Tangent to an Ellipse given the slope of the tangent

In summary, to determine the points on the ellipse where the tangent line has a slope of 1, use implicit differentiation to express y' as a function of x and y and then set y' equal to 1. This will give a condition on x and y that can be used to find the points on the ellipse.
  • #1
Liz226
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Homework Statement



Determine the points on the ellipse x^2 a 2y^2=1 where the tangent line has a slope of 1

Homework Equations



I'm able to solve problems when given points and asked to find equations of the tangent lines. However, I'm struggling to do the inverse.

The Attempt at a Solution



I've set up the ellipse in an implicit grapher and played around with it to try to find approximately what points it would be, and haven't had much luck, seeing as the implicit graphers don't allow for tracing and such. Setting the equation as y=1x+b seems to be the logical first action; however, I have no clue where to go from there.

Any and all help would be greatly appreciated
 
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  • #2
Use implicit differentiation to express y' as a function of x and y. Then set y'=1. What kind of a condition does that give you on x and y?
 
  • #3
2x+4y(dy/dx)=1
4y(dy/dx)=1-2x
(dy/dx)=(1-2x)/(4y)
 

1. What is an ellipse?

An ellipse is a closed curve that is formed by the intersection of a cone and a plane. It is a type of conic section and has two foci, which are points inside the ellipse that are equidistant from all points on the curve.

2. How is the slope of a tangent to an ellipse calculated?

The slope of a tangent to an ellipse can be calculated using the formula m = -b/a, where a is the length of the semi-major axis and b is the length of the semi-minor axis. This formula applies to all points on the ellipse, including the foci.

3. Can the slope of a tangent to an ellipse be positive or negative?

Yes, the slope of a tangent to an ellipse can be both positive or negative, depending on the location of the tangent on the ellipse. If the tangent is above the x-axis, the slope will be positive, and if it is below the x-axis, the slope will be negative.

4. How does the slope of a tangent to an ellipse relate to the eccentricity of the ellipse?

The eccentricity of an ellipse is a measure of how elongated it is. The closer the eccentricity is to 1, the more elongated the ellipse is, and the steeper the slope of the tangent will be. On the other hand, if the eccentricity is close to 0, the ellipse will be nearly circular, and the slope of the tangent will be close to 0 as well.

5. Can the slope of a tangent to an ellipse be infinite?

Yes, the slope of a tangent to an ellipse can be infinite at the foci of the ellipse. This is because the tangent line at the foci is perpendicular to the major axis, which has a slope of 0. This means that the slope of the tangent at the foci will be undefined, or infinite.

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