Wednesday, 18 December 2013

`x=cos^2theta ,y=costheta` Find all points (if any) of horizontal and vertical tangency to the curve.

`x=cos^2 theta`


`y=cos theta`


First, take the derivative of x and y with respect to theta .


`dx/(d theta) = 2costheta (-sin theta)`


`dx/(d theta)=-2sintheta cos theta`


`dy/(d theta) = -sin theta`


Take note that the slope of a tangent is equal to dy/dx.


`m=dy/dx`


To get the dy/dx of a parametric equation, apply the formula:


`dy/dx= (dy/(d theta))/(dx/(d theta))`


When the tangent line is horizontal, the slope is zero.


`0= (dy/(d theta))/(dx/(d theta))`


This...

`x=cos^2 theta`


`y=cos theta`


First, take the derivative of x and y with respect to theta .


`dx/(d theta) = 2costheta (-sin theta)`


`dx/(d theta)=-2sintheta cos theta`


`dy/(d theta) = -sin theta`


Take note that the slope of a tangent is equal to dy/dx.


`m=dy/dx`


To get the dy/dx of a parametric equation, apply the formula:


`dy/dx= (dy/(d theta))/(dx/(d theta))`


When the tangent line is horizontal, the slope is zero.


`0= (dy/(d theta))/(dx/(d theta))`


This implies that the graph of the parametric equation will have a horizontal tangent when `dy/(d theta)=0` and `dx/(d theta)!=0` .


So, set the derivative of y equal to zero.


`dy/(d theta) = 0`


`-sin theta = 0`


`sin theta=0`


`theta= 0, pi`


Then, plug-in these values of theta to `dx/(d theta)` to verify if the slope is zero, not indeterminate.


`dx/(d theta) =-2sintheta cos theta`


`theta_1=0`


`dx/(d theta) =-2sin(0) cos (0) = 0`


`theta_2=pi`


`dx/(d theta) = -2sin(pi)cos(pi)=0`


Since both `dy/(d theta)` and `dx/(d theta)` are zero at these values of theta, the slope is indeterminate.


`m=dy/dx= (dy/(d theta))/(dx/(d theta))=0/0`  (indeterminate)


Therefore, the parametric equation has no horizontal tangent.


Moreover, when the tangent line is vertical, the slope is undefined.


`u n d e f i n e d=(dy/(d theta))/(dx/(d theta))`


This happens when `dx/(d theta)=0` , but `dy/(d theta)!=0 ` .


So, set the derivative of x equal to zero.


`dx/(d theta) = 0`


`-2sinthetacos theta=0`


`-2sin theta = 0`


`sin theta = 0`


`theta = 0, pi`


`cos theta = 0`


`theta = pi/2, (3pi)/2`


Take note that at `theta =0` and `theta =pi` , both `dy/(d theta)` and `dx/(d theta)` are zero.  So the slope at these two values of theta is indeterminate.


`m=dy/dx= (dy/(d theta))/(dx/(d theta))=0/0`  (inderterminate)


Plug-in `theta =pi/2` and `theta=(3pi)/2` to `dy/(d theta)` to verify that the slope is undefined at these values of theta.


`dy/(d theta) = -sin theta`


`theta_1=pi/2`


`dy/(d theta) = -sin (pi/2)=-1`


`theta_2= (3pi)/2`


`dy/(d theta) = -sin ((3pi)/2)=1`


Since  `dy/(d theta) !=0` ,  the parametric equation has vertical tangent at  `theta_1=pi/2` and `theta=(3pi)/2` .


Then, plug-in these values to the parametric equation to get the points (x,y).


`x=cos^2 theta`


`y=cos theta`


`theta_1= pi/2`


`x=cos^2(pi/2)=0`


`y= cos (pi/2)=0`


`theta_2= (3pi)/2`


`x=cos^((3pi)/2)=0`


`y=cos((3pi)/2)=0`


Since `theta_1` and `theta_2` result to same x and y coordinates, there is only one point in which the curve has a vertical tangent.


Therefore, the graph of the parametric equation has vertical tangent at point (0,0).

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