Parametric Equations for Tangent Line at (cos 0pi/6, sin 0pi/6, 0pi/6)

AI Thread Summary
To find the parametric equations for the tangent line at the point (cos(π/6), sin(π/6), π/6) on the curve defined by x = cos(t), y = sin(t), z = t, the derivatives are calculated as x'(t) = -sin(t), y'(t) = cos(t), and z'(t) = 1. The tangent line at the point (1, 0, 0) is represented by the vector equation L(t) = (1, 0, 0) + t(0, 1, 1), leading to the parametric equations x(t) = 1, y(t) = t, z(t) = t. There was confusion regarding the input for x(t), which should simply be 1, while y(t) and z(t) are both equal to t. The discussion highlights the challenges of visualizing vectors in calculus, particularly in three dimensions.
weckod
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need parametric equations to the tangent line at the point
(cos 0pi/6, sin 0pi/6, 0pi/6) on the curve x = cost, y = sint, z = t

x(t) = ?
y(t)=?
z(t)=?

now from my understanding, i have to find the derivatives of x, y, and z right? and i did this... now alll i should do is plug in the x, y, z pts? and get the answers? i don't know if the 0pi/6 is correct because it was printed in w/ the problem... it could be pi/6 only and not 0pi/6... could someone help maybe i did some kind of calculation error... if possible explain thanks
 
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anyone know how to help here?
 
Think of your function as a basic space curve:
\vec r\left( t \right) = \left\langle {\cos t,\sin t,t} \right\rangle

where
\vec r\,'\left( t \right) = \left\langle { - \sin t,\cos t,1} \right\rangle

Your point, \left( {1,0,0} \right), can be represented by the positional vector \vec r \left( 0 \right).

As you remember from earlier calculus, the tangent line will thus be parallel to
\vec r \, ' \left( 0 \right) = \left\langle {0,1,1} \right\rangle

Now that you have an equation, you can represent the tangent line as :smile: :
\vec L\left( t \right) = \left\langle {1,0,0} \right\rangle + t\left\langle {0,1,1} \right\rangle \Rightarrow \vec L\left( t \right) = \left\langle {1,t,t} \right\rangle

Or parametrically without vector notation:
L\left( t \right) = \left\{ \begin{gathered}<br /> x = 1 \hfill \\<br /> y = z = t \hfill \\ <br /> \end{gathered} \right\}

:biggrin: Which basically says:
x = 1 , \,y = z

**Hope this helps :smile:
 
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so what is x(t)=? y(t)=? z(t)=? because i see what u did but the computer say its wrong... so i dontk now where it went wrong... i know what u did i did the same..
 
weckod said:
so what is x(t)=? y(t)=? z(t)=? because i see what u did but the computer say its wrong... so i dontk now where it went wrong... i know what u did i did the same..
\left\{ \begin{gathered}<br /> x\left( t \right) = 1 \hfill \\<br /> y\left( t \right) = t \hfill \\<br /> z\left( t \right) = t \hfill \\ <br /> \end{gathered} \right\}

What's the problem?
 
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well x(t) is not 1+t and same w/the others.. the computer say its wrong... that's what trippin me out
 
wow now the y(t) and z(t) is right but the x(t) is still wrong...
 
yay its just 1...
 
thanks a lot dude! u helped a lot i hate cal 3 its just hard for me for some reasons... its the vectors... i can't picture them...
 
  • #10
No problem :smile: Welcome to PF
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