Tangent Planes

MATHEMATICS 2 - LABS
12. Tangent planes

Tangent Plane, Normal Line - definitions
The tangent plane at point P0(x0, y0, z0) on the level surface
f(x, y, z) = c of a differentiable function f is the plane through
P0 normal to f|P0.
The normal line of the surface at P0 is the line through P0
parallel to f|P0.
Note: The gradient vector (gradient) of f(x, y, z) at a point
P0(x0, y0, z0) is the vector:
f f f
f  i  j k
x y z
obtained by evaluationg the partial derivatives of f at P0.
Tangent Plane, Normal Line - equations
Tangent plane to f(x, y, z) = c at P0(x0, y0, z0)
fx(P0)(x – x0) + fy(P0)(y – y0) + fz(P0)(z – z0) = 0
Normal line to f(x, y, z) = c at P0(x0, y0, z0)

x = x0 + fx(P0)t
y = y0 + fy(P0)t
z = z0 + fz(P0)t
Tangent Planes and Normal Lines to Surfaces
Exercise 276. Find equations for the tangent plane and the normal
line at the point P0(1, 1, 1) on the given surface:
x2 + y2 + z2 = 3.
Solution. Let f(x, y, z) = x2 + y2 + z2.
The gradient vector could be obtained calculating the partial
derivatives:
f f
 2 x; 2
x x 1,1,1
f f
 2 y; 2
y y 1,1,1
f f  f  2i  2 j  2k
 2 z; z1,1,1  2
z y
The equation of the tangent plane is: 2(x – 1) +2(y – 1) +2(z – 1) = 0.
 2x + 2y + 2z = 6 x+y+z=3
x2 + y2 + z2 = 3.
Solution. The equations of
the normal line at P0(1, 1, 1)
are:
x = 1 + 2t.
y = 1 + 2t
z = 1 + 2t
cosx – x2y + exz + yz = 4.
Solution. Let f(x, y, z) = cosx – x2y + exz + yz
The gradient vector could be obtained calculating the partial
derivatives:
f f
  sin x  2 xy  ze xz ; 2
x x  0,1,2 
f f
  x 2  z; 2
y y  0,1,2 
f f
 xe xz  y; 1  f  2i  2 j  k
z z  0,1,2 
The equation of the tangent plane is: 2x +2(y – 1) + z – 2 = 0.

 2x + 2y + z = 4
cosx – x2y + exy + yz = 4.
Solution. The equations of the normal line at P0(0, 1, 2) are:
x = 2t.
y = 1 + 2t
z=2+t
Tangent Plane to a Surface z = f(x, y) at
(x0, y0, f(x0, y0))
The plane tangent to the surface z = f(x, y) of a differentiable

function f at the point P0(x0, y0, z0) = (x0, y0, f(x0,y0)) is
fx(x0,y0)(x – x0) + fy(x0,y0)(y – y0) – (z – z0) = 0
Tangent Planes to Surfaces
Exercise 278. Find an equation for the tangent plane that is tangent
to the given surface z = ln(x2 + y2) at the given point (1,0,0).
f 2x
Solution. fx   2 ; f x 1,0,0   2
x x  y 2
f 2y
fy   2 ; f y 1,0,0   0
y x  y 2
The required equation of the tangent plane is:

2(x – 1) – z = 0
 2x – z = 2
to the given surface z = ln(x2 + y2) at the given point (1,0,0).
to the given surface z = 4x2 + y2 at the given point (1,1,5).
f
Solution. fx   8 x; f x 1,1,5  8
x
f
fy   2 y; f y 1,1,5  10
y
The required equation of the tangent plane is:

8(x – 1) + 2(y – 1) – (z – 5) = 0
 8x – 8 + 2y – 2 – z + 5 = 0
 8x + 2y – z = 5
to the given surface z = 4x2 + y2 at the given point (1,1,5).
Tangent Lines to Curves
Exercise 280. Find parametric equations for the line tangent to the
curve of intersection of the surfaces x + y2 + 2z = 4 and x = 1 at the
point (1, 1, 1).
Solution. Let f(x, y, z) = x + y2 + 2z and g(x, y, z) = x.
The tangent line is orthogonal to both f and g at the given point
P0 and therefore parallel to v = f  g .
Only remain to find the gradients.
f|(1,1,1) = (i + 2yj + 2k)|(1,1,1) = i + 2j + 2k = <1,2,2>.
g|(1,1,1) = (i + 0j + 0k)|(1,1,1) = i = <1,0,0>.
i j k
v  1, 2, 2  1,0,0  1 2 2  0i  2 j  2k = 0, 2, 2
1 0 0
Reqiured parametric equations of the tangent line:

x = 1; y = 1 + 2t; z = 1 – 2t
curve of intersection of the surfaces x + y2 + 2z = 4 and x = 1 at the
point (1, 1, 1).
curve of intersection of the surfaces x2 + y2 = 4 and x2 + y2 – z = 0 at
the point  2, 2, 4  .
Solution. Let f(x, y, z) = x2 + y2 and g(x, y, z) = x2 + y2 – z .
The tangent line is orthogonal to both f and g at the given point
P0 and therefore parallel to v = f  g .
Only remain to find the gradients.
f  2 , 2 ,4   2 xi  2 yj  0k  2 , 2 ,4 = 2 2i  2 2 j  0k = 2 2, 2 2,0
g  2 , 2 ,4 
  2 xi  2 yj  k  2 , 2 ,4  = 2 2i  2 2 j  k = 2 2, 2 2, 1
i j k
v  2 2, 2 2,0  2 2, 2 2, 1  2 2 2 2 0  2 2i  2 2 j  0k = 2 2, 2 2,0
2 2 2 2 1
Reqiured parametric equations of the tangent line:
x  2  2 2t; y  2  2 2t; z4
Exercise 281. Find
parametric equations
for the line tangent to
the curve of
intersection of the
surfaces x2 + y2 = 4 and
x2 + y2 – z = 0 at the
point  2, 2, 4  .

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MATHEMATICS 2 - LABS

12. Tangent planes

Normal line to f(x, y, z) = c at P0(x0, y0, z0)

The equation of the tangent plane is: 2x +2(y – 1) + z – 2 = 0.

The plane tangent to the surface z = f(x, y) of a differentiable

The required equation of the tangent plane is:

The required equation of the tangent plane is:

Reqiured parametric equations of the tangent line:

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