Calculus (3rd Edition)

Published by W. H. Freeman
ISBN 10: 1464125260
ISBN 13: 978-1-46412-526-3

Chapter 3 - Differentiation - 3.6 Trigonometric Functions - Exercises - Page 140: 26

Answer

The equation of the tangent line is given by $$ y=\frac{4}{3} \theta+\frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}-\frac{ 2\pi}{9} .$$

Work Step by Step

Since $ y=\tan \theta $, then $ y'=\sec^2 \theta $ and hence the slope at $ x=\frac{\pi}{6}$ is $ m=\sec^2 \frac{\pi}{6}=\frac{4}{3}.$ Now, the equation of the tangent line at $ x=\frac{\pi}{6}$ is given by $$ y=\frac{4}{3} \theta+c.$$ Since the curve and line coincide at $\theta=\frac{\pi}{6}$, then $$\tan \frac{\pi}{6}=\frac{4}{3}\frac{\pi}{6}+c \Longrightarrow c= \frac{1}{\sqrt{3}}-\frac{ 2\pi}{9} .$$ Hence the equation of the tangent line is given by $$ y=\frac{4}{3} \theta+\frac{\sqrt{3}}{3}-\frac{ 2\pi}{9} .$$
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