Tangent and Normal to the Hyperbola

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 16 views

6. Obtain the equation of the (a) tangent and (b) normal to the hyperbola $\frac{(x+2)^2}{4}-\frac{(y-1)^2}{2}=1$ at the points:

(i) $(2,5)$

(ii) $(-5,7)$

(iii) $(-6,-5)$

7. Determine the tangent points

Introduction

Hyperbolas are a fundamental concept in mathematics, and understanding their properties is crucial for solving various problems in mathematics and physics. In this article, we will focus on obtaining the equation of the tangent and normal to a hyperbola at specific points. We will use the equation of the hyperbola $\frac{(x+2)^2}{4}-\frac{(y-1)^2}{2}=1$ and find the tangent and normal at the points $(2,5)$ , $(-5,7)$ , and $(-6,-5)$ .

Equation of the Hyperbola

The given equation of the hyperbola is $\frac{(x+2)^2}{4}-\frac{(y-1)^2}{2}=1$ . This equation represents a hyperbola with its center at $(-2,1)$ and transverse axis along the x-axis.

Tangent and Normal to the Hyperbola

To find the equation of the tangent and normal to the hyperbola at a specific point, we need to use the following formulas:

Equation of the tangent: $\frac{xx_1}{a^2} - \frac{yy_1}{b^2} = 1$
Equation of the normal: $\frac{xx_1}{a^2} + \frac{yy_1}{b^2} = 1$

where $(x_1, y_1)$ is the point at which we want to find the tangent and normal.

(i) $(2,5)$

To find the equation of the tangent and normal at the point $(2,5)$ , we need to substitute $x_1 = 2$ and $y_1 = 5$ into the above formulas.

Equation of the tangent: $\frac{x(2)}{4} - \frac{y(5)}{2} = 1$
Equation of the normal: $\frac{x(2)}{4} + \frac{y(5)}{2} = 1$

Simplifying the above equations, we get:

Equation of the tangent: $x - 5y = 4$
Equation of the normal: $x + 5y = 2$

(ii) $(-5,7)$

To find the equation of the tangent and normal at the point $(-5,7)$ , we need to substitute $x_1 = -5$ and $y_1 = 7$ into the above formulas.

Equation of the tangent: $\frac{x(-5)}{4} - \frac{y(7)}{2} = 1$
Equation of the normal: $\frac{x(-5)}{4} + \frac{y(7)}{2} = 1$

Simplifying the above equations, we get:

Equation of the tangent: $-5x - 7y = 4$
Equation of the normal: $-5x + 7y = 2$

(iii) $(-6,-5)$

To find the equation of the tangent and normal at the point $(-6,-5)$ , we need to substitute $x_1 = -6$ and $y_1 = -5$ into the above formulas.

Equation of the tangent: $\frac{x(-6)}{4} - \frac{y(-5)}{2} = 1$
Equation of the normal: $\frac{x(-6)}{4} + \frac{y(-5)}{2} = 1$

Simplifying the above equations, we get:

Equation of the tangent: $-3x + 5y = 4$
Equation of the normal: $-3x - 5y = 2$

Conclusion

In this article, we have obtained the equation of the tangent and normal to the hyperbola $\frac{(x+2)^2}{4}-\frac{(y-1)^2}{2}=1$ at the points $(2,5)$ , $(-5,7)$ , and $(-6,-5)$ . We have used the formulas for the equation of the tangent and normal and substituted the values of the points into these formulas to obtain the required equations.
Q&A: Tangent and Normal to a Hyperbola

Introduction

In our previous article, we obtained the equation of the tangent and normal to the hyperbola $\frac{(x+2)^2}{4}-\frac{(y-1)^2}{2}=1$ at the points $(2,5)$ , $(-5,7)$ , and $(-6,-5)$ . In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions related to the tangent and normal to a hyperbola.

Q1: What is the equation of the tangent to a hyperbola?

A1: The equation of the tangent to a hyperbola is given by $\frac{xx_1}{a^2} - \frac{yy_1}{b^2} = 1$ , where $(x_1, y_1)$ is the point at which we want to find the tangent.

Q2: What is the equation of the normal to a hyperbola?

A2: The equation of the normal to a hyperbola is given by $\frac{xx_1}{a^2} + \frac{yy_1}{b^2} = 1$ , where $(x_1, y_1)$ is the point at which we want to find the normal.

Q3: How do we find the equation of the tangent and normal to a hyperbola at a specific point?

A3: To find the equation of the tangent and normal to a hyperbola at a specific point, we need to substitute the values of the point into the formulas for the equation of the tangent and normal.

Q4: What is the significance of the tangent and normal to a hyperbola?

A4: The tangent and normal to a hyperbola are important concepts in mathematics and physics. They are used to study the properties of the hyperbola and to solve various problems related to the hyperbola.

Q5: Can we find the equation of the tangent and normal to a hyperbola at any point?

A5: Yes, we can find the equation of the tangent and normal to a hyperbola at any point. However, we need to ensure that the point lies on the hyperbola.

Q6: How do we determine the tangent points of a hyperbola?

A6: To determine the tangent points of a hyperbola, we need to find the points at which the tangent to the hyperbola is parallel to the x-axis or y-axis.

Q7: What is the relationship between the tangent and normal to a hyperbola?

A7: The tangent and normal to a hyperbola are perpendicular to each other. This means that the angle between the tangent and normal is 90 degrees.

Q8: Can we find the equation of the tangent and normal to a hyperbola using other methods?

A8: Yes, we can find the equation of the tangent and normal to a hyperbola using other methods such as the slope of the tangent and normal.

Q9: What is the significance of the slope of the tangent and normal to a hyperbola?

A9: The slope of the tangent and normal to a hyperbola is an important concept in mathematics and physics. It is used to study the properties of the hyperbola and to solve various problems related to the hyperbola.

Q10: Can we find the equation of the tangent and normal to a hyperbola using a graphing calculator?

A10: Yes, we can find the equation of the tangent and normal to a hyperbola using a graphing calculator. This can be done by plotting the hyperbola and the tangent and normal lines on the graphing calculator.

Conclusion

In this article, we have answered some frequently asked questions related to the tangent and normal to a hyperbola. We have discussed the equation of the tangent and normal, how to find the equation of the tangent and normal, the significance of the tangent and normal, and other related concepts.