SSAT Upper Level Math : Tangent Lines

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SSAT Upper Level Math

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #1 :Coordinate Plane

There is a circle on a coordinate plain. Its perimeter passes through the point。At this point meets a tangent line, which also passes through the point。What is the slope of the line perpindicular to this tangent line?
Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In this kind of problem, it's important to keep track of information given about your line of interest. In this case, the coordinates given set up the stage for us to be able to get to our line of focus - the line perpendicular to the tangent line. In order to determine the perpendicular line's slope, the tangent line's slope must be calculated. Keeping in mind that:

where y2,x2 and y1,x1 are assigned arbitrarily as long as the order of assignment is maintained.

切线的斜率。

To calculate the perpendicular line, we have to remember that the product of the tangent slope and the perpendicular slope will equal -1.

, the perpendicular slope can then be calculated as

Example Question #1 :How To Find The Slope Of Tangent Lines

Find the slope of a tangent line at pointif the equation is

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Rewrite the linear equation in standard form to slope-intercept form,

Since the slope of every point of this line is, the slope of the tangent line at the given point should also be

Example Question #184 :Coordinate Geometry

Find the slope of a tangent line at pointif the equation of the function is

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To determine the slope of the function,, use the power rule to find the derivative function.

The slope at every point of the functionhas a slope of。找到给定的一点的斜率,替代品the x-value of the given point,, into the derivative function to find the slope.

Example Question #4 :Coordinate Plane

Circle A is centered about the origin and has a radius of 5. What is the equation of the line that is tangent to Circle A at the point (–3,4)?

Possible Answers:

3x– 4y= –25

3x– 4y= –1

–3x+ 4y= 1

3x+ 4y= 7

Correct answer:

3x– 4y= –25

Explanation:

The line must be perpendicular to the radius at the point (–3,4). The slope of the radius is given byActmath_7_113_q7

The radius has endpoints (–3,4) and the center of the circle (0,0), so its slope is –4/3.

The slope of the tangent line must be perpendicular to the slope of the radius, so the slope of the line is ¾.

The equation of the line isy– 4 = (3/4)(x– (–3))

Rearranging gives us: 3x– 4y= -25

Example Question #1 :How To Find The Equation Of A Tangent Line

Find the equation of a tangent line at pointif the function is

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To find the slope of the tangent line, it is necessary to determine the slope of the function.

The functionis already in the slope-intercept form,, and

替代斜率,the given pointinto the slope-intercept equation.

Substitute the known slope and the y-intercept to the slope-intercept form.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors