Find tangent equation at parameter

A question is this type if and only if it asks to find the equation of the tangent line to a parametric curve at a specific parameter value or point.

29 questions · Standard +0.1

1.03g Parametric equations: of curves and conversion to cartesian1.07s Parametric and implicit differentiation
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CAIE P2 2020 June Q3
5 marks Moderate -0.3
3 A curve has parametric equations $$x = \mathrm { e } ^ { t } - 2 \mathrm { e } ^ { - t } , \quad y = 3 \mathrm { e } ^ { 2 t } + 1$$ Find the equation of the tangent to the curve at the point for which \(t = 0\).
CAIE P2 2014 June Q4
6 marks Moderate -0.3
4 The parametric equations of a curve are $$x = 2 \ln ( t + 1 ) , \quad y = 4 \mathrm { e } ^ { t }$$ Find the equation of the tangent to the curve at the point for which \(t = 0\). Give your answer in the form \(a x + b y + c = 0\), where \(a , b\) and \(c\) are integers.
CAIE P3 2011 June Q5
7 marks Standard +0.3
5 The parametric equations of a curve are $$x = \ln ( \tan t ) , \quad y = \sin ^ { 2 } t$$ where \(0 < t < \frac { 1 } { 2 } \pi\).
  1. Express \(\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x }\) in terms of \(t\).
  2. Find the equation of the tangent to the curve at the point where \(x = 0\).
CAIE P2 2011 November Q6
7 marks Standard +0.3
6 The parametric equations of a curve are $$x = 1 + 2 \sin ^ { 2 } \theta , \quad y = 4 \tan \theta$$
  1. Show that \(\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x } = \frac { 1 } { \sin \theta \cos ^ { 3 } \theta }\).
  2. Find the equation of the tangent to the curve at the point where \(\theta = \frac { 1 } { 4 } \pi\), giving your answer in the form \(y = m x + c\).
CAIE P2 2013 November Q5
8 marks Moderate -0.3
5 The parametric equations of a curve are $$x = 1 + \sqrt { } t , \quad y = 3 \ln t$$
  1. Find the exact value of the gradient of the curve at the point \(P\) where \(y = 6\).
  2. Show that the tangent to the curve at \(P\) passes through the point \(( 1,0 )\).
CAIE P2 2015 November Q6
9 marks Standard +0.3
6 \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{7e100be2-9768-4fcd-b516-c714e53b0665-3_453_650_258_744} The diagram shows the curve with parametric equations $$x = 3 \cos t , \quad y = 2 \cos \left( t - \frac { 1 } { 6 } \pi \right)$$ for \(0 \leqslant t < 2 \pi\).
  1. Show that \(\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x } = \frac { 1 } { 3 } ( \sqrt { } 3 - \cot t )\).
  2. Find the equation of the tangent to the curve at the point where the curve crosses the positive \(y\)-axis. Give the answer in the form \(y = m x + c\).
CAIE P2 2015 November Q3
6 marks Moderate -0.3
3 The parametric equations of a curve are $$x = ( t + 1 ) \mathrm { e } ^ { t } , \quad y = 6 ( t + 4 ) ^ { \frac { 1 } { 2 } }$$ Find the equation of the tangent to the curve when \(t = 0\), giving the answer in the form \(a x + b y + c = 0\) where \(a , b\) and \(c\) are integers.
CAIE P2 2018 November Q5
9 marks Standard +0.3
5 A curve has parametric equations $$x = t + \ln ( t + 1 ) , \quad y = 3 t \mathrm { e } ^ { 2 t }$$
  1. Find the equation of the tangent to the curve at the origin.
  2. Find the coordinates of the stationary point, giving each coordinate correct to 2 decimal places. [4]
CAIE P3 2021 June Q6
8 marks Standard +0.3
6 The parametric equations of a curve are $$x = \ln ( 2 + 3 t ) , \quad y = \frac { t } { 2 + 3 t }$$
  1. Show that the gradient of the curve is always positive.
  2. Find the equation of the tangent to the curve at the point where it intersects the \(y\)-axis.
CAIE P3 2022 June Q6
8 marks Standard +0.3
6 The parametric equations of a curve are \(x = \frac { 1 } { \cos t } , y = \ln \tan t\), where \(0 < t < \frac { 1 } { 2 } \pi\).
  1. Show that \(\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x } = \frac { \cos t } { \sin ^ { 2 } t }\).
  2. Find the equation of the tangent to the curve at the point where \(y = 0\).
Edexcel P4 2024 January Q9
12 marks Standard +0.8
9. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{6f577461-24b7-4615-b58b-e67597fd9675-28_597_1020_251_525} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 4}
\end{figure} Figure 4 shows a sketch of the curve \(C\) with parametric equations $$x = \sec t \quad y = \sqrt { 3 } \tan \left( t + \frac { \pi } { 3 } \right) \quad \frac { \pi } { 6 } < t < \frac { \pi } { 2 }$$
  1. Find \(\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x }\) in terms of \(t\)
  2. Find an equation for the tangent to \(C\) at the point where \(t = \frac { \pi } { 3 }\) Give your answer in the form \(y = m x + c\), where \(m\) and \(c\) are constants.
  3. Show that all points on \(C\) satisfy the equation $$y = \frac { A x ^ { 2 } + B \sqrt { 3 x ^ { 2 } - 3 } } { 4 - 3 x ^ { 2 } }$$ where \(A\) and \(B\) are constants to be found.
Edexcel C4 2006 June Q4
9 marks Moderate -0.3
4. \begin{figure}[h]
\captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 2} \includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{c0c6303b-f527-4e68-91bc-5c9c6ffa8de8-05_480_1059_313_438}
\end{figure} The curve shown in Figure 2 has parametric equations $$x = \sin t , y = \sin \left( t + \frac { \pi } { 6 } \right) , \quad - \frac { \pi } { 2 } < t < \frac { \pi } { 2 }$$
  1. Find an equation of the tangent to the curve at the point where \(t = \frac { \pi } { 6 }\).
  2. Show that a cartesian equation of the curve is $$y = \frac { \sqrt { } 3 } { 2 } x + \frac { 1 } { 2 } \sqrt { } \left( 1 - x ^ { 2 } \right) , \quad - 1 < x < 1$$
Edexcel C4 2010 June Q4
10 marks Standard +0.3
4. A curve \(C\) has parametric equations $$x = \sin ^ { 2 } t , \quad y = 2 \tan t , \quad 0 \leqslant t < \frac { \pi } { 2 }$$
  1. Find \(\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x }\) in terms of \(t\). The tangent to \(C\) at the point where \(t = \frac { \pi } { 3 }\) cuts the \(x\)-axis at the point \(P\).
  2. Find the \(x\)-coordinate of \(P\).
    \section*{LU}
Edexcel C4 2012 June Q6
12 marks Moderate -0.3
6. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{12fbfe89-60fe-4890-9a22-2b1988d05d33-09_831_784_127_580} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 2}
\end{figure} Figure 2 shows a sketch of the curve \(C\) with parametric equations $$x = ( \sqrt { } 3 ) \sin 2 t , \quad y = 4 \cos ^ { 2 } t , \quad 0 \leqslant t \leqslant \pi$$
  1. Show that \(\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x } = k ( \sqrt { } 3 ) \tan 2 t\), where \(k\) is a constant to be determined.
  2. Find an equation of the tangent to \(C\) at the point where \(t = \frac { \pi } { 3 }\). Give your answer in the form \(y = a x + b\), where \(a\) and \(b\) are constants.
  3. Find a cartesian equation of \(C\).
Edexcel C4 2018 June Q5
7 marks Standard +0.3
5. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{0c4a3759-ecaa-47c3-a071-ce25fd11159f-16_938_1257_125_486} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 2}
\end{figure} Figure 2 shows a sketch of the curve \(C\) with parametric equations $$x = 1 + t - 5 \sin t , \quad y = 2 - 4 \cos t , \quad - \pi \leqslant t \leqslant \pi$$ The point \(A\) lies on the curve \(C\). Given that the coordinates of \(A\) are ( \(k , 2\) ), where \(k > 0\)
  1. find the exact value of \(k\), giving your answer in a fully simplified form.
  2. Find the equation of the tangent to \(C\) at the point \(A\). Give your answer in the form \(y = p x + q\), where \(p\) and \(q\) are exact real values.
Edexcel P4 2023 October Q8
14 marks Standard +0.3
8. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{7f5fc83d-ab7c-4edb-a2c6-7a58f1357d5a-24_579_642_251_715} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 3}
\end{figure} Figure 3 shows a sketch of the curve \(C\) with parametric equations $$x = 6 t - 3 \sin 2 t \quad y = 2 \cos t \quad 0 \leqslant t \leqslant \frac { \pi } { 2 }$$ The curve meets the \(y\)-axis at 2 and the \(x\)-axis at \(k\), where \(k\) is a constant.
  1. State the value of \(k\).
  2. Use parametric differentiation to show that $$\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x } = \lambda \operatorname { cosec } t$$ where \(\lambda\) is a constant to be found. The point \(P\) with parameter \(\mathrm { t } = \frac { \pi } { 4 }\) lies on \(C\).
    The tangent to \(C\) at the point \(P\) cuts the \(y\)-axis at the point \(N\).
  3. Find the exact \(y\) coordinate of \(N\), giving your answer in simplest form. The region bounded by the curve, the \(x\)-axis and the \(y\)-axis is rotated through \(2 \pi\) radians about the \(x\)-axis to form a solid of revolution.
    1. Show that the volume of this solid is given by $$\int _ { 0 } ^ { \alpha } \beta ( 1 - \cos 4 t ) d t$$ where \(\alpha\) and \(\beta\) are constants to be found.
    2. Hence, using algebraic integration, find the exact volume of this solid.
Edexcel P4 2018 Specimen Q4
9 marks Standard +0.3
4. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{4de08317-5fb9-4789-8d57-ccf463224c78-10_899_759_127_621} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 1}
\end{figure} Figure 1 shows a sketch of the curve \(C\) with parametric equations $$x = \sqrt { 3 } \sin 2 t \quad y = 4 \cos ^ { 2 } t \quad 0 \leqslant t \leqslant \pi$$
  1. Show that \(\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x } = k \sqrt { 3 } \tan 2 t\), where \(k\) is a constant to be found.
  2. Find an equation of the tangent to \(C\) at the point where \(t = \frac { \pi } { 3 }\) Give your answer in the form \(y = a x + b\), where \(a\) and \(b\) are constants.
OCR C4 2006 January Q5
8 marks Moderate -0.3
5 A curve is given parametrically by the equations \(x = t ^ { 2 } , y = 2 t\).
  1. Find \(\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x }\) in terms of \(t\), giving your answer in its simplest form.
  2. Show that the equation of the tangent to the curve at \(\left( p ^ { 2 } , 2 p \right)\) is $$p y = x + p ^ { 2 } .$$
  3. Find the coordinates of the point where the tangent at \(( 9,6 )\) meets the tangent at \(( 25 , - 10 )\).
OCR C4 2008 January Q9
9 marks Standard +0.3
9 The parametric equations of a curve are \(x = t ^ { 3 } , y = t ^ { 2 }\).
  1. Show that the equation of the tangent at the point \(P\) where \(t = p\) is $$3 p y - 2 x = p ^ { 3 } .$$
  2. Given that this tangent passes through the point ( \(- 10,7\) ), find the coordinates of each of the three possible positions of \(P\).
OCR C4 Specimen Q6
9 marks Moderate -0.3
6 \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{798da17d-0af5-4aa6-b731-564642dc28d5-3_766_611_251_703} The diagram shows the curve with parametric equations $$x = a \sin \theta , \quad y = a \theta \cos \theta$$ where \(a\) is a positive constant and \(- \pi \leqslant \theta \leqslant \pi\). The curve meets the positive \(y\)-axis at \(A\) and the positive \(x\)-axis at \(B\).
  1. Write down the value of \(\theta\) corresponding to the origin, and state the coordinates of \(A\) and \(B\).
  2. Show that \(\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x } = 1 - \theta \tan \theta\), and hence find the equation of the tangent to the curve at the origin.
OCR MEI C4 Q4
5 marks Moderate -0.5
4 A curve is given by the parametric equations \(x = t ^ { 2 } , y = 3 t\) for all values of \(t\). Find the equation of the tangent to the curve at the point where \(t = - 2\).
OCR H240/02 2019 June Q3
9 marks Standard +0.3
3
  1. A circle is defined by the parametric equations \(x = 3 + 2 \cos \theta , y = - 4 + 2 \sin \theta\).
    1. Find a cartesian equation of the circle.
    2. Write down the centre and radius of the circle.
  2. In this question you must show detailed reasoning. The curve \(S\) is defined by the parametric equations \(x = 4 \cos t , y = 2 \sin t\). The line \(L\) is a tangent to \(S\) at the point given by \(t = \frac { 1 } { 6 } \pi\). Find where the line \(L\) cuts the \(x\)-axis.
Edexcel Paper 2 2024 June Q10
6 marks Moderate -0.3
10. \begin{figure}[h]
\includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{2ce10759-9ce6-47a1-b55d-d22082f88f55-26_707_992_246_539} \captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 4}
\end{figure} Figure 4 shows a sketch of the curve \(C\) with parametric equations $$x = ( t + 3 ) ^ { 2 } \quad y = 1 - t ^ { 3 } \quad - 2 \leqslant t \leqslant 1$$ The point \(P\) with coordinates \(( 4,2 )\) lies on \(C\).
  1. Using parametric differentiation, show that the tangent to \(C\) at \(P\) has equation $$3 x + 4 y = 20$$ The curve \(C\) is used to model the profile of a slide at a water park.
    Units are in metres, with \(y\) being the height of the slide above water level.
  2. Find, according to the model, the greatest height of the slide above water level.
Edexcel C4 Q8
15 marks Standard +0.8
8. \begin{figure}[h]
\captionsetup{labelformat=empty} \caption{Figure 1} \includegraphics[alt={},max width=\textwidth]{cb12f63c-f4d0-4eb8-b4a5-0ad12f926b1a-5_609_1210_248_374}
\end{figure} A table top, in the shape of a parallelogram, is made from two types of wood. The design is shown in Fig. 1. The area inside the ellipse is made from one type of wood, and the surrounding area is made from a second type of wood. The ellipse has parametric equations, $$x = 5 \cos \theta , \quad y = 4 \sin \theta , \quad 0 \leq \theta < 2 \pi$$ The parallelogram consists of four line segments, which are tangents to the ellipse at the points where \(\theta = \alpha , \theta = - \alpha , \theta = \pi - \alpha , \theta = - \pi + \alpha\).
  1. Find an equation of the tangent to the ellipse at ( \(5 \cos \alpha , 4 \sin \alpha\) ), and show that it can be written in the form $$5 y \sin \alpha + 4 x \cos \alpha = 20 .$$
  2. Find by integration the area enclosed by the ellipse.
  3. Hence show that the area enclosed between the ellipse and the parallelogram is $$\frac { 80 } { \sin 2 \alpha } - 20 \pi$$
  4. Given that \(0 < \alpha < \frac { \pi } { 4 }\), find the value of \(\alpha\) for which the areas of two types of wood are equal.
AQA C4 2010 January Q6
10 marks Moderate -0.3
6
    1. Express \(\sin 2 \theta\) and \(\cos 2 \theta\) in terms of \(\sin \theta\) and \(\cos \theta\).
    2. Given that \(0 < \theta < \frac { \pi } { 2 }\) and \(\cos \theta = \frac { 3 } { 5 }\), show that \(\sin 2 \theta = \frac { 24 } { 25 }\) and find the value of \(\cos 2 \theta\).
  1. A curve has parametric equations $$x = 3 \sin 2 \theta , \quad y = 4 \cos 2 \theta$$
    1. Find \(\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x }\) in terms of \(\theta\).
    2. At the point \(P\) on the curve, \(\cos \theta = \frac { 3 } { 5 }\) and \(0 < \theta < \frac { \pi } { 2 }\). Find an equation of the tangent to the curve at the point \(P\).