tangent: Quick Facts

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Photos

Tangent relationships (Top left) Tangent to curve at P1 is line aP1; (top centre) height determination using tangent; (top right) law of tangents; (bottom) tangent function f(x) for various values of x

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Topics

asymptote curve curvature slope length of a curve conic section catenary spiral orthogonal trajectory Lissajous figure rhumb line involute

Key People

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Gilles Personne de Roberval

French mathematician