Porisma

Worked solution

Use a horizontal normal to identify a vertical tangent

The curve CC has x=kcos⁡tx=k\cos t, y=ksin⁡2ty=k\sin2t, −π/4≤t<π/4-\pi/4\le t<\pi/4, where k>0k>0.

(i) Find the normal at (kcos⁡p,ksin⁡2p)(k\cos p,k\sin2p), where −π/4<p<π/4-\pi/4<p<\pi/4. marks

(ii) Deduce the tangent at t=0t=0. marks

[2018/MI/II/2(a)]

CJC · Review problems · Question 8

Answer

Normal: y−ksin⁡2p=sin⁡p2cos⁡2p(x−kcos⁡p)y-k\sin2p=\dfrac{\sin p}{2\cos2p}(x-k\cos p). At zero, tangent x=kx=k.

(i) Form the normal using the derivative components

dx/dt=−ksin⁡tdx/dt=-k\sin t and dy/dt=2kcos⁡2tdy/dt=2k\cos2t. For p≠0p\ne0, the tangent slope is −2cos⁡2p/sin⁡p-2\cos2p/\sin p, so the normal slope is sin⁡p/(2cos⁡2p)\sin p/(2\cos2p). Since −π/4<p<π/4-\pi/4<p<\pi/4, cos⁡2p>0\cos2p>0 and the normal equation is y−ksin⁡2p=[sin⁡p/(2cos⁡2p)](x−kcos⁡p)y-k\sin2p=[\sin p/(2\cos2p)](x-k\cos p). This remains valid at p=0p=0: the tangent velocity is (0,2k)(0,2k), so its perpendicular normal is horizontal.

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(ii) Substitute zero into the valid normal equation

At p=0p=0, the point is (k,0)(k,0) and the normal is y=0y=0. The perpendicular tangent is therefore x=kx=k. This conclusion uses the normal or the velocity; it does not assign a finite value to dy/dxdy/dx at zero.

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Common mistakes

Do not substitute zero into a tangent slope containing division by sin p.

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