What Mistake Am I Making When Finding the Tangent Plane for a Torus?

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on finding the tangent plane for a torus defined by the parametric equations X(s,t)=((5+2cost)coss, (5+2cost)sins, 2sint) at the specific point ((5-(3)^1/2)/(2)^1/2, (5-(3)^1/2/(2)^1/2, 1). The user identifies a mistake in determining the parameters s and t, initially solving for t as pi/6 but encountering conflicting values for s. The correct values are established as t=5pi/6 and s=pi/4, clarifying the relationship between the trigonometric identities and the parametric equations.

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  • Understanding of parametric equations in multivariable calculus
  • Knowledge of trigonometric identities and their applications
  • Familiarity with the concept of tangent planes in differential geometry
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  • Study the derivation of tangent planes for parametric surfaces
  • Learn about the application of trigonometric identities in calculus
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Students and educators in mathematics, particularly those studying multivariable calculus, differential geometry, and anyone interested in the geometric properties of parametric surfaces like tori.

margaret23
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I know I am making a stupid mistake but I am not sure what it is...

Find an equation for the plane tangent to the torus X(s,t)=((5+2cost)coss, (5+2cost)sins, 2sint) at the point ((5-(3)^1/2)/(2)^1/2, (5-(3)^1/2/(2)^1/2, 1).

First I have to find what s and t are in order to sub them in for dT/ds and dT/dt. So first I solved for t using 2sint=1 and get t=pi/6. However, when I attempt to sub it into one of the other equations to solve for s I get 2 different answers for s when using each of the different equations. What am I doing wrong?
 
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sin(t)= 1/2 means either t= [itex]\pi/6[/itex], in which case cos(t)= [itex]\sqrt{3}/2[/itex] or t= [itex]5\pi/6[/itex], in which case cos(t)= [itex]-\sqrt{3}/2[/itex]. Obviously, since x= (5+ 2cos(t))cos(s)) and y= (5+ 2cos(t))sin(s), if x= y, as you have here, then sin(s)= cos(s)= [itex]\pm1/\sqrt{2}[/itex]. Then 5+ 2cos(t)= 5-sqrt(3) so that cos(t)= [itex]-\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}[/itex]. From sin2(t)+ cos2(t)= 1 that gives immediately sin(t)= 1/2 as needed. The given point has t= [itex]5\pi/6[/itex], s= [itex]\pi/4[/itex].
 

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