Introduction
In this Section we see how the equations of the tangent line and the normal line at a particular point on the curve can be obtained. The equations of tangent and normal lines are often written as
respectively. We shall show that the product of their gradients and is such that is which is the condition for perpendicularity.
Prerequisites
- be able to differentiate standard functions
- understand the geometrical interpretation of a derivative
- know the trigonometric expansions of
Learning Outcomes
- obtain the condition that two given lines are perpendicular
- obtain the equation of the tangent line to a curve
- obtain the equation of the normal line to a curve