 − 7 = 0

𝑁𝑜𝑤, 𝑡𝑕𝑒 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑛𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑡 (7,0)

𝑦 − 0 = 𝑚2 (𝑥 − 7)

⇒ 𝑦 − 0 = −20(𝑥 − 7)

⇒ 20𝑥 + 𝑦 − 140 = 0