answersLogoWhite

0

How do you find a tangent line?

Updated: 4/28/2022
User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago

Best Answer

Say you are given a function and an x value.

(1) First find the y coordinate that corresponds to that x value by plugging x into the function and simplifying to find y = some #. Now you have a point (x, y) that is not only on the function, but also on the tangent line.

(2) Take the derivative of the function.

(3) If the derivative still has xs in it, plug in the x value you were given and simplify. This should give you an actual number--the slope of the tangent line.

(4) From steps 1 and 3, you now have a point on the tangent line and the slope of the tangent line. Use these two things to write the equation for the tangent line in y=mx+b form (m is the sope, plug in the point you found, solve for b, then rewrite the equation replacing m and b but leaving in x and y).

User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: How do you find a tangent line?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Continue Learning about Algebra

How do you find x assume that segments that appear tangent are tangent?

A tangent refers to the way in which a curve is measured. The amount of deviation from the segment line is measures, then a formula applied to find the tangent.


In maths what is a tangent and what is a chord?

Tangent:In geometry, the tangent line (or simply the tangent) is a curve at a given point and is the straight line that "just touches" the curve at that point. As it passes through the point where the tangent line and the curve meet the tangent line is "going in the same direction" as the curve, and in this sense it is the best straight-line approximation to the curve at that point.Chord:A chord of a curve is a geometric line segment whose endpoints both lie on the outside of the circle.


The definition of external tanget?

An external tangent is a line that is tangent to both circles but does not pass between them.


How do you find whether a tangent line is vertical to a function?

A tangent line is NEVER vertical to a function. It is vertical to the normal to the function - which is as far from vertical as you can get!The graph of a function, f(x) can have a tangent at a point. Let's call the point (x0,f(x0)). If f'(x) goes to positive infinity or f'(x) goes to negative infinity as x approaches x0 then f(x) has a vertical tangent at that point.


Does a trigonometry tangent relate to a circle's tangent?

A circle's tangent is exactly the same as a triangle's tangent. If you look at a circle, you can make the radius the hypotenuse. Then make a vertical line from the point, and a horizontal line from the center. If you look, you have a triangle made inside the circle. This is why angles can be measured in radians, a unit that is derived from the circumference of a circle.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------By doing a little calculus, we find that the slope of the equation of a circle-the slope of the tangent line-is given by the tangent of an angle.AnswerEverything written above is correct, but doesn't have anything to do with tangents (in the circle sense of the word). Suppose you're given an angle theta. Draw a circle together with two radii, one horizontal and the other at an angle theta from the first one. (So far, this is the same as above.) Now draw the tangent to the circle at X, the point where the non-horizontal radius meets the circumference. Let Y be the point where this tangent meets the horizontal line through the centre. Then, assuming the radius is 1, tan(theta) is the distance XY, which is the length of part of the tangent.

Related questions

How do you find the equation of a tangent line?

In order to find the equation of a tangent line you must take the derivative of the original equation and then find the points that it passes through.


How do you find the tangent of a circle?

a tangent is a line that touches the circle at only ONE point


How do you find x assume that segments that appear tangent are tangent?

A tangent refers to the way in which a curve is measured. The amount of deviation from the segment line is measures, then a formula applied to find the tangent.


Find the slope of a tangent line to the graph?

Use the four-step process to find the slope of the tangent line to the graph of the given function at any point.


Find the equation of the line tangent to when x equals 8?

The question is suppose to read: Find the equation of the line tangent to y=(x²+3x)²(2x-2)³, when x=8


What is an easy equation for finding the normal line?

The first thing you may want to do would be to find the tangent line to the function. The tangent line is a line that passes through a given point on a function, but does not touch any other point on the function (assuming the function is one to one). Assuming you have the tangent line, the normal line is simply perpendicular to the tangent line- it forms a 90 degree angle with the tangent line. One you have the tangent line and the point which it passes through, you can find the normal line. To obtain the perpendicular line to any function, take the inverse reciprocal of the slope (if your slope was 2, it is now -.5). After that, plug in your (x, y) coordinate, and you can solve for the constant b (assuming there is one). This should give the normal line to a tangent of at a point on a function.


A line that intersects a circle at exactly one point?

Such a line is called a tangent line or a tangent to the circle. [Tangent is Latin for touching-- a tangent line touches the circle at just one point. ]


How do you find tangent parallel to line?

"tangent" meaning is a line or plane which touches a given curve or solid at a single point.Therefore, by definition there is no tangent to a line.if it were parallel it would not touch.if it were coincident it would touch in all places.


What is the tangent of the curve?

A tangent is a line which touches, but does not cross, a curved line.


What is a tangent line?

Tangent line is a graph. This graph is to gather data.


What is a straight line that just touches a circle in one place called?

A straight line touching a circle is called a tangent. The following is the image of a tangent to a circle with center C and radius AC. The tangent touches the circle at only one point - A. visit our page: balajidentalhospital .com


What is the Tangent Line to Circle Theorem?

The Tangent Line to Circle Theorem states that a line is tangent to a circle if and only if it's perpendicular to the circle's radius.