Tangents Tool

Activate the tool, then:

  • Select a point on a conic (or a function) to create all the tangents to the conic (or function) at the selected point.

  • Select a point not belonging to a conic to create all the tangents to the conic passing through the selected point.

  • Select a point not belonging to a function to create the tangent line to the function at its point with the same x-coordinate as the selected one. For example, given f(x) and a point A not on it, the tool creates the tangent line to f(x) at (x(A), f(x(A)).

  • Select a line and a conic to create the tangent lines to the conic that are parallel to the selected line.

  • Select two circles to create their common tangent lines (up to 4).

  • Use the form \( y = ... \) (e.g. \( y = x^2+2x+1 \)) instead of using the functional notation \( f(x) = ... \) (e.g. \( f(x) = x^2 + 2x + 1 \)) if you want to work with a conic (parabola) rather than a function.

  • See also the Tangent command.