Tangent, Normal and curvature

Course Instructor:
Dr. Md. Abul Kalam Azad
Assistant Professor of Mathematics
Department of Natural Sciences, IUT

January 31, 2024 1

 Tangent and Normal:
Y

Q( +  ,  +  )
y = f ( x)
P( ,  )



X
O T M N

Here, PT is a Tangent
TM is a Sub Tangent
PN is a Normal
MN
January 31, 2024 is a Sub Normal 2
 Let P be a given point on a curve y = f(x) and Q be another point on it
and let the point Q moves along the curve nearer and nearer to the point
P then the limiting position of the secant PQ provided limit exists, when
Q moves up to and ultimately coincide with P, is called the tangent to
the curve at the point P. The line through the point P perpendicular to
the tangent is called the normal to the curve at the point P.

The equation of the tangent at P( ,  ) on the curve, y=f(x) is,

dy
y −  = (x −  )
dx
The equation of the normal at P( ,  ) on the curve, y=f(x) is

−1
y− = (x −  )
dy
January 31, 2024
dx 3
 Now draw PM perpendicular on x-axis. The projection TM of the
tangent PT on the x-axis, called the sub tangent.

While the projection, MN of the normal PN on the x-axis is called

sub normal.

Formula:
(i) Length of the sub tangent,
TM = MP cot
1
=
tan
1
=
dy / dx

=
January 31, 2024
y1 4
 (ii) Length of the sub-normal, MN = PM tan
dy
=
dx
=  y1

(iii) Length of the tangent, PT = (1 + y12 )
y1

(iv) Length of the normal, PN =  (1 + y12 )

January 31, 2024 5

 Find the equation of the tangent and normal to the curve of
f ( x) = x 2 + x − 6 at the point x = 1. Hence calculate the
length of the tangent, sub-tangent, normal, and sub-normal.
Solution:
Given, y = f ( x) = x 2 + x − 6 → (i)
At x = 1, y = 12 + x − 6 = −4.
We have to find the of the tangent and also normal at the point (1, -4).
Differentiating (1) w.r. to x, we get

dy
= 2x + 1 + 0
dx
dy
 At x = 1, x =1 = 2 1 + 1 = 3
dx

January 31, 2024 6

 dy
The of the tangent of (1, -4) is, y −  = (x −  )
dx
 y − (−4) = 3( x − 1)
 y + 4 = 3x − 3
 3x − y − 7 = 0
 3x − y − 7 = 0

And, the equation of normal is as follows: 1

y− =− (x −  )
dy
dx
1
 y − (−4) = − ( x − 1)
3
 3( y + 4) = − x + 1
 x + 3 y + 11 = 0
January 31, 2024  x + 3 y + 11 = 0 7



Length of the sub tangent is: =
y1

−4 4
= =
3 3

Length of the sub normal =  y1

= − 43
= − 12
= 12.

January 31, 2024 8

Question#02: Prove that the tangent of the curve, x2/3 + y2/3 = a2/3 cuts off
intercepts a2/3 x1/3 and a2/3 y1/3 respectively from the coordinate and hence
show that the tangent intercepted between the coordinate axis is of constant
length. y
Solution:
Q
(0, a 2/3 1/3
y )
P x
( 0,0 ) (a 2/3 1/3
x ,0 )
Given, x2/3 + y2/3 = a2/3 ... ... ... (i )

January 31, 2024 9

 Differentiating (i) w. r. to x, we have x 2/3
+ y 2/3
= a 2/3
... ... ... (i )

1 1
2 − 2 − dy
x 3 + y 3 =0
3 3 dx
1 1
− dy −
y 3 = −x 3
dx
1
−
dy x 3
 =− 1
dx −
y 3
1
dy y3
 =− 1
dx
x3
January 31, 2024 10
 Thus, the equation of the tangent at (x, y) is,
 dy 
Y − y =  ( X − x)
 dx 
 y1/3 
 Y − y =  − 1/3  ( X − x )
 x 
1 1 1 1
 x 3Y − yx 3 = − y3 X + xy 3
1 1 1 1
 y3 X + x 3Y = x3 y + xy 3
1 1 2 2 
= x3 y3  y 3 + x3 
 
 
1 1 2
= x3 y3a 3
January 31, 2024 11
 1 1 1 1 2
 y3 X + x 3Y = x3 y3a 3
1 1
y3 X x 3Y
 1 1 2
+ 1 1 2
=1
x3 y3a 3 x3 y3a 3
X Y
 1 2
+ 1 2
=1
x3a 3 y3a3
When the tangent cuts x-axis at the point P where Y = 0:
1 2
X= x3a 3
1 2
 OP = x3a 3
1 2
Similarly, OQ = y3a3
January 31, 2024 12
 Now,
PQ2 = OP 2 + OQ2
2 2
 1 2   1 2 
=  x3a 3  +  y3a3 
   
   
2 4 2 4
= x3a3 + y3a3
4  2 2
= a3  x3 + y3 
 
 
4 2 6
= a3  a3  = a3
 
 
= a2 Which is constant
January 31, 2024 13
 Formulae: (Polar System)

Length of the sub tangent : r2

=
r1

Length of the sub normal : = r1

Length of the Tangent : =

r 2
r1
r + r12

= r +r 2 2
Length of the Normal : 1

January 31, 2024 14

Question # 03:Compute the length of the polar
sub tangent, sub normal, tangent and also
normal, of the curve = 4 cos at  = 6 .
r 2

Solution: Given,
r 2 = 4 cos → (i)
 
At, =
6 r = 4 cos
2

6
3
 r = 4
2

2
 r2 = 2 3
r = 2 3

January 31, 2024 15

 Differentiating (i) w. r. to
 , we get 2r
dr
= 4(− sin  )
d
dr
r = −2Sin
d
At,  =  dr 
r = −2  sin
6 d 6
dr 1
r = −2 
d 2
dr
r = −1
d
dr 1
 =−
d r
1
 r1 = −
January 31, 2024 16
2 3
 r2
Therefore, the length of the sub tangent is: =
r1
2 3
=
1
2 3
1
(
= 2 3 2 3 ) 2

= 2 64 3
1
Length of the subnormal , r1 =
2 3
r 2
Length of the tangent , r + r12 = 26 3
r1

Length of the normal, 13

r 2
+ r12 =
2 3
January 31, 2024 17
 Angle between tangent and radius vector
y

P(r,θ)
ϕ
r
θ ψ
x

From the figure:

 =  +
tan  + tan 
tan = tan ( +  ) = ...............(i)
1 − tan .tan 

January 31, 2024 18

 Angle between tangent and radius vector
Let, (x, y) is a cartesian coordinates of P
x = r cos , y = r sin 
dy dy d d ( r sin  ) d ( r cos )
tan = = . = /
dx d dx d d
dr
sin 
r cos
+ d
dr dr dr
r cos + sin  cos cos
= d = d d 
dr dr
−r sin  + cos cos
d −r sin  d
+
dr dr
cos cos
d d
r
+ tan 
dr
 tan = d ..............................(ii)
−r tan 
1−
dr
d
January 31, 2024 19
 Angle between tangent and radius vector
Now, comparing equation (i) and (ii)
r d 1 dr
tan  = = r , Or ,cot  =
dr dr r d
d

January 31, 2024 20

 Pedal equation
Definition: Pedal equation of a curve C and given fixed
point O is the relation between r and p, where r is the
distance if point O to a point on the curve C and p is the
perpendicular distance of O from the tangent line drawn at
that point.

p = r sin 

January 31, 2024 21

 Pedal equation
Let us take the origin at the point about which the pedal
equation is to be obtained and let f(x,y)=0 be the equation of
the curve.
The tangent at (x,y) is Xfx+Yfy-(xfx+yfy)=0
p = r sin 
If p be the perpendicular
From the origin on it then
( xf + yf y )
2

p2 =
x
.............(i)
fx + f y
2 2

r 2 = x 2 + y 2 .....................(ii)
f ( x, y) = 0.......................(iii)

If x and y be eliminated
from equ.(i), (ii) and (iii) the required pedal equation is
obtained. 22
January 31, 2024
 Pedal equation
Similarly, Let us take the origin at the point about which the
pedal equation is to be obtained and let f(r,θ)=0 be the
equation of the curve. P be the perpendicular from the origin
on the tangent at (r,θ), then p = r sin 

f ( r , ) = 0......................(i)
rd
tan  = .....................(ii)
dr
p = r sin .......................(iii)

If ϕ and θ be eliminated
from equ.(i), (ii) and (iii) the required pedal equation is
obtained.
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January 31, 2024
 Pedal equation
Example 1: Find the pedal equations of the curves
(i ) y 2 = 4a ( x + a )
x2 y 2
(ii ) 2 + 2 = 1
a b
(iii ) a2 ( x2 + y 2 ) = x2 y 2
Solution(i): We have
dy dy 2a
y 2 = 4a ( x + a )  2 y = 4a  =
dx dx y
Equ. of tangent at P(x,y) Y − y = 2a X − x  2aX + yY + y 2 − 2ax = 0
1 (
y
1) ( )
p =⊥ from ( 0,0 ) =
( y 2
− 2ax )
=
[4a( x + a) − 2ax]
4a 2 + y 2 4a 2 + 4a( x + a)
[2a( x + 2a)]
p= = a( x + 2a).....................( i )
4a( x + 2a) 24
January 31, 2024
 Pedal equation
Also,
r 2 = x 2 + y 2 = x 2 + 4a ( x + a ) = ( x + 2a )
2

 r = ( x + 2a )...........................( ii )
Eliminating x from ( i ) and ( ii ) we get
p 2 = ar whichis the required pedal equation.

Example 2: Find the pedal equation of the following curves

(i ) x = a ( 2cos − cos 2 ) , y = a ( 2sin  − sin 2 )

(ii ) x = ae (sin − cos ) , y = ae (sin + cos )
(iii ) x = a(3cos − cos3  ), y = a (3sin  − sin 3  )
Solution 2(i): x = a ( 2cos − cos 2 ) , y = a ( 2sin  − sin 2 )
dx dy
= −2a sin  + 2a sin 2 , = 2a cos − 2a cos 2
d d
25
January 31, 2024
 Pedal equation
x = a ( 2cos − cos 2 ) , y = a ( 2sin  − sin 2 )
dx dy
= −2a sin  + 2a sin 2 , = 2a cos − 2a cos 2
d d
dy cos − cos 2
=
dx sin 2 − sin 
Squaring (i) and (ii) and adding
r 2 = x 2 + y 2 = 5a 2 − 4a 2 cos
 cos = ( 5a 2 − r 2 )..........( i )
Equation of tangent at θ
cos − cos 2
y − 2a sin  + a sin 2 = ( x − 2a cos + a cos 2 )
− sin  + sin 2
 x ( cos 2 − cos ) + y ( sin 2 − sin  ) = −3 + 3cos

26
January 31, 2024
 Pedal equation

Perpendicular distance on the tangent:

−3 + 3cos
p=
( cos 2 − cos ) + (sin 2 − sin  )
2 2

−3 + 3cos −3
= = (1 − cos )
2 (1 − cos ) 2
9 9  5a 2 − r 2 
 p = (1 − cos ) = 1 −
2
2  [ using ( i )]
2 2 4a 
 8 p 2 = 9 ( 4a 2 − 5a 2 + r 2 ) = 9 ( r 2 − a 2 )
Whichis therequired pedal equation.

27
January 31, 2024
 Pedal equation

Example 3: Show that the pedal equation of :

(i ) r m cos m = am is pr m−1 = a m
(ii ) r 2 a2 cos 2 is r 3 = a 2 p
(iii ) r m = an sin n is r n+1 = a n p
Solution 3(i):
r m cos m = a m ..................( i )
 m log r + log ( cos m ) = m log a
Diff.w.r.tor
m m sin m d
− . =0
r cos m dr
m d
 = m tan m .
r dr
1 dr
 = tan m
r d
 cot  = tan m 28
January 31, 2024
 Pedal equation
Solution 3(i):  cot  = tan m
 
 tan  −   = tan m
2 
 
 cos  −   = cos m
2   rd 
 tan  =
 sin  = cos m dr 
 
p  p = r sin  
 = cos m .................( i )
r

From (i) r m. p
= am
r
 pr m−1 = a m [Showed ]

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January 31, 2024
January 31, 2024 30