Tangent Plane to a Surface
The equation of the tangent plane to the graph of the function \( f(x, y) = x - \frac{y^2}{2} \) at \( (1, 2, -1) \) is
define \( F = x - \frac{1}{2}y^2 - z \)
\( \vec{\nabla}F = \langle 1, -y, -1 \rangle \)
at \( (1, 2, -1) \): \( \vec{\nabla}F = \langle 1, -2, -1 \rangle \)
normal to surface
so use as normal of tangent plane
- A. \( 2x + y + 4z = 0 \)
- B. \( x + 4y = 9 \)
- C. \( x - 2y - z = 2 \)
- D. \( -x + 2y + z = 2 \)
- E. \( x - y - 2z = 1 \)
Plane Equation Derivation
plane: \( a(x - x_0) + b(y - y_0) + c(z - z_0) = 0 \)
\( (1)(x - 1) - 2(y - 2) - (z + 1) = 0 \)
\( x - 1 - 2y + 4 - z - 1 = 0 \)
\( x - 2y - z = -2 \)
\( -x + 2y + z = 2 \)
\( \langle a, b, c \rangle \) : normal vector
\( (x_0, y_0, z_0) \) : point