Vipul at 01:41, 25 October 2011

2011-10-25T01:41:51Z

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	The '''tangent line''' to a curve at a point is the ''best local straight line appropximation'' to the curve at the point.		The '''tangent line''' to a curve at a point is the ''best local straight line appropximation'' to the curve at the point.

	==For the graph of a function===		===For the graph of a function===

	Suppose <math>f</math> is the graph of a [[function]] of one variable and <math>x_0</math> is a point in the [[domain]] of <math>f</math> such that <math>f</math> is [[continuous function\|continuous]] at <math>x_0</math>. The tangent line through the point <math>(x_0,f(x_0))</math> to the graph of <math>f</math> is defined as follows:		Suppose <math>f</math> is the graph of a [[function]] of one variable and <math>x_0</math> is a point in the [[domain]] of <math>f</math> such that <math>f</math> is [[continuous function\|continuous]] at <math>x_0</math>. The tangent line through the point <math>(x_0,f(x_0))</math> to the graph of <math>f</math> is defined as follows:
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	However, there are examples of situations where the tangent line ''does'' cut across the curve. The simplest examples are those involving a [[point of inflection]] where the curve changes its sense of concavity, such as the [[cube map]] at the origin. More complicated examples involve points where the second derivative of the function is oscillating sign very rapidly very close to the point, such as functions of the form <math>\left \lbrace \begin{array}{rl}x^2 \sin(1/x), & x \ne 0 \\ 0, & x = 0 \\\end{array}\right.</math>.		However, there are examples of situations where the tangent line ''does'' cut across the curve. The simplest examples are those involving a [[point of inflection]] where the curve changes its sense of concavity, such as the [[cube map]] at the origin. More complicated examples involve points where the second derivative of the function is oscillating sign very rapidly very close to the point, such as functions of the form <math>\left \lbrace \begin{array}{rl}x^2 \sin(1/x), & x \ne 0 \\ 0, & x = 0 \\\end{array}\right.</math>.

			===Relation with Taylor series and Taylor polynomials===

			If <math>f</math> is differentiable at a point <math>x_0</math> in its domain, then the equation of the tangent line is of the form <math>y = P_1(f,x_0)(x)</math>, where <math>P_1(f,x_0)</math> is the first [[Taylor polynomial]] of <math>f</math> about <math>x_0</math>. In other words, it is the best approximation of <math>f</math> ''locally'' about <math>x_0</math> by a [[linear function]].

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2011-10-25T01:40:06Z

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==Definition==

===For a curve===

The '''tangent line''' to a curve at a point is the ''best local straight line appropximation'' to the curve at the point.

==For the graph of a function===

Suppose <math>f</math> is the graph of a [[function]] of one variable and <math>x_0</math> is a point in the [[domain]] of <math>f</math> such that <math>f</math> is [[continuous function|continuous]] at <math>x_0</math>. The tangent line through the point <math>(x_0,f(x_0))</math> to the graph of <math>f</math> is defined as follows:

* If the [[derivative]] <math>f'(x_0)</math> exists and is finite, it is given by the equation:

<math>\! y - f(x_0) = f'(x_0)(x - x_0)</math>

* If both the one-sided limits for the [[derivative]] give the ''same sign'' of infinity (i.e., either both give <math>+\infty</math> or both give <math>-\infty</math>) then we say we have a [[vertical tangent]] and the equation is:

<math>\! x = x_0</math>

* If neither of the above are true, there is no well defined tangent line through the point.

===For a parametric description===

See [[parametric differentiation]] for more.

Consider a curve described parametrically by <math>x = f(t), y = g(t)</math>. At <math>t = t_0</math>, the tangent line (geometrically, to the point <math>(f(t_0),g(t_0))</math>), is defined as follows:

* If the [[derivative]]s <math>f'(t_0)</math> and <math>g'(t_0)</math> exist as finite numbers and are not ''both'' zero:

<math>\! f'(t_0)(y - g(t_0)) = g'(t_0)(x - f(t_0))</math>

* If ''both'' the derivatives are zero, then we try to see if <math>\lim_{t \to t_0} g(t_0)/f(t_0)</math> exists and is finite, and if so, take that as the derivative that we plug into the equation for the tangent line. If it is a single signed infinity, we get a vertical tangent.

==Notes==

===Tangent line may intersect the curve at multiple points===

The tangent line to a curve:

* may intersect the curve at points other than the point of tangency, and
* may or may not be tangent to the curve at these other points of intersection.

Thus, the definition of tangent line that we could use for the circle (namely, the line that intersects the curve at that point ''only'') does not work in general.

Moreover, lines ''other'' than the tangent line may intersect the curve at a unique point. For instance, for the graph of a function, the vertical line through the point intersects the curve at that point alone, even though the vertical line is rarely the tangent line.

===Tangent line and crossing the curve===

If a curve has a well defined tangent line at a point, then it is ''usually'' the case (for nice functions at most points) that the tangent line does not ''cross'' the curve near the point, i.e., the part of the curve close to the point of tangency, lies completely to one side of the tangent line.

Moreover, if a well defined tangent line exists, then any line ''other'' than the tangent line ''must'' cut across the curve.

However, there are examples of situations where the tangent line ''does'' cut across the curve. The simplest examples are those involving a [[point of inflection]] where the curve changes its sense of concavity, such as the [[cube map]] at the origin. More complicated examples involve points where the second derivative of the function is oscillating sign very rapidly very close to the point, such as functions of the form <math>\left \lbrace \begin{array}{rl}x^2 \sin(1/x), & x \ne 0 \\ 0, & x = 0 \\\end{array}\right.</math>.

Tangent line - Revision history

Vipul at 01:41, 25 October 2011

Vipul: Created page with "==Definition== ===For a curve=== The '''tangent line''' to a curve at a point is the ''best local straight line appropximation'' to the curve at the point. ==For the graph of ..."