CURVE TRACING

The object of curve tracing is to find the approximate shape of a curve without the labour of
plotting a large number of points. Before tracing the curves defined by y = f(x) or f (x, y) =0,
we discuss some properties such as asymptotes, singular points, curvature etc. of the curves
y = f (x) which give us a ‘frame’ within which we can draw the curve. These properties tell us
the shape of the curve after we have plotted only a few points. Now we shall discuss them in
detail.

CURVE TRACING IN CARTESIAN COORDINATES

If the Cartesian equation f (x, y) = 0 of the curve is given, the students will find that he
can invariable solve it either for y, or for x. There will be some cases, where the Cartesian
equation of the curve can not be solved either for y or for x but can be solved for r (in terms
of  ) when transformed into polar coordinates. In case of parametric equations, if they can be
easily transformed into Cartesian coordinates by eliminating the parameter, then there is no
new case, otherwise they can be discussed in parametric form itself.

Procedure of Tracing the Cartesian curves

We use the following information to trace the curve whose equation is given in Cartesian
coordinates.

1. Symmetry: Determine if the curve has any symmetry by applying the following rules:

(a) If all the powers of y occurring in the equation of curve are even, the curve is
symmetrical about x-axis. In this case the shape of the curve above and below the axis of x is
symmetrical. We may sketch the curve above the x-axis, i.e. for y > 0 and draw its reflection
2 x2 y2
below the x-axis. For example, the parabola y = 4ax or the ellipse 2  2  1 .
a b

(b) If all the powers of x occurring in the equation of curve are even, then curve is
symmetrical about y-axis. For example, x 2  4ay .

From these two conditions we conclude that if the powers of x and y are even, the curve is
symmetrical about both the axes. For example, the circle x 2  y 2  a 2 or the ellipse
x2 y 2
  1.
a2 b2

(c) If x and y can be interchanged without any change in the equation of curve then the

curve is symmetrical about the line y = x. For example, xy  a 2.

(d) If the equation of curve remains unchanged on changing the signs of x and y, the

curve is symmetrical in opposite quadrants. For example, x 2  y 2  a 2 , xy  a 2etc.

(e) If the equation of curve remains unchanged if we replace x by – y and y by – x then

the curve is symmetrical about the line y = - x. For example, x 2  y 2  a 2 .

2. Origin and tangents at origin. Find whether curve passes through origin or not i.e.

(0, 0) satisfies the equation of curve or not. If the curve passes through the origin, find

the equation of tangents at the origin by equating the lowest degree terms of the equation

to zero.

If the curve passes through origin and is given by a rational, integral, algebraic
equation, the equation of the tangent or tangents at the origin is obtained by equating to
zero the terms of the lowest degree in the equation of the curve.

For example, the curve a 2 y 2  x 2 (a 2  x 2 ) passes through the origin. The lowest degree
terms (degree 2) in equation is a 2 y 2  x 2 a 2 . Equating this to zero, we have

a 2 ( y 2  x 2 )  0 or y 2  x 2 or y   x is the equation of tangent at the origin.

. 3. Points of intersection with the axes. Putting y = 0 in the equation of curve we can

find the points where the curve cuts the x-axis. For example x3 y = x + 1. Putting y = 0 we

get x = - 1 i.e. the curve cuts the x-axis at (-1, 0).

Similarly, putting x = 0 in the equation of curve, we can find the points where the

curve cuts the y- axis.

When such points are known we can find the equation of tangents at these points by
shifting the origin to these points one by one. Then tangents at these new origins are obtained
by equating the lowest degree terms to zero. For example, in the curve x 3 y  x  1, the curve
cuts the x-axis at (  1, 0).

Now shifting the origin at (  1, 0) by the transformations

X = x + 1 i.e. x = X  1 and Y= y  0 i.e. y = Y

The new equation of curve thus becomes

 X  13 Y   
X or X 3  1  3 X 2  3 X Y  X

or X 3Y  Y  3 X 2Y  3 XY  X  0

Equation to zero the coefficient of lowest degree terms, we get

X + Y= 0
or x + 1 + y = 0 or x + y =  1 is the equation of tangent at (  1, 0).

4. Asymptotes. A straight line at a finite distance from the origin, which touches the curve at
infinity, is called an asymptote to the curve.

The tangent to the curve y = f(x) at P (x, y) is

dy
Yy  X  x
dx

 dy   dy 
or Y  X  yx .
 dx   dx 

dy  dy 
If an asymptote exists, then as x  , and  y  x  should tend to finite limits say m
dx  dx 
and c respectively. If this condition is satisfied then the asymptote would be

Y  mX  c

lim  dy  lim  dy 
Hence,    m and yx   c.
x    dx  x  dx 

lim  y dy  lim c

     0
x    x dx  x    x 

lim  y lim  dy 
or      0
x x x    dx 

lim  y
or   m
x x

which shows that the m of an asymptote is equal to the limit of (y/x) as x tends to infinity.

The asymptotes to the curve are determined by using the following rules:

(i) Asymptote parallel to x-axis: The asymptote or asymptotes parallel to the axis of x can
be obtained by equating to zero the coefficient of the highest power of x, provided this is not
merely a constant.

(ii) Asymptote parallel to y-axis: The asymptotes parallel to the axis of y are obtained by
equating to zero the coefficient of the highest degree terms in y, provided this is not merely a
constant.

NOTE A curve of degree n cannot have more than n asymptotes real or imaginary.
(iii) Method for finding the asymptotes of general algebraic curve. Let the equation of
curve be

a y
0
n
 
 a1 y n 1 x  a2 y n  2 x 2  ...  an x n  b1 y n 1  b2 y n  2 x  ...  bn x n 1 
 
 c2 y n  2  c3 y n 3 x  ...  cn x n  2  ...  0 (1)

This equation can also be written as

 y  y
xn  n    x  n 1    ...  0
n 1

x  x

where  n  y / x  ,  n 1  y / x , ... are expression of nth and (n-1)th, ... degree in (y/x).

Dividing by xn, the above expression can be written as

 y 1  y 1  y
n     n1    2  n 2    ...  0 (2)
x x  x x x

lim y
Now taking the limit as x   such that ( ) = m, excluding the case of asymptotes
x x
y
parallel to the y-axis in which lim ( ) is infinite, we get
x  x

 n m   0 (3)

This equation which is of degree n in m, determines the values of m which occurs in the
equation y = mx + c. In general, Eq.(3) will have n values of m corresponding to the n
branches of the curve (1).Some of the values of m, may, however, be imaginary or coincident.

To determine the values of c we proceed as follows:

Differentiating Eq. (2) with respect to x, we get

 1  y x  y 1 2
 n  y/x    n 1  y/x   ... 2
 2  n 1  y/x   3  n  2  y/x   ...  0
 x  x x x

Multiplying by x2 and taking the limit x   , we get

c n (m)  n1 m  0 , (4)

as lim  yx  y   c . Equation (4) determines one value of c for each value of m obtained
x 

form Eq. (3).

Working Rule: Substitute (mx + c) for y in the equation of the curve and equate to zero the
coefficients of xn and xn-1. Determine m and c from these two equations. If m1, c1; m2, c2 ; ...
are the values of m and c thus obtained, the asymptotes are

y  m1 x  c1 ; y  m2 x  c2 ;...

Here values of m and c are determined as follows:

(i) Put x= 1 and y = m in the highest degree (nth degree) terms of the curve and put the
obtained expression equal to  n m , (if the highest degree curve is of degree nth).

(ii) Put x= 1 and y = m in (n -1)th degree) terms of the curve and put the obtained expression
equal to  n1 m .

(iii) Put x= 1 and y = m in (n -2)th degree) terms of the curve and put the obtained expression
equal to  n 2 m .

Repeat the above process for the terms of lower degrees.

To find m, put  n m   0 and solve this equation to find all the values of m. Then the values
n1 m
of c are obtained by using equation (4) as c  
 n (m)

However, if any value of m obtained from Eq. (3) satisfies Eq.(4) i..e.
 n (m)  0 and  n 1 m   0 , it means that the two values of m are identical ( showing two
mutual parallel asymptotes) and consequently the values of c cannot be determined from Eq.
(4). In such cases, we differentiate Eq. (2) twice with respect to x, multiply by as suitable
power of x and take the limit as x   , then

1 2
c  n m   c  n 1 m    n 2 m   0 , (5)
2!

which will give two values of c corresponding to two identical values of m; in other words we
get a pair of parallel asymptotes. Similarly if m has three identical values, then proceeding in
the same way, we get

1 3 c2
c  n m   n1 m   cn 2 m   n3 m   0 . (6)
3! 2!

Example 1 Find the asymptotes of the curve

y 3  x 2 y  2 xy 2  2 x 3  7 xy  3 y 2  2 x 2  2 x  2 y  1  0 . (i)

Solution Putting y = mx + c in the above equation and rearranging the equation in descending
powers of x, we get
     
x 3 m 3  2m 2  m  2  x 2 3m 2 c  c  4mc  7m  3m 2  2  x 3mc 2  2c 2  7c

+ 6mc  2 m  2)  c 3  3c 2  2c  1  0 .

Therefore values of m are obtained by equating the coefficient of x3 i.e.  3 m   0

m 3  2m 2  m  2  0

or 
m m2 1  2 m2 1  0  
or m  1 m  1 m  2  0
or m = - 1, 1, and 2.

Now the corresponding values of c are given by equating the coefficient of x2 to zero i.e.

 
c 3m 2  1  4m  3m 2  7m  2  0
3m 2  7m  2
or c  
3m 2  4m  1

For m  1, c   1; For m  1, c  2 ; and when m  2, c  0 .

Hence the asymptotes are y = x-1; y = -x-2, y = 2x.

Example 2 Find the asymptotes of the curve

y x  y   yx  y   2  0 .
3

Solution Putting y = mx + c in the equation of curve, we get

  
x 4 m 1  m  x 3 c  6c m  6c m2  4c m3  x 2 9c 2 m  6m2c 2  3c 2  m  m2
3

 
 x 3c 3  4m c 3  c  2c m  c 4  c 2  2  0 . (i)

Equating to zero the coefficient of x4, we get

m 1  m   0 or m  0 and m  1 (repeated three times)

3

Now the corresponding values of c are given by

c - 6c m + 6c m2 - 4c m3 = 0 (ii)

This gives c = 0 when m = 0. Hence one asymptote is y = 0.

For m =1, the Eq. (ii) becomes an identity and gives no definite values of c. Now,
equating the coefficient of x2 to zero, we get

9c 2 m  6m 2 c 2  3c 2  m  m 2  0
Putting m = 1, this equation again becomes an identity. Therefore we now equate the
coefficient of x to zero

3c 3  4mc 3  c  2cm  0

For m =1, 3c 3  4c 3  c  2c  0 or c 3  c  0 or c  0,  1 .

Hence asymptotes are y = x, y = x+1, y = x-1.

Consequently four asymptotes are y = 0, y = x, y = x ± 1.

EXAMPLE 3 Find the asymptotes of x 3  2 x 2 y  xy 2  2 y 3  3xy  3 y 2  x  1  0 .

Solution Putting x =1 and y = m in the third degree terms and equating to zero, we get

 3 m   1  2m  m 2  2m 3  0

or 1  2m  m 2 1  2m  0  m   1 ,  1
2

Now φ3 m   2  2m  6m 2

Also  2 m   3m  3m 2

φ2 m  3m  3m 2
Therefore c= -  .
φ3 m  2  2m  6m 2

1 1
For m   , c .
2 2

For m  1, c  1 .

For m   1, c  0 .

x 1
Hence all the asymptotes are y = x+1; y = - x and y = -  .
2 2

(iii) Asymptotes might not exist

If some particular value of m found from  n m   0 makes φn m  zero but do not make
 n 1 m  zero, then the Eq. (4) for determining the corresponding value of c becomes

0. c   n 1 m   0

This means that the equation in c is F c + G = 0, where

lim F = 0 and lim G =  n1 m  . Hence lim c    or   , and this corresponds to

x  x  x 
the case when the tangent goes further and further away as x   .

Example 4 Find the asymptotes of the parabola y2 = 4ax.

Solution Putting y = mx + c, we get (mx + c)2 – 4ax = 0

Equating the coefficients of x2 and x, we have

m 2  0 and mc  2a  0

The first equation gives m = 0. Then second equation reduces to -2a = 0 which is impossible.
Hence y2 = 4ax has no asymptotes.

 
Example 5 Find the asymptotes of the curve y 2 x 2  a 2  x .

Solution Equating to zero the coefficient of highest degree term in y i.e. y2 to zero, we get

x 2  a 2  0 i.e. x   a

which are asymptotes parallel to y-axis.

Again, equating to zero the coefficient of highest degree term in x i.e. x2 to zero, we
have

y 2  0  y  0,

which are asymptotes parallel to x-axis.

Thus all the four asymptotes have been found. Hence all the asymptotes are x = ± a, y = 0.

Example 6 Find the asymptotes of the curve y 2  x  2  x 2  y  1 .

Solution The given equation of curve can be written as is

y2 x  x2 y  2 y2  x2  0 (i)

This equation is of third degree, so it can not have more than three asymptotes.

Asymptotes parallel to X-axis: Equating to zero the coefficient of higher power of x,

y -1 = 0 or y =1

Asymptotes parallel to Y-axis: Equating to zero the coefficient of higher power of y,

x -2 = 0 or x =2

Oblique asymptotes: Putting x = 1 and y = m in third degree, second degree and first degree
terms respectively of Eq. (i), we get

3 ( m )  m 2  m
  2 ( m )  2 m 2  1

1 (m)  0 , as no first degree term in Eq.(i)

Now the slopes of the asymptotes are given by 3 (m)  0  m  0,1

2 ( m)  2m 2  1
Now c is given by c 
3 (m) 2m  1

For m = 0, c = 1 and hence the asymptote is y = 0.x + 1or y = 1. This asymptote is parallel to
X-axis.

For m = 1, c = 1 and hence the asymptote is y = x + 1.

Hence all the three asymptotes are x =2, y = 1 and y = x + 1.

Asymptotes to non-algebraic curves

The method of substituting y = mx + c and equating to zero the coefficients of the two highest
powers of x applies only to algebraic curves. In case of non-algebraic curves the asymptotes
can be found in simple cases by applying the definition.

EXAMPLE 7 Find the asymptotes of y = tan x.

dy
Solution We have  sec 2 x .
dx

 The tangent at (x, y) is

Y  tan x  sec 2 x  X  x 

or Y cos 2 x  sin x cos x  X  x . (i)


Now, as x  from the left, y   and the distance of (x, y) from the origin tend to
2

infinity. Hence to obtain the asymptote we must take the limit of Eq. (i) as x  which
2
gives

π X =  .
Y.0  0  X 
2 2

This is one asymptote. The other asymptotes are X =   ,  3  ,...

2 2

5. Region where the curve does not exist. If the value of y becomes imaginary for a certain
set of value of x, say a < x < b, then the curve does not lie in the region bounded by the lines
x = a and x = b. A similar remark applies to the value of x when expressed in terms of y.
6. Special points. To get more accuracy in the shape of the curve, prepare a table (if
necessary) for certain values of x and y and draw the curve passing through them.

EXAMPLE 1 Trace the curve y = x3 (Cubical Parabola).

Solution We have following information about the cur

curve:

1. Putting x = - x and y = - y,, the equation of curve remains unchanged therefore the curve is
symmetrical in the opposite quadrants.

2. The curve passes through origin. The tangent at origin is y = 0 i.e. x-axis.
axis.

3. The curve crosses the axes only at the origin.

4. The curve has no asymptote.

5.. From the given equation of curve we find that for x > 0; y > 0 and for x < 0; y < 0.Hence
the curve lies in first and third quadrants.

With the help of all these points the shape of the curve is shown in adjoining Figure 2.20.

EXAMPLE 2 Trace the curve y = ax2/(x2+1), a > 0.

Solution: We have the following information about the curve:

1. Since the equation of curve contains even powers of x only, therefore curve is symmetrical
about y-axis.

2. The curve passes through origin. The tangent at origin is y =0 i.e. x- axis.

3. The curve crosses the axis only at origin.

4. The curve has only one real asymptote y = a.

5.. Solving the given equation for x, we have

 y
x ,
a y

which shows that x is imaginary if y < 0 and y > a. Therefore the curve lies between the lines
y = 0 and y = a.

The shape of the curve is given in the Figure 2.21.

EXAMPLE 3 Trace the curve xy2 = 4a2 (2a-x) (Witch of Agnesi).

Solution We have following information for the given curve:

1. The given curve is symmetrical about the x-axis since it contains only even power y.

2. The curve does not pass through origin.

3. The curve cuts the x-axis at (2a, 0). Shifting the origin at (2a, 0) we find that x =2a is the

equation of tangent line at (2a.0).

Figure-2.22

4. The curve has only one real asymptote x = 0 i.e. y-axis is asymptote.

5. Solving the given equation for y, we have

2a  x
y   2a ,
x

which shows that y is imaginary if x < 0 and x > 2a. Therefore the curve does not exist

for x < 0 and x > 2a i.e. the curve lies between x = 0 and x = 2a.

The shape of the curve is given in the Figure 2.22.

EXAMPLE 4 Trace the curve ay2 = x2 (a-x).

Solution We have the following information about the curve:

1. The curve is symmetrical about the x-axis since it contains only even powers of y.
 Figure-2.23

2. The curve passes through the origin (0, 0). The equation of tangent at the origin is y = ± x

i..e two real and distinct tangents which shows that (0,0) is a node.

3. The curve cuts the coordinates axes at (0, 0) and (a, 0). Shifting the origin at (a, 0) we find

that x = a is the tangent line at (a, 0).

4. The curve has no asymptote.

5. From the equation of curve, we find that when x > a, y2 is negative or y is imaginary.

Hence the curve does not exist for values of x > a. Also as x decreases from 0 to -  , y
increases from 0 to  .

The shape of the curve is shown in the Figure 2.23.

EXAMPLE 5 Trace the curve 3ay2 = x (x-a)2.

Solution We have following information about the curve:

1. The curve is symmetrical about the x-axis.

2. The curve passes through the origin (0,0).The equation of tangents at the origin is x = 0

i.e. y-axis.

3. The curve cuts the x-axis at (0, 0) and (a,0). Shifting the origin to (a,0) we find that

π
equations of tangents at (a,0) are y = ± 1 whose inclinations to the x-axis are tan1 1  i.e. .
3  3 6

4. The curve has no asymptote.

5. From the given equation of curve we see that for negative values of x i.e. x < 0, y2 is

negative i.e. y is imaginary. Hence the curve does not exist for x < 0. Also as x increases from

a to  , y increases from 0 to  . The shape of the curve is shown in the figure 2.24.
 Figure -2.24

ax
EXAMPLE 6 Trace the curve y 2  x 2 .
ax

Solution We have the following points:

1. The curve is symmetrical about x- axis.

Figure-2.25

2. The curve passes through origin (0, 0) and the equations of tangents at origin are

y 2  x 2 or y   x which are real and distinct, therefore (0,0) is a node.

3. Putting y = 0, we have x =0, -a i.e. the curve cuts the x-axis at (0,0) and (-a, 0). Shifting the

origin at (-a, 0) we find that equation of tangent at (-a, 0) is x = a.

Again putting x = 0, y = 0 i.e. the curve cuts the y-axis only at the origin.

4. The curve has an asymptote x = a.

5. For x < - a, the curve does not exist. Similarly for x > a the curve does not exist. Also

as x  a, y 2   .

The shape of the curve is shown in the Figure 2.25.

EXAMPLE 7 Trace the curve x 3  y 3  x .

Solution We have the following points:

1. The curve is symmetrical in opposite quadrants.

2. The curve passes through the origin. The line x = 0 i.e. y-axis is tangent line at the origin.

Figure-2.26

3. When x = 0, y =0 i.e. the curve crosses the y-axis only at the origin. Again when y = 0,
x =0, ± 1 i.e. the curve crosses the x-axis at the points (0,0), (1,0) and (-1,0). Shifting the
origin at (1, 0) and (-1, 0), we find that equations of tangent line at these points are x = 1 and
x = -1 respectively.

4. The curve has only one real asymptote x + y = 0.

5. We have dy

1 1  3x2
and
d2y
 
1 18 xy 4

 2 y 1  3x2 
2
.
2
dx 3 y dx 2 9 y6

dy 1
Also  0 when x   .
dx 3
1/3
These values of x will give the maximum or minimum value of y which are  1  1 

 3 3 3

1/3
and   1  1  1/3
respectively i.e. 2 2 1 / 3 respectively.
 and 
 3 3 3 3 3

6. The given equation can also be written as

y 3  x 1  x  1  x 

When x > 0 but < 1, y is positive. When x > 1, y is negative and tends to   as x   .
Similarly when x lies between 0 and -1, y is negative and when x is negative and numerically
greater than 1, y is positive and tends to  as x tends to   .
From these points the approximate shape of curve is given in adjoining Figure 2.26.

EXAMPLE 8 Trace the curve x6 + y6 = a2x2y2.

Solution We have the following points:

1. The given curve is symmetrical about both axis, about y = x, y = - x and in the opposite

quadrants.

2. The curve passes through the origin. The tangents at the origin are x 2 y 2  0

or x = 0, x = 0; y = 0, y = 0 i.e. both axes are cuspidal tangents.

3. The curve crosses the coordinate axes only at the origin. For y = x, we get 2x6 = a2x4,

or x = 0, x = ± a which shows that the curve crosses the line y = x at (0,0),  a , a  and
2  2 2
 a a  .The value of dy at  a a   a a 
  ,    ,  is -1 i.e. tangent to the curve at  , 
 2 2 dx  2 2  2 2
3π
is inclined to the x – axis at an angle .
4

4. The curve has no asymptote..

With the above data and using symmetry, the shape of the curve is shown in the Figure 2.27.

Figure-2.27

EXAMPLE 9 Trace the curve y2 (2a-x) = x3 (Cissoid).

Solution We have the following points:

1. The curve is symmetrical about x-axis.

2. The curve passes through the origin. The tangents at the origin are y2 = 0 or y = 0 and

y = 0 i.e. there is a cusp at origin.

3. The curve cuts the axes only at the origin.

4. The line x = 2a is asymptote to the curve.

5. The equation of curve is x3 , which shows that y2 is negative when x < 0 and
y2 
2a  x
x > 2a i.e. y is imaginary for x < 0 and x > 2a, therefore the curve does not exist for these
values of x i.e. the curve lies between 0 to 2a. Also as x  2 a , y    .The shape of the
curve is shown in the Figure 2.28.

Figure-2.28

EXAMPLE 10 Trace the curve x  ( y  1)( y  2)( y  3) .

Solution We have the following points:

1. The curve is not symmetrical about the coordinate axis or about the line y = x or in
opposite quadrants.
2. The curve does not pass through origin.
3. The curve cuts the x-axis at ( -6, 0) and y-axis at (0, 1), (0, 2), (0, 3).
4. The given curve has no asymptotes.
5. From the given equation, it is clear that when 0 < y < 1, x is negative as all the three
factors are negative and becomes zero when y = 1.
When 1 < y < 2, x is positive as one factor is positive and two factors are negative. Also x
becomes zero when y = 2.
When 2 < y < 3, x is negative as two factors are positive and one factor is negative. Also x
becomes zero when y = 3.
When y > 3, x is positive and when y < 0, x is negative.
6. Form the following the table of values of x and y:

y 0 1/2 1 3/2 2 5/2 3 4 5

x  ( y  1)( y  2)( y  3) -6 -15/8 0 3/8 0 -3/8 0 6 24

With the help of these points the shape of the curve is shown in the figure 2.29.
 Figure- 2.29

EXAMPLE 11 Trace the curve x 2 ( x 2  y 2 )  a 2 ( x 2  y 2 ) .

Solution The given equation of curve can be written as y 2 ( x 2  a 2 )  x 2 (a 2  x 2 ) (i)

We have the following points:

1. The curve is symmetrical about both the coordinate axis since the equation contains even
powers of both x and y.
2. The curve passes through origin. Tangents at origin are given by x 2  y 2  0  y   x
which represents two real and distinct tangents at the origin. Hence the origin is a node.
3. Putting x = 0 in (i), we get y2 = 0  y  0 .Therefore curve cuts the y-axis
axis at (0, 0).Again
putting y = 0 in (i), we get x 2  a 2  0  x   a , i.e. curve cuts the x-axis
x at (a, 0) and
(-a,, 0).In order to find the equation of tangent at ((a,, 0), we shift the origin at (a,
( 0). If
(X, Y) are the new co-ordinates,
ordinates, then we have
X  x  a  x  X  a and Y  y  0  y  Y
Substituting these values in Eq. (i), we get

Y 2 ( X 2  2aX  2a 2 )  ( X 2  a 2  2aX )( X 2  2aX )

Now equating to zero the coefficient of lowest degree term, we have

 2 a 3 X  0  X  0 , i.e. Y -axis is tangent at (a, 0) or x  a  0  x  a is

equation of tangent at (a, 0).

Similarly x   a is equation of tangent at ((-a, 0).

4. The given curve has no asymptotes.

5. From the given equation, it is clear that when x > a , y2 is negative i.e. y is imaginary
which shows that curve does not exist for x > a .When 0 < x < a ,y2 is positive i.e. y is
real, then the curve exists in the region 0 < x < a.
6. For 0 < x < a,, we have the following the table of values of y:

x -a -a/2
/2 0 a/2 a

y 0  0.39 a 0  0.39 a 0
With the help of these points the shape of the curve is shown in the figure 2.30.

Figure-2.30