TANGENT & NOMRAL, ROLLE'S & LMVT, DERIVATIVE AS MEASURE

KEY CONCEPTS
The converse is also true. Hence the tangent at
(x1,y1) is parallel to x- axis.
If y = f(x) be a given function, then the differential
coefficient f (x) or at the point P (x1, y1) is the  =0
trigonometrical tangent of the angle  (say) which
the positive direction of the tangent to the curve at
(ii) If the tangent at P (x 1, y1) of the curve y = f (x)
P makes with the positive direction of x- axis is parallel to y-axis (or perpendicular to x-axis)
then  = /2, and its slope will be infinity i.e.
, therefore represents the slope of the tangent.
Thus m= =

The converse is also true. Hence the tangent at

(x1, y1) is parallel to y- axis

 =

(iii) If at any point P (x1, y1) of the curve y = f(x),

the tangent makes equal angles with the axes,
then at the point P, = /4 or 3/4, Hence at
P, tan = dy/dx = ±1. The converse of the
result is also true. thus at (x 1,y1) the tangent
line makes equal angles with the axes.

Thus  =±1
(i) The inclination of tangent with x- axis.

= tan–1

(ii) Slope of tangent = Equation of tangent at any point (x 1, y1) to the

curve y = f(x) is

(iii) Slope of the normal = – y– y1 = (x–x1) ....(1)

Equation of x- axis, y = 0 ....(2)

(a) Equation of tangent to the curve y = f(x) at Equation of y – axis, x = 0 ....(3)
A (x1,y1) is Solving (1) and (2), we get.

y – y1 = (x–x1)
x = x1 –
(i) If the tangent at P (x 1,y1) of the curve y = f(x)
is parallel to the x- axis (or perpendicular to
y- axis) then = 0 i.e. its slope will be zero.

m= =0

TANGENTS & NORMALS

 or (y–y1) . + (x – x1) = 0

5.1 Some facts about the normal

(i) The slope of the normal drawn at point

P (x1,y1) to the curve y = f(x) = –

(ii) If normal makes an angle of with positive

direction of x– axis then
 x – intercept = OA = x1 –
– = tan  or = – cot 

Similarly solving (1) and (3), we get (iii) If normal is parallel to x– axis then
y– intercept – = 0 or =

OB = y1 – x1 (iv) If normal is parallel to y – axis then

– =  or =0

(v) If normal is equally inclined from both the axes

or cuts equal intercept then
The length of perpendicular from origin (0,0) to
the tangent drawn at the point (x1, y1) of the – = ± 1 or =±1
curve y = f(x).
(vi) The length of perpendicular from origin to
normal is

p=
P' =

Explanation : The equation of tangent at point (vii) The length of intercept made by normal on
P (x1, y1) of the given curve
x- axis is = x1 + y1
y – y1 = (x–x1)
and length of intercept on y - axis is
p = perpendicular from origin to tangent = y1+ x1

=
If two curves y = f1(x) and y = f2(x) intersect at a
point P, then the angle between their tangents at P is
defined as the angle between these two curves at P.

The equation of normal at (x1, y1) to the curve But slopes of tangents at P are and ,

y = f(x) is so at P their angle of intersection  is given by

(y – y1) = – (x – x1) tan  = ±

The other angle of intersection will be (180º– )

TANGENTS & NORMALS

Note : If two curves intersect orthogonally i.e. at right
= 0 , but 0
angle then = so the condition will be
Also point P is a point of inflexion if f" (x) = f"'(x)
= ... = f n–1(x) = 0 and fn (x) 0 for odd n.
. =–1

If a function f defined on the closed interval [a, b], is

(i) Continuous on [a, b],
Let tangent and normal to the curve y = f (x) at a (ii) Derivable on (a, b) and
point P (x,y) meets the x– axis at points Q and R
(iii) f(a) = f(b), then there exists atleast one real
respectively. Then PQ and PR are called length of number c between a and b (a < c < b) such that
tangent and normal respectively, at point P. Also if f'(c) = 0
PM be the perpendicular from P on x- axis, then
Geometrical interpretation
QM and MR are called length of sub tangent and
subnormal respectively at P. So from the diagram at Let the curve y = f(x), which is continuous on [a, b]
and derivable on (a, b), be drawn.
P (x,y)
(i) length of tangent = PQ
= y cosec 

The theorem states that between two points with

equal ordinates on the graph of f, there exists atleast
one point where the tangent is parallel to x-axis.
=y
Algebraic interpretation
(ii) length of the normal = PR = y sec  Between two zeros a and b of f (x) (i.e., between
two roots a and b of f(x) = 0) there exists atleast one
=y zero of f'(x).
(iii) length of sub tangent = QM = y cot 

=y/ If a function f defined on the closed interval [a, b], is

(i) Continuous on [a, b] and
(iv) length of sub normal = MR (ii) Derivable on (a, b), then there exists atleast one
= y tan  real number c between a and b (a < c < b) such
that
=y
f'(c) =

Geometrical interpretation
The theorem states that between two points A and B
If at any point P, the curve is concave on one side on the graph of f there exists atleast one point
and convex on other side with respect to x- axis, where the tangent is parallel to the chord AB.
then the point P is called the point of inflexion.
Thus P is a point of inflexion if at P,
TANGENTS & NORMALS
 Related rates :
Generally we come across with the problems in
which the rate of change of one of the quantities
involved is required corresponding to the given rate
of change of another quantity. For example,
suppose the rate of change of volume of a spherical
balloon is required when the rate of change of its
radius is given. In such type of problems, we must
find a relation connecting such quantities and
differentiate this relation w.r. to time.

Let y = f(x) be a function of x. Let y be the change

in y corresponding to a small change x in x. Then
represents the change in y due to a unit change

in x. In other words, represents the average rate

of change of y w.r.t. x as x changes from x to x + x.
As x  0, the limiting value of this average
rate of change of y with respect to x in the interval
[x, x + x] becomes the intantaneous rate of change
of y w.r.t. x.

Thus, = instantaneous rate of change of

y w.r.t. x

 = rate of change of y w.r.t. x

The word " instantaneous" is often dropped.

Hence, represents the value of change of y w.r.t.

x for a definite value of x.

TANGENTS & NORMALS