6.

2 Angle between curves

The angle between the curves 𝑦 = 𝑓1 , 𝑦 = 𝑓2 at their common point M0(x0, y0) (see Fig. 1) is the angle 𝜔 between
the tangents M0A and M0B to these curves at the point M0.

Using a familiar formula of analytic geometry, we find

𝑓2 ′(𝑥0 ) − 𝑓1 ′(𝑥0 )
tan 𝜔 =
1 − 𝑓1 ′(𝑥0 ) ∙ 𝑓2 ′(𝑥0 )

Example 1. What angles are formed with the 𝑥 −axis by the tangents to
the curve y = x - x² at the points with the abscise: a) x=0, b) x=1/2, c) x=1?

Solution. We have 𝑦′ = 1 − 2𝑥, whence

a) tan 𝜔 = 1, 𝜔 = 45°
b) tan 𝜔 = 0, 𝜔 = 0°
c) tan 𝜔 = −1, 𝜔 = 135°

Example 2. Find the angle of intersection between the two curves: 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 = 1 and 𝑦 3 = (𝑥 + 1)2

Solution: Consider the given pair of two curves above. The first thing that we need to do is to get their point of
intersection by solving the systems of equation as follows

1 1 1
𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 = 1 𝑦= 𝑦= 𝑦= 𝑥=0
𝑥+1 𝑥+1 𝑥+1
{ 3 2 →{ → { 1 3 → { → {
𝑦 = (𝑥 + 1) 3 2 2 5 𝑦=1
𝑦 = (𝑥 + 1) ( ) = (𝑥 + 1) (𝑥 + 1) = 1
𝑥+1

The point of intersection of the given two curves is P(0, 1).

The slope of a curve is equal to the first derivative of the equation of a curve with respect to 𝑥. In this case, 𝑑𝑦/𝑑𝑥 is
the slope of a curve.

Consider the first given equation of a curve 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 = 1. Take the derivative on both sides of the equation with
respect to x by implicit differentiation, we have

𝑑(𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 = 1 ) 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝑦
→ 𝑥 +𝑦+ =0 → (𝑥 + 1) = −𝑦 → =−
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑥+1

To get the value of the slope of a curve at their point of intersection, substitute 𝑥 = 0 and 𝑦 = 1 at the equation
above, we have

𝑑𝑦 1
|𝑥=0, = − = −1.
𝑑𝑥 0+1
𝑦=1

The slope of a curve at their point of intersection is equal to the slope of tangent line that passes thru also at their
point of intersection 𝑓1 = −1.
Consider the second given equation of a curve 𝑦 3 = (𝑥 + 1)2 . Take the derivative on both sides of the equation with
respect to x by implicit differentiation, we have
2
𝑑( 𝑦3 = (𝑥 + 1) ) 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 2(𝑥 + 1)
→ 3𝑦 2 = 2(𝑥 + 1) → =
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 3𝑦 2

To get the value of the slope of a curve at their point of intersection, substitute x = 0 and y = 1 at the equation above,
we have

𝑑𝑦 2(0 + 1) 2
| = =
𝑑𝑥 𝑥=0, 3(1)2 3
𝑦=1

The slope of a curve at their point of intersection is equal to the slope of tangent line that passes thru also at their
2
point of intersection 𝑓2 = 3.

Therefore, the angle between two curves at their point of intersection is

2
𝑓2 ′(𝑥0 ) − 𝑓1 ′(𝑥0 ) − (−1)
tan 𝜔 = = 3 =5
1 − 𝑓1 ′(𝑥0 ) ∙ 𝑓2 ′(𝑥0 ) 1 + (−1) ∙ 2
3

𝜔 = arctan 5 ≈ 78,7° or 180° − 78,7° = 101,3°

Example 3. Find the angle of intersection between the two curves: 𝑦 = 2𝑥, 𝑥 5 + 𝑦 5 = 33

Solution: The first thing that we need to do is to get their point of intersection by solving the systems of equation as
follows

𝑦 = 2𝑥 𝑦 = 2𝑥 𝑦 = 2𝑥 𝑦 = 2𝑥 𝑦 = 2𝑥 𝑦=2
{ 5 → { 5 5 → { →{ →{ →{
𝑥 + 𝑦5 = 33 𝑥 + (2𝑥) = 33 𝑥5 + 32𝑥5 = 33 33𝑥5 = 33 𝑥=1 𝑥=1

The point of intersection of the given two curves is P(1, 2).

The slope of a curve is equal to the first derivative of the equation of a curve with respect to 𝑥. In this case, 𝑑𝑦/𝑑𝑥 is
the slope of a curve. Actually, the first curve is a straight line and since the right side of the equation contains
coefficient only, the slope of the first curve is 𝑓1 = 2

Consider the second given equation of a curve. The slope of a curve is equal to the first derivative of the equation of
a curve with respect to x. In this case, dy/dx is the slope of a curve. Take the derivative on both sides of the equation
with respect to x by implicit differentiation, we have

𝑑( 𝑥5 + 𝑦5 = 33) 𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝑥4
→ 5𝑦 4 = −5𝑥 4 → =− 4
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑦

To get the value of the slope of a curve at their point of intersection, substitute x = 1 and y = 2 at the equation above,
we have

𝑑𝑦 14 1
|𝑥=0, = − 4 = −
𝑑𝑥 2 16
𝑦=1
The slope of a curve at their point of intersection is equal to the slope of tangent line that passes thru also at their
1
point of intersection 𝑓2 = − .
16

Therefore, the angle between two curves at their point of intersection is

1
𝑓2 ′(𝑥0 ) − 𝑓1 ′(𝑥0 ) − 16 − 2 33
tan 𝜔 = = 1
=−
)
1 − 𝑓1 ′(𝑥0 ∙ 𝑓2 ′(𝑥0 ) 1 + 2 ∙ (− ) 14
16

𝜔 = arctan 5 ≈ 67° or 180° − 67° = 113°

Exercises

1. At what angles do the curves y= sin x and y = sin 2x intersect the abscissae at the origin?
2. At what angle does y = tan x intersect the abscissa at the origin?
3. At what angle does the curve y=e0.5x intersect the straight line x=2?
4. Find the angle at which the parabolas y= (x - 2)² and y = -4 + 6x - x² intersect.
5. At what angle do the parabolas y=x² and y = x³ intersect?

Answers.
2
1. 45°; arctan 2 ≈ 63°26′ 2. 45° 3. arctan ≈ 36°21′ 4. 40°36′ 5. The parabolas are tahgent at the point (0,0)
𝑒
1
and intersect at an angle arctan 7 ≈ 8°8′ at the point (1,1).