Finding the tangent line of the curve of intersection

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around finding the tangent line to the curve of intersection between a paraboloid and a plane. The specific equations involved are z = 6 - x - x² - 2y² for the paraboloid and x = 1 for the plane. The original poster attempts to derive the parametric equations of the tangent line at a given point.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the process of finding the derivative of the curve of intersection and how to derive the slope at a specific point. Questions arise regarding the formulation of the tangent vector and the parametric equations for the tangent line.

Discussion Status

Some participants have offered guidance on interpreting the slope and constructing the tangent vector. There is an ongoing exploration of how to express the parametric equations based on the derived slope and point of tangency.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes considerations of the relationship between changes in y and z, as well as the implications of the slope derived from the derivative. There may be assumptions about the nature of the curve of intersection that are not fully explored.

Lucree
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Given the paraboloid z = 6 - x - x2 -2y2 and the plane x = 1, find curve of intersection and the parametric equations of the tangent line to this curve at point (1,2,-4).So I plugged x=1 into the paraboloid equation and got z = 4-2y2.

Then I take the derivative of the curve of intersection:
dz/dy = -4y

Then I plug in 2 for t since y=t=2 at the given point and get the slope -8.

The parametric equation of a line is r = r0 +tv
I have r0 = (1,2,-4) and I have a slope -8. I'm not sure how to get a vector.
 
Last edited:
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Consider in general:

dy/dx=m ... means that every 1 unit you go in x, you go m units in y right?
The vector that does that must be (1,m)t right?
 
yes, so if -8 is dz/dy then for every unit in y I go down 8 in z. so the vector would be <0, 1, -8>? then the parametric equation is

x = 1
y = 2 + t
z = -4 -8t
 
There you go :)
 

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