Equation of tangent or normal

Questions asking to find the equation of a tangent or normal line to a curve at a specified point, requiring differentiation to find the gradient.

34 questions · Moderate -0.1

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CAIE P1 2021 June Q11
14 marks Moderate -0.3
11 The equation of a curve is \(y = 2 \sqrt { 3 x + 4 } - x\).
  1. Find the equation of the normal to the curve at the point (4,4), giving your answer in the form \(y = m x + c\).
  2. Find the coordinates of the stationary point.
  3. Determine the nature of the stationary point.
  4. Find the exact area of the region bounded by the curve, the \(x\)-axis and the lines \(x = 0\) and \(x = 4\).
    If you use the following lined page to complete the answer(s) to any question(s), the question number(s) must be clearly shown.
CAIE P1 2023 June Q11
8 marks Standard +0.3
11 The equation of a curve is $$y = k \sqrt { 4 x + 1 } - x + 5$$ where \(k\) is a positive constant.
  1. Find \(\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x }\).
  2. Find the \(x\)-coordinate of the stationary point in terms of \(k\).
  3. Given that \(k = 10.5\), find the equation of the normal to the curve at the point where the tangent to the curve makes an angle of \(\tan ^ { - 1 } ( 2 )\) with the positive \(x\)-axis.
    If you use the following lined page to complete the answer(s) to any question(s), the question number(s) must be clearly shown.
CAIE P1 2024 November Q7
8 marks Moderate -0.3
7
\includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{e32902b8-a259-4572-982e-2a35413b81b2-08_534_462_248_804} The diagram shows part of the curve with equation \(y = \frac { 12 } { \sqrt [ 3 ] { 2 x + 1 } }\). The point \(A\) on the curve has coordinates \(\left( \frac { 7 } { 2 } , 6 \right)\).
  1. Find the equation of the tangent to the curve at \(A\). Give your answer in the form \(y = m x + c\). [4]
    \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{e32902b8-a259-4572-982e-2a35413b81b2-08_2716_38_109_2012}
  2. Find the area of the region bounded by the curve and the lines \(x = 0 , x = \frac { 7 } { 2 }\) and \(y = 0\).
CAIE P1 2013 June Q10
12 marks Standard +0.3
10
\includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{d0074ac8-42d2-49f4-a417-4a348537bccc-4_521_809_258_669} The diagram shows part of the curve \(y = ( x - 2 ) ^ { 4 }\) and the point \(A ( 1,1 )\) on the curve. The tangent at \(A\) cuts the \(x\)-axis at \(B\) and the normal at \(A\) cuts the \(y\)-axis at \(C\).
  1. Find the coordinates of \(B\) and \(C\).
  2. Find the distance \(A C\), giving your answer in the form \(\frac { \sqrt { } a } { b }\), where \(a\) and \(b\) are integers.
  3. Find the area of the shaded region.
CAIE P1 2014 June Q4
5 marks Moderate -0.3
4 A curve has equation \(y = \frac { 4 } { ( 3 x + 1 ) ^ { 2 } }\). Find the equation of the tangent to the curve at the point where the line \(x = - 1\) intersects the curve.
CAIE P1 2017 June Q6
6 marks Standard +0.3
6 The line \(3 y + x = 25\) is a normal to the curve \(y = x ^ { 2 } - 5 x + k\). Find the value of the constant \(k\).
CAIE P1 2017 March Q9
11 marks Standard +0.8
9 The point \(A ( 2,2 )\) lies on the curve \(y = x ^ { 2 } - 2 x + 2\).
  1. Find the equation of the tangent to the curve at \(A\).
    The normal to the curve at \(A\) intersects the curve again at \(B\).
  2. Find the coordinates of \(B\).
    The tangents at \(A\) and \(B\) intersect each other at \(C\).
  3. Find the coordinates of \(C\).
CAIE P1 2017 November Q1
4 marks Moderate -0.8
1 A curve has equation \(y = 2 x ^ { \frac { 3 } { 2 } } - 3 x - 4 x ^ { \frac { 1 } { 2 } } + 4\). Find the equation of the tangent to the curve at the point \(( 4,0 )\).
Edexcel P1 2021 January Q1
8 marks Moderate -0.8
  1. A curve has equation
$$y = 2 x ^ { 3 } - 5 x ^ { 2 } - \frac { 3 } { 2 x } + 7 \quad x > 0$$
  1. Find, in simplest form, \(\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x }\) The point \(P\) lies on the curve and has \(x\) coordinate \(\frac { 1 } { 2 }\)
  2. Find an equation of the normal to the curve at \(P\), writing your answer in the form \(a x + b y + c = 0\), where \(a , b\) and \(c\) are integers to be found.
    VILU SIHI NI JIIIM ION OCVIUV SIHI NI III M M I ON OOVIAV SIHI NI JIIIM I ION OC
Edexcel P1 2019 June Q1
6 marks Moderate -0.8
  1. The curve \(C\) has equation \(y = \frac { 1 } { 8 } x ^ { 3 } - \frac { 24 } { \sqrt { x } } + 1\)
    1. Find \(\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x }\), giving the answer in its simplest form.
      (3)
    The point \(P ( 4 , - 3 )\) lies on \(C\).
  2. Find the equation of the tangent to \(C\) at the point \(P\). Write your answer in the form \(y = m x + c\), where \(m\) and \(c\) are constants to be found.
Edexcel P1 2021 June Q1
8 marks Moderate -0.3
  1. The curve \(C\) has equation
$$y = \frac { x ^ { 2 } } { 3 } + \frac { 4 } { \sqrt { x } } + \frac { 8 } { 3 x } - 5 \quad x > 0$$
  1. Find \(\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x }\), giving your answer in simplest form. The point \(P ( 4,3 )\) lies on \(C\).
  2. Find the equation of the normal to \(C\) at the point \(P\). Write your answer in the form \(a x + b y + c = 0\), where \(a , b\) and \(c\) are integers to be found.
Edexcel P3 2021 January Q10
10 marks Standard +0.3
10. The curve \(C\) has equation $$x = 3 \sec ^ { 2 } 2 y \quad x > 3 \quad 0 < y < \frac { \pi } { 4 }$$
  1. Find \(\frac { \mathrm { d } x } { \mathrm {~d} y }\) in terms of \(y\).
  2. Hence show that $$\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x } = \frac { p } { q x \sqrt { x - 3 } }$$ where \(p\) is irrational and \(q\) is an integer, stating the values of \(p\) and \(q\).
  3. Find the equation of the normal to \(C\) at the point where \(y = \frac { \pi } { 12 }\), giving your answer in the form \(y = m x + c\), giving \(m\) and \(c\) as exact irrational numbers.
    END
    VI4V SIHI NI JIIIM IONOOVIAV SIHI NI JIIIM ION OOVI4V SIHI NI IIIYM ION OC
Edexcel P3 2024 January Q7
12 marks Moderate -0.3
  1. In this question you must show all stages of your working.
\section*{Solutions relying entirely on calculator technology are not acceptable.} The curve \(C\) has equation $$y = \frac { 16 } { 9 ( 3 x - k ) } \quad x \neq \frac { k } { 3 }$$ where \(k\) is a positive constant not equal to 3
  1. Find \(\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x }\) giving your answer in simplest form in terms of \(k\). The point \(P\) with \(x\) coordinate 1 lies on \(C\).
    Given that the gradient of the curve at \(P\) is - 12
  2. find the two possible values of \(k\) Given also that \(k < 3\)
  3. find the equation of the normal to \(C\) at \(P\), writing your answer in the form \(a x + b y + c = 0\), where \(a\), \(b\) and \(c\) are integers to be found.
  4. show, using algebraic integration that, $$\int _ { 1 } ^ { 3 } \frac { 16 } { 9 ( 3 x - k ) } d x = \lambda \ln 10$$ where \(\lambda\) is a constant to be found.
Edexcel P3 2022 June Q1
6 marks Easy -1.2
  1. The curve \(C\) has equation
$$y = ( 3 x - 2 ) ^ { 6 }$$
  1. Find \(\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x }\) Given that the point \(P \left( \frac { 1 } { 3 } , 1 \right)\) lies on \(C\),
  2. find the equation of the normal to \(C\) at \(P\). Write your answer in the form \(a x + b y + c = 0\) where \(a , b\) and \(c\) are integers to be found.
Edexcel C3 2010 June Q2
7 marks Moderate -0.3
2. A curve \(C\) has equation $$y = \frac { 3 } { ( 5 - 3 x ) ^ { 2 } } , \quad x \neq \frac { 5 } { 3 }$$ The point \(P\) on \(C\) has \(x\)-coordinate 2. Find an equation of the normal to \(C\) at \(P\) in the form \(a x + b y + c = 0\), where \(a , b\) and \(c\) are integers.
Edexcel C3 2013 June Q9
8 marks Standard +0.3
9. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{0f6fd881-4d4b-4f80-96cc-6da41cc33c60-16_570_903_237_534} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 4}
\end{figure} Figure 4 shows a sketch of the curve with equation \(x = \left( 9 + 16 y - 2 y ^ { 2 } \right) ^ { \frac { 1 } { 2 } }\).
The curve crosses the \(x\)-axis at the point \(A\).
  1. State the coordinates of \(A\).
  2. Find an expression for \(\frac { \mathrm { d } x } { \mathrm {~d} y }\), in terms of \(y\).
  3. Find an equation of the tangent to the curve at \(A\).
OCR C1 Q9
10 marks Standard +0.3
9. A curve has the equation \(y = x + \frac { 3 } { x } , x \neq 0\). The point \(P\) on the curve has \(x\)-coordinate 1 .
  1. Show that the gradient of the curve at \(P\) is - 2 .
  2. Find an equation for the normal to the curve at \(P\), giving your answer in the form \(y = m x + c\).
  3. Find the coordinates of the point where the normal to the curve at \(P\) intersects the curve again.
OCR C3 2006 June Q1
5 marks Moderate -0.8
1 Find the equation of the tangent to the curve \(y = \sqrt { 4 x + 1 }\) at the point ( 2,3 ).
OCR MEI C3 Q3
18 marks Standard +0.3
3 Fig. 8 shows the curve \(y = x ^ { 2 } - \frac { 1 } { 8 } \ln x\). P is the point on this curve with \(x\)-coordinate 1 , and R is the point \(\left( 0 , - \frac { 7 } { 8 } \right)\). \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{e3850377-bd1a-4e3c-8424-e3db7fd3c4db-2_1018_994_481_611} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Fig. 8}
\end{figure}
  1. Find the gradient of PR.
  2. Find \(\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x }\). Hence show that PR is a tangent to the curve.
  3. Find the exact coordinates of the turning point Q .
  4. Differentiate \(x \ln x - x\). Hence, or otherwise, show that the area of the region enclosed by the curve \(y = x ^ { 2 } - \frac { 1 } { 8 } \ln x\), the \(x\)-axis and the lines \(x = 1\) and \(x = 2\) is \(\frac { 59 } { 24 } - \frac { 1 } { 4 } \ln 2\).
OCR C4 Q5
9 marks Standard +0.3
5. (i) Given that $$x = \sec \frac { y } { 2 } , \quad 0 \leq y < \pi$$ show that $$\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x } = \frac { 2 } { x \sqrt { x ^ { 2 } - 1 } }$$ (ii) Find an equation for the tangent to the curve \(y = \sqrt { 3 + 2 \cos x }\) at the point where \(x = \frac { \pi } { 3 }\).
OCR C3 2009 June Q6
7 marks Standard +0.2
6
\includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{6a690aa5-63a7-4569-afa8-0746814ebab4-3_590_606_1197_772} The diagram shows the curve with equation \(x = \left( 37 + 10 y - 2 y ^ { 2 } \right) ^ { \frac { 1 } { 2 } }\).
  1. Find an expression for \(\frac { \mathrm { d } x } { \mathrm {~d} y }\) in terms of \(y\).
  2. Hence find the equation of the tangent to the curve at the point ( 7,3 ), giving your answer in the form \(y = m x + c\).
  3. Express \(8 \sin \theta - 6 \cos \theta\) in the form \(R \sin ( \theta - \alpha )\), where \(R > 0\) and \(0 ^ { \circ } < \alpha < 90 ^ { \circ }\).
  4. Hence
    (a) solve, for \(0 ^ { \circ } < \theta < 360 ^ { \circ }\), the equation \(8 \sin \theta - 6 \cos \theta = 9\),
    (b) find the greatest possible value of $$32 \sin x - 24 \cos x - ( 16 \sin y - 12 \cos y )$$ as the angles \(x\) and \(y\) vary.
AQA AS Paper 1 Specimen Q12
9 marks Standard +0.3
12 A curve has equation \(y = 6 x \sqrt { x } + \frac { 32 } { x }\) for \(x > 0\)
12
  1. Find \(\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x }\)
    [0pt] [4 marks]
    12
  2. The point \(A\) lies on the curve and has \(x\)-coordinate 4
    Find the coordinates of the point where the tangent to the curve at \(A\) crosses the \(x\)-axis.
    [0pt] [5 marks]
Edexcel AS Paper 1 2022 June Q10
10 marks Standard +0.3
10. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{d31369fa-9532-4a09-b67d-a3a3cbf7d586-30_639_878_246_596} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 2}
\end{figure} In this question you must show all stages of your working.
Solutions relying on calculator technology are not acceptable.
Figure 2 shows a sketch of part of the curve \(C\) with equation $$y = \frac { 1 } { 3 } x ^ { 2 } - 2 \sqrt { x } + 3 \quad x \geqslant 0$$ The point \(P\) lies on \(C\) and has \(x\) coordinate 4
The line \(l\) is the tangent to \(C\) at \(P\).
  1. Show that \(l\) has equation $$13 x - 6 y - 26 = 0$$ The region \(R\), shown shaded in Figure 2, is bounded by the \(y\)-axis, the curve \(C\), the line \(l\) and the \(x\)-axis.
  2. Find the exact area of \(R\).
OCR PURE 2021 October Q8
11 marks Standard +0.8
8
\includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{31b0d5b6-1593-489b-bbcd-486e7c96ff18-06_823_588_260_242} The diagram shows the curve \(y = 1 - x + \frac { 6 } { \sqrt { x } }\) and the line \(l\), which is the normal to the curve at the point (1, 6).
  1. Determine the equation of \(l\) in the form $$a x + b y = c$$ where \(a\), \(b\) and \(c\) are integers whose values are to be stated.
  2. Verify that the curve intersects the \(x\)-axis at the point where \(x = 4\).
  3. In this question you must show detailed reasoning. Determine the exact area of the shaded region enclosed between \(l\), the curve, the \(x\)-axis and the \(y\)-axis.
Edexcel C1 Q7
10 marks Moderate -0.3
  1. A curve has the equation \(y = \frac { x } { 2 } + 3 - \frac { 1 } { x } , x \neq 0\).
The point \(A\) on the curve has \(x\)-coordinate 2 .
  1. Find the gradient of the curve at \(A\).
  2. Show that the tangent to the curve at \(A\) has equation $$3 x - 4 y + 8 = 0$$ The tangent to the curve at the point \(B\) is parallel to the tangent at \(A\).
  3. Find the coordinates of \(B\).