[MAA 5.

4] TANGENT AND NORMAL LINES

SOLUTIONS
Compiled by: Christos Nikolaidis

O. Practice questions
1. (a) f ( x)  2 x 2  12 x  10 , f ( x)  4 x  12
(b) (i) At x  1 , y  0 , Point (1, 0)
1
mT  8 , mT 
8
Tangent line: y  8( x  1) (i.e. y  8 x  8 )

1 1 1
Normal line: y  ( x  1) (i.e. y  x )
8 8 8
(ii) At x  2 , y  6 , Point (2, – 6)
1
mT  4 , mT 
4
Tangent line: y  6  4( x  2) (OR y  4 x  2 )

1 1 13
Normal line: y  6  ( x  2) (OR y  x )
4 4 2
(iii) At x  3 , y  8 , Point (3, – 8)
mT  0 (horizontal tangent)
Tangent line: y  8 , Normal line: x = 3

2. f ( x)  2 x 2  12 x  10 , f ( x )  4 x  12
(a) 4 x  12  4  4 x  16  x  4
Then y  6 Point (4, – 6)

Tangent y  6  4( x  4) (OR y  4 x  22 )
(b) 4 x  12  4  4 x  8  x  2
Then y  6 Point (2, – 6)
Tangent y  6  4( x  2) (OR y  4 x  2 )
3. (a) f ′(x) = ex × (–sin x) + cos x × ex = ex cos x – ex sin x
mT  f ′(π) = eπ cos π – eπ sin π = –eπ
1
gradient of normal mN  π
e
π
(b) mT  f     0
4

1
4. METHOD A: f ( x )  x 2 , tangent line y  mx  25
At the point of contact:
Equal functions: f ( x)  y  x 2  mx  25 (1)
Equal derivatives: f ( x )  y   2x  m (2)
We solve the system:
(1) and (2): x 2  (2 x) x  25  x 2  2 x 2  25  x 2  25  x  5
From (2): ιf x  5 , m  10 ,
if x  5 , m  10
METHOD B: f ( x )  x 2 , line y  mx  25

f ( x)  y  x 2  mx  25  x 2  mx  25  0
The line is a tangent if   0  m 2  100  0  m  10

5. (Only method A applies here!)

(a) y  x 4 and tangent line y  mx  48
At the point of contact:
Equal functions: x 4  mx  48 (1)
Equal derivatives: 4x 3  m (2)
We solve the system:
(1) and (2): x 4  ( 4 x 3 ) x  48  x 4  4 x 4  48  3 x 4  48  x 4  16  x  2
From (2): If x  2 , m  32 , if x  2 , m  32
(b) If m  32 the tangent line is y  32 x  48
If m  32 the tangent line is y  32 x  48
6. METHOD A
Line passing through A(0, - 48): y  48  m( x  0)  y  mx  48
[then we work as in question 5]
At the point of contact: x 4  mx  48 (1)
4x  m
3
(2)
We solve the system:
(1) and (2): x 4  ( 4 x 3 ) x  48  x 4  4 x 4  48  3 x 4  48  x 4  16  x  2
From (2): If x  2 , m  32 , if x  2 , m  32
If m  32 the tangent line is y  32 x  48
If m  32 the tangent line is y  32 x  48
METHOD B
We find the general tangent at ( a, a 4 )
dy
 4 x 3 , mT  4a 3
dx
Tangent line: y  a 4  4a 3 ( x  a )  y  4a 3 x  3a 4
Passes through A(0, - 48): 3a 4  48  a 4  16  a  2
For a  2 , y  32 x  48
For a  2 , y  32 x  48

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A. Exam style questions (SHORT)
7. Let f ( x)  5 x 2  10 , f ( x )  10 x

At P(1,15), mT  10 , Tangent: y  15  10( x  1)  y  10 x  5 ,

dy
8. y = x3 + 1 = 3x2
dx
At x = 1, y  2 , Point (1,2)

dy
= 3x2, mT = 3
dx
Equation of tangent: y – 2 = 3(x – 1)y = 3x – 1
1
mN = –
3
1 1 1
Equation of normal: y – 2 = – (x – 1)3y – 6 = –x + 1  x + 3y – 7 = 0 OR y = – x + 2
3 3 3
2
9. f (x) = 12x + 2
When x = 1, f (1) = 6
When x = 1, f  (1) = 14
1  1 85 
Equation is y  6 =   x 1  y   x  , y   0.0714 x  6.07 
14  14 14 
dy
10. y  ( x  1) 4 ,  4( x  1)3
dx
1
(i) At x  0 , y  1 , mT  4 , m N  .
4
Tangent: y  1  4( x  0)  y  4 x  1 ,
1 1
Normal y  1  ( x  0)  y  x  1
4 4
(iii) At x  1 , y  0 , mT  0 , m N  not defined.
Tangent: y  0 , Normal x  1

11. (a) gradient is 0.6

(b) y – ln 5 = 0.6 (x – 2) OR directly by GDC: y = 0.6 x + 0.409
(c) at x = 2, y = ln 5 (= 1.609...)
gradient of normal = – 5/3 = –1.6666...
5
normal: y – ln 5 =  (x – 2) OR directly by GDC y = – 1.66666x + 4.94277
3
For y = 0: x = 2.97 (accept 2.96)
coordinates of R are (2.97, 0)

12. Use GDC, Graph, Sketch tangent and Sketch normal

(a) y  1.92 x  1.92
(b) y  0.52 x  0.520

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13.

1
14. (a) At x = a, h (x) = a 5
4
1 –5 1
h (x) = x => h (a) = 4
= gradient of tangent
5 5
5a
1 1 1
1 1 1 5 1 4 5
=> y – a 5 = 4
(x – a) = 4
x – a => y = 4
x + a
5 5
5a 5 5a 5 5a 5
1
1 4 5
(b) tangent intersects x-axis => y = 0 => 4
x = – a
5
5a 5
4
 4 1
=> x = 5a 5  – a 5  = –4a
 5 
 
dy
15. y = x2 – x = 2x – 1.
dx
Line parallel to y = 5x  2x – 1 = 5  x = 3 so y = 6
Point (3, 6)

16. gradient of tangent = 8

f ′(x) = 4kx3
4kx3 = 8  kx3 = 2
substituting x = 1 , k = 2

17. (a) f (x) = 6x  5

(b) f (p) = 7  6p 5 = 7 p = 2
(c) Setting y (2) = f (2)
Substituting y (2) = 72  9 = 5, and f (2) = 322 52+ k = k + 2
k + 2 = 5 k = 3
18. (a) f (1) = 3  p + q = 3
f ′(x) = 2px + q
f ′(1) = 8  2p + q = 8
p = 5, q = –2
(b) f ′(x) = 10x – 2
f ′(0.2) = 0, at x = 0.2 y = – 0.2
Tangent y = – 0.2 (horizontal line)
Normal x = 0.2 (vertical line)

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19. (a) f (x) = 6 sin 2x + 2 sin x cos x = 6 sin 2x + sin 2x = 5 sin 2x
(b) For x = 0, y = 3. gradient mT = 0
Tangent line: y = 3

(c) k= 1.57 
2
20. METHOD 1
(a) The equation of the tangent is y = –4x – 8.
(b) The point where the tangent meets the curve again is (–2, 0).
METHOD 2
dy
(a) y = –4 and = 3x2 + 8x + 1 = –4 at x = –1.
dx
Therefore, the tangent equation is y = –4x – 8.
(b) without GDC for HL only
This tangent meets the curve when –4x – 8 = x3 + 4x2 + x – 6 which gives
x3 + 4x2 + 5x + 2 = 0  (x + 1)2(x + 2) = 0.
The required point of intersection is (–2, 0).

21. For the curve, y = 7 when x = 1  a + b = 14, and

dy
= 6x2 + 2ax + b = 16 when x = 1  2a + b = 10.
dx
Solving gives a = –4 and b = 18.

dy k 2 3
22.  2  When x  2 , gradient of normal  
dx x x 2
dy 2 k 2 4
    1   k
dx 3 4 3 3

23.

dy
24. Method 1: y = 4 – x2 = –2x
dx
At the point of contact 2x = m and mx + 5 = 4 – x2
Solving the system gives m = 2.
Method 2: For intersection: mx + 5 = 4 – x2 or x2 + mx + 1 = 0.
For tangency: discriminant = 0
Thus, m2 – 4 = 0 , so m = 2

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25. f ( x )  5 x 2  10 .
METHOD A:
A line passing through Q(1,10) has the form y  10  m( x  1)  y  mx  m  10
At the point of contact: Equal functions: 5 x 2  10  mx  m  10 (1)
Equal derivatives: 10 x  m (2)
We solve the system:
(1) and (2): 5 x 2  10  10 x 2  10 x  10  5 x 2  10 x  0  5 x ( x  2)  0  x  0 or x  2
From (2): If x  0 , m  0 , if x  2 , m  20
Therefore If m  0 the tangent line is y  10
If m  20 the tangent line is y  20 x  10
METHOD B:
f ( x )  5 x 2  10 , f ( x )  10 x .
At x  a , y  5a 2  10 (that is at point (a,5a 2  10)
mT  10a
The general tangent line is y  (5a 2  10)  10a( x  a)  y  5a 2  10  10ax  10a 2
 y  10ax  5a 2  10
The line passes through Q(1,10), so
10a  5a 2  10  10  10a  5a 2  0  5a( 2  a)  0  a  0 or a  2
If a  0 the tangent line is y  10
If a  2 the tangent line is y  20 x  10

26. f ( x)  4  x 2 .
METHOD A:
A line passing through (0,5) has the form y  5  m( x  0)  y  mx  5
At the point of contact: Equal functions: 4  x 2  mx  5 (1)
Equal derivatives: 2x  m (2)
We solve the system:
(1) and (2): 4  x 2  2 x 2  5  x 2  1  x  1
From (2): If x  1 , m  2 , if x  1 , m  2
Therefore If m  2 the tangent line is y  2 x  5
If m  2 the tangent line is y  2 x  5
METHOD B:
f ( x)  4  x 2 , f ( x)  2 x .
At x  a , y  4  a 2 (that is at point ( a, 4  a 2 )
mT  2a
The general tangent line is y  (4  a 2 )  2a ( x  a)  y  4  a 2  2ax  2a 2
 y  2ax  a 2  4
The line passes through (0,4), so
a 2  4  5  a 2  1  a  1
If a  1 the tangent line is y  2 x  5
If a  1 the tangent line is y  2 x  5

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B. Exam style questions (LONG)

27. (a) (i) p = 1, q = 5 (or p = 5, q = 1)

(ii) x = 3 (must be an equation)
(b) y = (x  1)(x  5) = x2  6x + 5 = (x  3)2  4 (h = 3, k = 4)
dy
(c)  2 x  3  2 x  6 
dx
dy
(d) When x = 0,  6
dx
y  5 = 6(x  0) (y = 6x + 5 or equivalent)

28. (a) h3 k 2

(b) f ( x)   ( x  3) 2  2   x 2  6 x  9  2   x 2  6 x  7
(c) f ( x )   2 x  6
1 1 1
(d) (i) mT  2 , mN  , Normal: y  1  ( x  4)  y  x  1
2 2 2
1
(ii)  x2  6x  7 
x  1  2 x 2  11x  12  0  x = 1.5 or x=4 so x  1.5
2
1
(OR by GDC  x 2  6 x  7  x  1  x  1.5
2
29. (a) (i) f (x) = –x + 2
(ii) f (0) = 2
1
(b) Gradient of tangent at y-intercept mT = f (0) = 2, mN  
2
Therefore, equation of the normal is y – 2.5 = –0.5 (x – 0)  y = –0.5x + 2.5
(c) (i) –0.5x2 + 2x + 2.5 = –0.5x + 2.5  x = 0 or x = 5
(ii) Curve and normal intersect when x = 0 or x = 5
Other point is when x = 5  y = –0.5(5) + 2.5 = 0 (so other point (5, 0)
30. (a) (i) p  2 q  4 (or p  4, q  2 )

1
(ii) y  a ( x  2) ( x  4)  8  a (6  2)(6  4)  8  16a  a 
2
1 1 1
(iii) y  ( x  2)( x  4)  y  ( x 2  2 x  8)  y  x 2  x  4
2 2 2
dy
(b)  x 1
dx
x  1  7  x  8, y  20  P is (8, 20) 

1
(c) (i) when x = 4, mT = 4 – 1 = 3  mN = 
3
1  1 4
y  0   ( x  4)  y   x  
3  3 3
1 2 1 4 8
(ii) x  x  4   x   x   or x  4
2 3 3 3
8
x   (2.67)
3

7
 1
2
2x  1 7 x
31. (a) (i) f (x) = =2+ OR f ( x) 
x3 x 3 3
1
x
Therefore as x   f (x)  2  y = 2 is an asymptote
Note: inexact methods based on the ratio of the coefficients of x also accepted
(ii) Asymptote at x = 3
(iii) P(3, 2)

1  1 
(b) f (x) = 0  x = –   , 0
2  2 
1  1
x = 0  f (x) = –  0,  
3  3

(c)
y

3 x

( x  3)(2)  (2 x  1) 7
(d) f (x) = =
( x  3) 2
( x  3) 2
Therefore slope when x = 4 is –7
And f (4) = 9 ie S(4, 9)
Equation of tangent: y – 9 = –7(x – 4)7x + y – 37 = 0
7
(e) at T, = –7  (x – 3)2 = 1 x – 3 = ±l
( x  3) 2

x  4 or 2  S ( 4, 9)

y  9 or – 5 T ( 2,  5)

 4  2 9 5
(f) Midpoint [ST] =  ,  = (3, 2) = point P
 2 2 

8
32. (a) f (x) = 3x2  6x  24
(b) Tangents parallel to the x-axis mean maximum and minimum (see graph)
EITHER by GDC P(2, 29) and Q(4, 79)
OR f (x) = 0  3x2  6x  24 = 0  x = 2 or x = 4
Coordinates are P(2, 29) and Q(4, 79)
(b)

N2
N1

(i) (4, 29) (ii) (2, 79)

33. (a)
y

4
y = x2

2
R P
x
–2 –1 Q O 1 2
–1
y = – –12 Inx

(b) x2 + 1
2
ln x =0 when x = 0.548217. Therefore, the x-coordinate of P is 0.548….

(c) The tangent at P to y = x2 has equation y = 1.0964x – 0.30054,

and the tangent at P to y = – 12 lnx has equation y = –0.91205x + 0.80054.
1
Thus, the area of triangle PQR = 2
(0.30052 + 0.80054)(0.5482) = 0.302 (3 s.f.)

dy
(d) y = x2  when x = a, = 2a
dx
dy 1
y = – 12 ln x  when x = a,  (a > 0)
dx 2a
 1 
Now, (2a)    = –1 for all a > 0.
 2a 
Therefore, the tangents to the curve at x = a on each curve are always perpendicular.

9
 π  3π 
34. (a) EITHER A sin   + B = 3 and A sin   + B = –1
 
2  2 
 A + B = 3, – A + B = –1
 A = 2, B = 1
OR
3  (1) 4
Amplitude = A =  =2
2 2
3  (1) 2
Midpoint value = B =  =1
2 2
π 
(b) f (x) = 2 sin  x  + 1
2 
π π  π 
f (x) =  2 cos  x  + 0 =  cos  x 
2 2  2 

π 
(c) (i) y = k – x is a tangent  – =  cos  x 
2 

π 
 –1 = cos  x
2 
π
 x =  or 3 or ...
2
 x = 2 or 6 ...
Since 0  x  5, we take x = 2, so the point is (2, 1)
(ii) Tangent line is: y = –(x – 2) + 1
y = (2 + 1) – x
k = 2 + 1

π 
(d) f (x) = 2  2 sin  x  + 1 = 2
2 

π  1
 sin  x  
2  2
π π 5π 13π
 x  or or
2 6 6 6
1 5 13
x= or or
3 3 3

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35.

11