Q.The tangents to the curve y = 2x³ - 4 at the points x = 2 and x = -2 are –
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Tangents and Normals to a Curve
At a point P(x1,y1) on y=f(x) with slope m=dxdy, the tangent line is
y−y1=m(x−x1) and the normal has slope −m1. Four classical lengths are
measured from P and the foot A of the ordinate on the x-axis:
- Length of tangent =my11+m2,
- Length of normal =y11+m2,
- Subtangent ST=my1,
- Subnormal SN=∣my1∣.
From these, SN⋅ST=y12 and STSN=m2. For a curve given
parametrically (x=x(θ),y=y(θ)) the slope is dx/dθdy/dθ
and the same length formulas apply. These quantities let one compare tangent, normal, …
Two tangent lines are parallel when they share the same slope, and the slope at any point is the value of the derivative there. Since the derivative gives the same value at x = 2 and x = -2, t …
Both points give the same slope dxdy=24, so the tangents are parallel.
y=2x3−4⇒dxdy=6x2
At x=2: slope =6(2)2=24.
At x=−2: slope =6(−2)2=24.
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Showing the 12 most recent of 27 on this concept.
- CBSE 2026Set SEM31 markMCQQ.If the straight line y=x and the curve xy=k2 cut at a right angle, then (k is a real constant)(a) k=0(b) k=±1(c) −∞<k<∞(d) 0≤k<∞
›Reveal solutionSolution
The line has slope 1; the curve's slope at any point of y=x works out to −1, so they always meet at right angles for any real k.
The tangent-slope/orthogonality condition is a CBSE/NCERT Class 12 application of derivatives topic.
The line y=x has slope 1.
For the curve xy=k2, differentiate implicitly: y+xdxdy=0⇒dxdy=−xy.
At an intersection point lying on y=x we have y=x, so x⋅x=k2⇒x2=k2, and the curve's slope is
dxdy=−xy=−xx=−1.
…
- CBSE 2026Set SEM31 markMCQQ.If the straight line lx−my+n=0 touches the parabola y2=4ax then(a) am2=nl(b) an2=ml(c) al2=mn(d) mn=al
›Reveal solutionSolution
Apply the standard tangency condition c=Ma for a line y=Mx+c touching y2=4ax; it yields am2=nl.
The tangent condition to a parabola is a coordinate-geometry / conic-sections result (aligned with the NCERT/CBSE coordinate-geometry stream), included here for completeness even though the chapter is not in the given menu.
Write the line lx−my+n=0 in slope form:
y=mlx+mn,so M=ml, c=mn.
…
- CBSE 2024Set EX1 markMCQQ.At which point is the slope of the line y=x+1 equal to the slope of the curve y2=4x?(a) (1,2)(b) (2,1)(c) (1,−2)(d) (−1,2)
›Reveal solutionSolution
The line's slope is 1. Differentiating y2=4x gives slope y2; set y2=1⇒y=2, then x=1. Point (1,2), option (a).
Concept. The slope of a curve at a point is dxdy there. We need the point on the parabola where this equals the constant slope of the given line.
Line. y=x+1⇒dxdy=1.
Curve. Differentiate y2=4x implicitly:
2ydxdy=4⇒dxdy=y2. …
- CBSE 2024Set ANNUAL1 markQ.Write the point where the tangent to the curve y2−x2+2x−1=0 is parallel to the x-axis.
›Reveal solutionSolution
Differentiating implicitly and setting dxdy=0 gives x=1, and substituting back into the curve gives y=0.
Differentiate y2−x2+2x−1=0 implicitly with respect to x:
2ydxdy−2x+2=0⟹dxdy=2y2x−2=yx−1
…
- CBSE 2024Set ANNUAL1 markQ.Find the slope of tangent to the curve 2y=3−x3 at the point (1, 1).
›Reveal solutionSolution
Differentiate implicitly to get dxdy, then substitute x=1.
Given curve: 2y=3−x3.
Differentiate both sides with respect to x:
2dxdy=−3x2 ⇒ dxdy=−23x2
At the point (1,1), substitute x=1: …
- CBSE 2023Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Slope of tangent of xy = c² at (ct, c/t) is(a) -1/t²(b) 1/t²(c) -1/t(d) -1/t³
›Reveal solutionSolution
For a parametric curve, the slope of the tangent is dxdy=dx/dtdy/dt.
Step 1. x=ct, y=c/t. Then dtdx=c and dtdy=−t2c.
Step 2. dxdy=dx/dtdy/dt=c−c/t2=−t21.
…
- CBSE 2023Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Angle between the curves y2=x and x2=y at the origin is :(a) 2π(b) tan−1(43)(c) 4π(d) tan−1(34)
›Reveal solutionSolution
Finding the tangent line to each curve at the origin shows one is vertical and the other horizontal, so they meet at a right angle.
- Curve y2=x: differentiate implicitly, 2ydxdy=1⇒dxdy=2y1. At the origin y=0, this is undefined — equivalently dydx=2y=0 at y=0, so the tangent is the vertical line x=0. …
- CBSE 2023Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The abscissa of the point on the curve f(x)=8−2x at which the slope of the tangent is −0.25 ?(a) −2(b) −8(c) 0(d) −4
›Reveal solutionSolution
Differentiating f(x)=8−2x and setting the slope to −0.25 pins down x=−4.
- f(x)=8−2x=(8−2x)1/2. By the chain rule, f′(x)=21(8−2x)−1/2⋅(−2)=8−2x−1.
- Set f′(x)=−0.25=−41: 8−2x−1=−41⇒8−2x=4. …
- CBSE 2023Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.The equation of the tangent to the curve y = x⁴ − 6x³ + 13x² − 10x + 5 at the point (1, 3) is –(a) 2y + x + 1 = 0(b) −2x + y + 1 = 0(c) 2x − y + 1 = 0(d) 2y − x + 1 = 0
›Reveal solutionSolution
Find dy/dx at x=1 to get the slope, then use the point-slope form of a line through (1,3).
Given y=x4−6x3+13x2−10x+5. Check the point: at x=1, y=1−6+13−10+5=3 ✓, confirming (1,3) lies on the curve.
Differentiate: dxdy=4x3−18x2+26x−10.
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- CBSE 2022Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.What is the slope of the tangent to the curve y=lnx (x>0) at x=1?(a) −1(b) 1(c) 0(d) 2
›Reveal solutionSolution
The slope of the tangent at a point is the value of dy/dx at that point.
y=lnx⇒dxdy=x1. …
- CBSE 2022Set ANNUAL1 markQ.For x= ____, the tangent to the curve y=cosx, 0≤x≤π, is parallel with Y-axis. Choices given: [4π, 3π, 2π, π]
›Reveal solutionSolution
A tangent parallel to the X-axis occurs where the slope dy/dx=0; for y=cosx on [0,π] that happens at x=0 and x=π.
y=cosx⇒dxdy=−sinx.
Since −sinx is finite for every x, this curve never has an actual vertical tangent (parallel to the Y-axis) on [0,π] — so taken completely literally, the question as worded has no solution among the given choices.
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- CBSE 2022Set ANNUAL1 markQ.Slope of the tangent to the curve y = x² + 1 at the point (2, 5) is ....
›Reveal solutionSolution
The slope of the tangent at a point is dy/dx evaluated there.
y=x2+1⇒dxdy=2x.
…
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