What is the equation of the normal line of f(x)=tanx at x=pi/6?

1 Answer
Dec 6, 2015

y=4/3x+(3sqrt3-2pi)/9

Explanation:

The point which the tangent will intersect is (pi/6,sqrt3/3).

The slope of the tangent line is f'(pi/6).

f(x)=tanx

f'(x)=sec^2x

f'(pi/6)=sec^2(pi/6)=1/(cos^2(pi/6))=1/(sqrt3/2)^2=1/(3/4)=4/3

Thus, the tangent line passes through the point (pi/6,sqrt3/3) and has a slope 4/3.

Write in point-slope form:

y-sqrt3/3=4/3(x-pi/6)

In slope-intercept form:

y=4/3x+(3sqrt3-2pi)/9