Chapter 3: Problem 34
(a) Find the equations of the tangent lines to the circle \(x^{2}+y^{2}=25\) at the points where \(x=4\) (b) Find the equations of the normal lines to this circle at the same points. (The normal line is perpendicular to the tangent line at that point.) (c) At what point do the two normal lines intersect?
Short Answer
Step by step solution
Find the Points on the Circle
Determine the Slopes of the Tangent Lines
Write the Equations of the Tangent Lines
Determine the Slopes of the Normal Lines
Write the Equations of the Normal Lines
Find the Intersection of the Normal Lines
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Tangent Line
For this exercise, we work with the circle equation given by \[x^2 + y^2 = 25.\]We investigate the points on the circle where \(x = 4\). Here, the tangent lines are simply coincident with a straight path that barely meets, but doesn't cross, the circle.
The slope of this tangent line is crucial. To find it, we use a special technique called implicit differentiation, as this curve is not given explicitly in terms of one variable and requires careful manipulation of both \(x\) and \(y\). The derivative, or slope, calculated at the points \((4, 3)\) and \((4, -3)\) gives us the slopes of \(-\frac{4}{3}\) and \(\frac{4}{3}\) respectively.
Using these slopes, tangent lines are constructed through the point-slope form. This simple form allows you to easily generate equations using a single known point and the slope: \[y - y_1 = m(x - x_1).\]
This procedure results in the tangent equations we find for both points, which "skim" these specific locations on the circle.
Normal Line
For this problem, once you've determined your tangent line's slope, your normal line's slope is simply the negative reciprocal of that tangent slope. This means if your tangent slope is \(m,\)your normal slope will be \(-\frac{1}{m}.\)
Using our previous examples, if the tangent slope is \(-\frac{4}{3},\)the normal slope becomes \(\frac{3}{4}.\)This transformation ensures that the normal lines are always perpendicular to the given tangent lines.
By applying the point-slope formula once more, substituting in the slope and known point, the normal line equations for our circles become clear. Hence, for points \((4, 3)\) and \((4, -3),\) the normal lines are distinctly different paths than the tangents; yet, they originate from the same contact points on the circle.
Implicit Differentiation
Consider the circle equation \(x^2 + y^2 = 25.\)This relation isn't expressed as \(y = f(x)\). We can't isolate \(y\) simply due to the square sum. Implicit differentiation steps in here by allowing differentiation with respect to \(x\) of the entire equation while considering y as an implicit function of x.
When we differentiate \(x^2 + y^2 = 25\),we end up needing the derivative of \(y\) with respect to \(x\), giving us a necessary additional step of \(\frac{dy}{dx}\).The special rules applied during this process allow us to break down seemingly complex algebra relationships into manageable pieces. For example, derivation leads to:\[2x + 2y\frac{dy}{dx} = 0.\]By solving this, we uncover the slope for the tangent line, which then aids in further calculations like tangent and normal lines.
This technique essentially unleashes the full power of differentiation over any implicit relationship, improving our calculus toolbox considerably.