How to Calculate a Binormal Tangent

The straight line that touches a curve at exactly one point is the tangent line to that curve at that point. The normal line to that curve at that point is the line that is perpendicular to the tangent line and goes through the point. The binormal tangent is the line through the point that is perpendicular to both the tangent and the normal. Obviously, the binormal tangent is also perpendicular to the plane that contains the curve, the tangent and the normal.

Instructions

    • 1

      Calculate the binormal from the tangent and the normal. The derivative of the curve at the tangent point gives the slope of the tangent line. For example, the derivative of X^2 is 2X so the slope of the tangent line to Y = X^2 at the point (1, 1) is 2(1) = 2. The formula for the line with slope 2 that goes through the point (1, 1) is Y - 1 = 2(X - 1) or Y = 2X - 1, which is the equation for the tangent line to Y = X^2 at the point (1, 1).

    • 2

      Find the normal to a curve at a point by finding the line through the tangent point that has the negative reciprocal of the tangent line. For example, the slope of the line Y = 2X - 1 is 2, so the slope of any line that is perpendicular to Y = 2X - 1 and in the same plane is -1/2. For example, if we know that the line goes through (1, 1), Y = (-1/2)X + 3/2. The normal to the tangent line to Y = X^2 at the point (1, 1) is Y = (-1/2)X + 3/2.

    • 3

      Compute the binormal tangent by finding a line through the tangent point that is perpendicular to both the tangent line and the normal line. The binormal tangent to Y = X^2 at the point (1,1) must be perpendicular to both Y = 2X -1 and (-1/2)X + 3/2 which lie in the same plane and are perpendicular to each other. The binormal tangent is the cross-product of the tangent and the normal -- the line through (1, 1) that comes out of the plane and is perpendicular to it. In other words, the binormal tangent is the set of points (1, 1, Z).

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