CURVATURE: [Bending of a curve]

PQ   S
In PNQ l
N Chord PQ Chord PQ
 
sin NQP sin PNQ sin 
Chord PQ
The radius of curvature of P  P  lim PN  PN  sin NQP
 0 sin  
Chord PQ
   lim
0 sin 
sin NQP

Chord PQ  s  
 lim  . .sin NPQ
 0 s   sin  
PQ 
But as    0 Chord  1 and 1 .
s sin  

Also NQP   / 2 NQP   PQT ' ,where PQT '  0
2
ds
So we found  
d
any equation between s and  for any curve is called intrinsic equation for that curve
 this formula is called intrinsic formula for radius of curve true.

Cartesian From:-
dy
 tan
dx
d2y d d ds
 2
 sec2   1  tan 2   .
dx dx ds dx
d 2 y   dy  1  
2 2
 dy  
 1    .  1    
dx 2   dx     dx  
  
 3/2

  dy  
2

1    
    dx  
 
d 2 y / dx 2
ds 2  dy 2  dy 2
2
ds  dy 
  1  
dx  dx 

Also  
1   dx / dy   2 3/2

d 2 x / dy 2

For Pedal Equations:- Let Pedal equation of curve is r  f  p  , where p is the distance of
normal from origin to the curve,
dp d
p  r sin    sin   r sin 
dr dr
dQ d dr d
r r .  sin   r
ds dr ds ds
 dQ d  dr
 r   cos  
 ds ds  ds
d d
 r Q     r   Q 
ds ds
dp
r/s    ds / d
dr
dr
  r
dp

Tangents and Normals:-

Polar Form:-

 ; angle between the tangent and radius vector for the curve r  f  
 rd
tan  
dr
  
1 dr
cot  
r d
OT  ON 
d dr
Polar sub tangent  r 2 , Polar subnormal 
dr d
PT
 d 
2

Polar tangent  r 1   r 
 dr 
Perpendicular from the pole on tangent p  r sin 
Pedal equation of a curve

Central orbit
 To obtain p in times of r and Q

 2  2 cos ec 2  2 1  cot 2  
1 1 1
p  r sin 
p r r
2
1 1 1  dr 
  2 4 
p 2
r r  d 
2
1  du 
Sometimes it is convenient to use u to denote 1/ r . Then we have  u2   
 d 
2
p

Derivatives of Arc length

Cartesian Form:-

Simply ds 2  dy 2  dx 2
2
ds  dy 
 1  
dx  dx 
 2
ds  dx 
Or  1  
dy  dy 
Parametric Form:- x  f  t  , y  g  t 
2 2
ds  dx   dy 
    
ds  dt   dt 
2
ds  dr 
Polar Form:-  r2   
d  d 
 d 
2
ds
 1  r 
dr  dr 

2
1 1 1  dr 
Polar Equation:- Let equation of curve be r  f   we know that 2  2  4  
p r r  d 
2
2 dp 2 4  dr 
Differentiating w.r.t r ,we get  3  3  5 
p dr r r  d 
1 dr d  dr 
 4 .2  
r d dr  d 
2
1 dp 1 2  dr  1 d 2r
     
p 3 dr r 3 r 5  d  r 4 d 2

  r
dr

r 2
  dr / d  
2 3/2

 d 2r 
2
dp  dr 
r2  2   r  2
 d   d 
 Asymptotes and Curve Tracing
1. https://www.youtube.com/live/SczBjJrwdXc?si=4hX0gjVx98x9D16h
2. https://www.youtube.com/live/4N4TYQZhMGI?si=0hvXie9CLgYv_kt2

Curve Tracing:
To trace the curve f  x, y   0 , we need to know:
(i) symmetry
(ii) tangents at origin (if curve passes from origin)
(iii) Asymptotes parallel to axes
(iv) points on axes; where curve cuts

Asymptotes:
A straight line at a finite distance from the origin to which a given curve approaches infinitely near
as we records along the curve to an infinite distance.
e.g.
Here x  a is an asymptote to some given curve y  f  x 

y  f  x

xa

p  x, y 

 In other words, a s.t line is said to be an asymptote, if the for distance of any point p  x, y 
on the curve from the s.t line tends to zero as the point p records to infinite along the curve.

Finding Asymptotes (if exists) of some Algebraic curve f  x, y   0

e.g. Find asymptote for the curve
Note:
(1) The equation a0 x n  a1 x n 1  ...  an 1 x  an  0 ....(1)
will have one root as x  0 if an  0 .
1
Putting x  in ...(1)
y
 an y n  a1 y n 1  ...  an 1 y  a0  0 ....(2)
equation (2) has one root as y  0 if a0  0 .
Now it is clear that equation (1) may have one root tending to infinite is that a0  0 .
(2) The asymptote (if exists), it must meet the curve in atleast two point at infinite i.e., to have
two roots as infinite for the equation (1), the condition is a0  0 and a1  0 .

Method:
Let's consider a curve f  x, y   0 which is algebraic and rational of nth degree.
Let y  mx  c is an asymptote of equation (1)
Putting this value of y in the given curve we get an equation of the form
a0 x n  a1 x n 1  a2 x n 2  ...  an  0 ....(3)
Here a0 , a1 ,...an are constants (containing m and c )
Now, since y  mx  c is an asymptote, it must meet atleast two points of the given curve.
Thus, two roots of equation (3) must be infinite
i.e.
a0  0 ....(4)
a1  0 ....(5)
Now find values of m from equation (4) and get values of c for different values of m .
e.g. Find all asymptotes of the curve
x3  2 x 2 y  xy 2  2 y3  4 y 2  2 xy  y  1  0 ....(1)
Putting y  mx  c in equation (1)
x3  2 x 2  mx  c   x  mx  c   2  mx  c   4  mx  c   2 x  mx  c    mx  c   1  0
2 3 2


 x3  2mx3  2cx 2  x m 2 x 2  2mxc  c 2 
 2 2
 
2 m x  3m x c  3mxc  c  4 m x  2mxc  c 2
3 3 2 3
 2  mx  cx   mx  c  1  0
2 2 2

  x  2mx  m x  2m x   2cx  2mcx  6m cx  4m x  2mx 

3 3 2 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

c x  6mc x  8mxc  2cx  mx  2c  4c  c  1  0

2 2 3 2

 1  2m  m  2m  x  2c  2mc  6m c  4m  2m x  ...  0

2 3 3 2 2 2

Now 3  m  0  1  2m  m2  2m3  0 ....(1)

 m  1, 1, ½ .
Now
2c  2mc  6m 2c  4m 2  2m  0 ....(2)
Putting m  1; 2c  2c  6c  4  2  0
 c  1.
Putting m  1 in equation (2);
2c  2c  6c  4  2  0  c  1
 6 1
Putting m  ½ in equation (2); 2c  c  c  4   2  ½   0
4 4
3c
 3c   0  c  0
2
Therefore there are 3 asymptotes of the given curve given by
y  x 1
y   x  1 and y  ½ x .

Another Method.
Let the equation of the curve be
   
a0 x n  a1 x n 1 y  a2 x n 2 y 2  ...  an y n  b1 x n 1  b2 x n 2 y  ...  bn y n 1 +
c x
2
n2

 c3 x n 3 y  ...  cn y n  2  ...  0
The above equation can be put in the form
 y  y  y
x nn    x n 1n 1    x n  2n  2    ...  0 ....(1)
x x x
 y
where n   represents a term of nth degree in y .
x x
y c
Let y  mx  c be an assymptote of (1) putting  m  in (1), we get
x x
 c  c
x nn  m    x n 1n 1  m    ...  0 ....(ii)
 x  x
Applying Taylor's expansion in (ii)
 c   c 
x n n  m   n  m    x n 1 n 1  m   n 1  m    ...  0
 x   x 
Arranging the above expression in descending powers of x
 c2 
x nn  m   x n1 cn'  m   n1  m   x n2  n"  m   cn' 1  m   n2  m   ...  0 ...(iii)
 2! 
Now as y  mx  c is an asymptote so 2 roots of equation (3) must be infinite
i.e., n  m   0 ....(4)
c  n'  m  n1  m  0 ....(5)

Note:
The equation (4) is of nth degree so it has n values of m.
If any k values of n are repeated, we say the given curve has k parallel asymptotes.

Working Rule
(1) Find n  m  by putting x  1 and y  m in the nth degree term.
Similarly find n1  m by putting x  1 and y  m in  n  1 th degree term of the given curve
and so on.
(2) Solve n  m   0 . If all roots of m are real and distinct get value for c from the equation (5).

Note: If we get two parallel asymptote we find the value of c from the equation
c2 "
n  m   cn' 1  m   n2  m   0
2!

Examples. Find asymptotes of the curve y3  xy 2  2 xy 2  2 x3  7 xy  3 y 2  2 x2  2 x  2 y  1  0 .

Solution.
Find 3  m  ;
Putting x  1, y  m in 3rd degree term of (1)
mnm  2m 2  2  0
3  m  m3  m  2m2  2 and 2  m  7m  3m2  2  0
Now 3  m   0  m3  2m2  m  2  0
 m2  n  2  1 m  2  0
  n  1 m  1 m  2  0
 m  1,1, 2
Now find c from this equation
cn'  m  n1  m  0
 
 c 3m 2  4m  1  2  7m  3m 2  0
Now m  1, c 3  4 1  0  2c  2  c  1
m  1; c  2
m2; c 0
 Asymptotes y  x  1
y  x  2
y  2x

Asymptotes of to x-axis
To get an asymptote parallel to the x-axis put the coefficient of the highest degree term in equal
to zero.
 Similarly asymptotes equation of y-axis can be obtained by putting the coefficient of the
highest degree term in y equal to zero.

Q. Find asymptotes of the cisoid y 2  2a  x   x3 .

Solution.
There is no asymptote parallel to x-axis
 coefficient of x 3  1  0
Asymptote parallel to y -axis is
2a  x  0
 x  2a .
 x  2a

Tangents of Origin:
Multiple Points:
The points through which more than one branches of the curve pass is called a multiple point.

Double Points: Two branches pass through this point.

(a) Node:

y  x
yx

 y  f  x

When two tangents at a double point are real and distinct, the point is called a node.
e.g. In the above figure we have two tangents y  x and y   x at origin. So origin is a node
here.
(b) Cusp: When the two tangents at a double point are real and coincident then that point is
known as cusp.
Here x-axis is the only tangent for the curve at origin. So origin is a cusp here.

Note:
To get tangents of origin we equate the lowest degree terms to zero.

Q. Trace the curve y 2  2a  x   x3 .

Solution.
Symmetry
(i) Replace x by  x to get symmetry about y -axis
(ii) Replace y by  y to get symmetry about x -axis
So y 2  2a    x      x  , curve changed. So no symmetry about y -axis and
3

  y   2a  x   x3 , curve remains unchanged.

2

 So it is symmetric about x -axis.

(ii) Tangents of origin

Equating the lowest degree term to zero.
 y 2  2a  0  y 2  0  y  0
 Real and coincident tangent (origin is cusp)
 Tangent is x -axis.
(iii) Asymptotes parallel to axes
Parallel to y -axis:
2a  x  0  x  2a
 x  2a

Parallel to x -axis:
1  0 (not possible)
(iv) Points on the axes (cut by curve)
x -axis; put y  0 in the given curve get x  0
i.e.  0, 0 
y -axis put x  0  y 2  2a  0  0  y  0
i.e.  0, 0 
There is no point on the curve in the 2nd and 3rd order.
x0
x3
y (complex numbers)
2a  x

x  2a

Note:
If the curve remains unchanged on exchanging x and y then the curve is symmetrical about the
line y  x .
e.g. x3  y3  3axy is symmetrical about the line y  x .
But y3  x3  3ayx
 x3  y3  3axy
Trace the curve x3  y3  3axy .
(i) Symmetry
If is symmetric about the line y  x because by putting y  x the curve remains unchanged.
(ii) Tangent/s at origin
Equating the lowest degree term to term
We get 3axy  0  xy  0
 x  0 or y  0
Real and distinct tangents
 Origin is NODE
(iii) Asymptotes Parallel to Axes:
Parallel to y -axis
1  0 (not possible)
Parallel to x -axis
1  0 (not possible)
There is no asymptotes parallel to coordinate axes.
By Method of finding asymptotes we get that
x  y  a  0 is an asymptote.
(iv) Points on the axes:
x -axis ; put y  0 , we get x  0
i.e.  0, 0 
y -axis; put x  0 , we get y  0
i.e.  0, 0 
In 3rd ODE,  x  0, y  0 , R.H.S. > 0 but L.H.S. < 0, 3rd ODE

x3  y3  3axy
yx

x ya 0
Q. Trace the curve (1) a2 y 2  x3  2a  x 
 
(2) x 2 a 2  y 2  y 2 a 2  y 2  
x 2 1  x 2 
(3) y 
2

1  x  2

(4) x2 y 2   a  y   b2  y 2  , b  a
2

(1) a2 y 2  x3  2a  x 
(i) It is symmetric about x -axis
(ii) Tangent at origin
a 2 y 2  0  y  0 i.e., x -axis
Real and coincident tangent.
 Origin is a cusp.
(iii) Asymptotes parallel to x -axis
No asymptotes parallel to x -axis

Asymptotes parallel to y -axis

No asymptotes parallel to y -axis.
And also the curve passes through origin.

Points:
a2 y 2  x3  2a  x 
x 3  2a  x 
y
a
Hence No part of the curve will lie on 2nd and 4th ODT.
Putting x  2a, y  0

x  2a
 x 2 1  x 2 
(3) Trace the curve y  2

1  x2
(i) Symmetry:
Replacing x by - x , y by –y; curve remains unchanged.
 Symmetric about both axes.
(ii) The curve passes through origin?
Yes

Tangent at origin
Putting the lowest degree term equal to zero;
y 2  x 2  0  y   x ; Two tangents
 Origin is a node.

(iii) Asymptotes parallel to y -axis

1  x 2  0  x  1

(iv) Curve cuts no points on the axes, except  0, 0  .

x  1 x 1

No point of the curve out side x  1

If x  1, y is imaginary.

Q. Trace the curve x2 y 2   a  y   b2  y 2  , b  a

2

(i) It is symmetric about y -axis as putting x by - x the curve remains unchanged.

(ii) Tangents at origin
Putting x  0, y  0 in the equation 0  a 2b 2 origin does not satisfy the equation.
i.e., The curve does not pass through origin
 No tangent at origin.
 a
x   1   b 2  y 2
 y
dx  a   2 y   a  
  1      b2  y 2   2 
dy  y   2 b 2  y 2 
  y  
dx b2  a 2 dy a
   
dy  0,0 a dx a 2  b2
i.e., There are two tangents at  0, a  . So the point  0, a  is a node.

(iii) Points on axes:

The curve cuts
 y at  0, a  and  0, b 
 Does not cut x -axis at any point

(iv) Asymptotes parallel to x -axis

Parallel to x -axis
y  0 i.e., y -axis only

 0,b 

 0, a  a

 0, b  b

Tangents parallel to x -axis at  0,b  and  0, b 

dx dy
  and 0.
dy dx

  
(2) x 2 a 2  y 2  y 2 a 2  y 2 
Symmetrical about both the axes curve passes through origin.
y   x are tangent at origin.
The curve passes through the points  0, a  and  0, a  and no parts of the curve will lie above
 0, a  and below  0, a  points.
 0, a 
ya

y  x
yx

 0, a  y  a

PYQs: ASYMPTOTES, CURVE TRACING

Q1. Trace the curve y 2 2
x  x2  a 2 , where a is a real constant.
[4bUPSC CSE 2022]
Q2. Find all the asymptotes of the curve  2 x  3 y   x  1 .
2

[1d UPSC CSE 2020]

Q3. Find the asymptotes of the curve x  3x y  4 y  x  y  3  0 . [3a 2020 IFoS]
3 2 3

Q4. Find all the asymptotes of the curve x 4  y 4  3x 2 y  3xy 2  xy  0 .

[4d 2013 IFoS]
Q5. Determine the asymptotes of the curve
x3  x 2 y  xy 2  y 3  2 xy  2 y 2  3x  y  0 .

Revising Asymptotes
Definition:
An asymptote to some curve is a straight line, at a finite distance from origin and touches the curve at
infinity
e.g.,

Clearly the line x = 1 is at finite distance from origin (0, 0) and touches the curve f(x) at infinity. So; the
line x =1 is an asymptote the curve (x).

Here x=0 i.e. X-axis is an asymptote

y = c is an asymptote.
 How to find asymptotes of some given algebraic expression f(x, y) = 0.
Q. f(x, y) = x3 + y3 – 6z(x + y) + 12xy
Ans. Explanation :-
Let’s consider a function f(x, y) = 0 of degree n.…..(1)
Let y = mx + c is an asymptote of (1); then coefficients of highest and second highest degree terms
should be zero (as to get at least two roots as infinity)

Q. To find all asymptotes of x3 + 2x2y – xy2 – 2y3 + 4y2 + 2xy + y – 1 = 0…..(1)

i.e Let y = mx + c is an asymptote to (1)
Putting y = mx + c in (1) and arranging terms in descending powers.
(1 + 2m – m2 – 2m3)x3 + (2c – 2mc – 6m2c + 4m2 + 2m)x2 + …. = 0
Now putting;
1 + 2m – m2 – 2m3 = 0
1
 m = 1, –1,  and then
2
Putting 2c – 2mc –6m2c + 4m2 + 2m = 0 and using above m, we get c = 1, c = 0
1 1
y = 1x + 1 ; y = –1x + 1, y =  x + 1, y=  +0
2 2
y = 1x , y = –1x + 6

Let y = mx + c is an asymptote to given curve.

 we should have at least two roots as infinity.
getting values of c by:
c  3(m) + 2(m) = 0
c  (3m2 – 1 – 4m) + (–7m + 3m2 + 1) = 0
 c. (3 – 1 – 4) + (–7 + 3 + 2) = 0  c1 = –1
 c  (3 – 1 + 4) + (7 + 3 + 2) = 0  c2 = –2
 c (12 – 1 – 8) + (–14 + 12 + 2) = 0  c3 = 0
Therefore required asymptotes are;
y = x – 1, y = –x –2, y = 2x
Q. Find all asymptotes of the curve (x3 + 3x2y – 4y3) + (–x + y) + 3 = 0
Ans. To get asymptotes;
(x3 + 3x2y – 4y3) + (–x + y) + 3 = 0
3(m) = 1 + 3m – 4m3, 2(m) = 0, 1(m) = –1 + m
To get slopes (values of m):
Put 3(m) = 0  1 + 3m – 4m3 = 0; (m – 1) (2m + 1)2 = 0
 1 1
m = 1,  ,  .
2 2
 For m = 1;  c is given by c3(m) + (m) = 0 c(3 – 12m2) = 0 c = 0;
 y = x + 0  y = x is one asymptote;
1 1
For m =  ,  ;
2 2
c2
c is given by: 3(m) + c2(m) + 1(m) = 0
2!
c2
(–24m) + c  0 + (–1 + m) = 0
2
c2   1   1 2 1 1 1
  24      + 0 +  1   = 0; c  6 –
2
= 0; c   ,
2  2   2 2 2 2
 y = (-1/2)x -1/2,  y = (-1/2)x + ½ are two asymptotes.

Q. Find all asymptotes of the curve (2x + 3)y = (x – 1)

Ans. ⸪ given curve is (2x + 3)y = x2 + 1 – 2x
 x2 –2xy – 2x – 3y + 1 = 0
Now; 2(m) = 1 –2m, 1(m) = –2 – 3m
To get values of m; putting 2(m) = 0
1
1 – 2m = 0  m =
2
To get values of c;
c2(m) + 1(m) = 0
c(–2) – 2 –3m = 0
1 7
 –2c – 2 – 3  = 0 c=
2 4
x 7
Therefore given curve has exactly one asymptote; y  
2 4
Q. Find all asymptotes of the curve;
x4 – y4 + 3x2y + 3xy2 + xy = 0
Ans. Given curve is;
(x4 – y4) + (3x2y + 3xy2) + xy = 0
4(m) = 1 – m4, 3(m) = 3m + 3m2, 2(m) = m, 1(m) = 0
To get values of m;
4(m) = 0; 1 – m4 = 0; m = 1, –1, i, i
so real asymptotes are with the slopes m = 1, –1
 To get values of c;
c4(m) + 3(m) = 0
c(–4m3) + 3m(1 + m) = 0
3
for m = 1; –4c + 6 = 0  4c = 6; c =
2
for m = –1; 4c = 0  c = 0
Therefore all real asymptotes of given curve are:
3
y x , y  x .
2
Q. Determine the asymptotes of the curve;
x3 + x3y – xy2 – y3 + 2xy + 2y2 – 3x + y = 0
Ans. Given curve is;
(x3 + x3y – xy2 – y3) + (2xy + 2y2) + (–3x + y) = 0
 3(m) = 1 + m – m2 – m3, 2(m) = 2m + 2m2, 1(m) = –3 + m
For values of m;
1 – m – m2 – m3 = 0 gives m = 1, –1, –1
for m = 1;c3(m) + 2(m) = 0
c(1 – 2m – 3m2) + 2m + 2m2 = 0
c(1 – 2  1 – 3  12) + 2  1 + 2  12 = 0  c(–4) + 4 = 0
for m = –1; c 1

c2 c2
3(m) + c2(m) + 1(m) = 0 (–2 – 6m) + c(2 + 4m) – 3 + m = 0
2! 2
c2 c2
(–2 – 6  –1) + c (2 + 4  –1) – 3 + (–1) = 0; (4) – 26 – 4 = 0
2 2
2c2 – 2c – 4 = 0; c2 – c – 2 = 0; c2 – (2 – 1)c – 2 = 0; c2 –2c + c – 2 = 0
c(c – 2) + 1 ( c – 2) = 0; (c – 2) (c + 1) = 0; c  2, 1

Ans. y  x  1, y   x  2, y   x  1

Q. Trace the curve y2x2 = x2 – a2  (y2 – 1)x2 = – a2, where a is a real constant.
Ans. Following observations can be done from y2x2 = x2 – a2:
(i) ⸪ on replacing x by  x or y by  y ; curve remains unchanged. So it is symmetrical
about both axes.
(ii) ⸪ (0, 0) does not satisfy given equation(1). So curve does not pass through the origin.
⸪ L.H.S = 0, R.H.S = –a2.
 (iii) Parallel asymptotes; To the Y-axis

Coefficients of y2 =0 ; x 2  0  x  0 is an asymptote parallel to y-axis

But y  1 at x  0

to the x-axis;
Coefficients of x2 1 – y2 = 0  y = 1, y = –1 are two asymptotes parallel to x-axis
(iv) Interpretation:
Equation clearly indicating that we should think for x = a.
0
 y2 a2 = a2 – a2  y2 = =0
a2
 curve (1) passes through the points (a, 0), (–a, 0)
 Equation also indicates that if we put y = 0; we get
x = a
 If x < a; y imaginary or x > –a; y imaginary

No part of curve lies between –a < x < a

Q. Trace the curve y2(x2 –1) = 2x – 1.

Ans. Curve is symmetrical about x-axis.
 Curve does not pass through origin.
 x2 – 1 = 0  x = 1, x = –1 are two real asymptotes parallel to y-axis.
and y2 = 0  y = 0 is a real asymptote parallel to x-axis
 Interpretation;
1 1
 ⸪ y = 0 at x = (⸪ 0 = 2x – 1  x = )
2 2
2x  1
⸪y= 
x2  1
1
So y is imaginary if < x < 1  x > 1; y is not imaginary
2
 1
 x = 0; y =   1
1
 curve passes through (0, 1) & (0, –1).
 For x  ; y  0
(observe/solve)