Mathematics

Mathematics

Problem

Answer the questions given below, which concern the geometric ideas of tangent and normal for a curve represented by an equation in xx and yy. a. (i) Define the tangent line to a plane curve at a point on the curve. b. (ii) For a curve expressed by an equation F(x,y)=0F(x,y)=0, describe in general terms how the slope of the tangent at a point (x0,y0)(x_{0},y_{0}) is obtained. c. (iii) Give a reason why, provided the tangent at (x0,y0)(x_{0},y_{0}) is neither vertical nor horizontal, the slope of the normal at that point is the negative reciprocal of the slope of the tangent. d. (iv) State the condition on dydx\dfrac{dy}{dx} at a point that makes the tangent to the curve perpendicular to the xx–axis at that point.

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