Difference between revisions of "Tangent Plane"

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(Created page with "* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6paZkmBMZwQ Tangent planes | MIT 18.02SC Multivariable Calculus, Fall 2010] *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfnpcOcZAO0 Determining the E...")
 
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Intuitively, it seems clear that, in a plane, only one line can be tangent to a curve at a point. However, in three-dimensional space, many lines can be tangent to a given point. If these lines lie in the same plane, they determine the tangent plane at that point. A tangent plane at a regular point contains all of the lines tangent to that point. A more intuitive way to think of a tangent plane is to assume the surface is smooth at that point (no corners). Then, a tangent line to the surface at that point in any direction does not have any abrupt changes in slope because the direction changes smoothly.
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===Definition===
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: Let <math> P_0 = (x_0,y_0,z_0) </math> be a point on a surface <math>S</math>, and let <math>C</math> be any curve passing through <math>P_0</math> and lying entirely in <math>S</math>. If the tangent lines to all such curves <math>C</math> at <math>P_0</math> lie in the same plane, then this plane is called the tangent plane to <math>S</math> at <math>P_0</math>.
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==Resources==
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===Videos===
 
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6paZkmBMZwQ Tangent planes | MIT 18.02SC Multivariable Calculus, Fall 2010]
 
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6paZkmBMZwQ Tangent planes | MIT 18.02SC Multivariable Calculus, Fall 2010]
  

Revision as of 10:44, 6 October 2021

Intuitively, it seems clear that, in a plane, only one line can be tangent to a curve at a point. However, in three-dimensional space, many lines can be tangent to a given point. If these lines lie in the same plane, they determine the tangent plane at that point. A tangent plane at a regular point contains all of the lines tangent to that point. A more intuitive way to think of a tangent plane is to assume the surface is smooth at that point (no corners). Then, a tangent line to the surface at that point in any direction does not have any abrupt changes in slope because the direction changes smoothly.

Definition

Let be a point on a surface , and let be any curve passing through and lying entirely in . If the tangent lines to all such curves at lie in the same plane, then this plane is called the tangent plane to at .


Resources

Videos