TRACING OF CURVES

Cartesian Curves
Tracing of a Cartesian Curve
List of points to be examined
 Symmetry
 Asymptotes of the curve
 Nature of the curve at the origin
 Nature of tangents at the origin, multiple points
 Points of intersection of the curve with the coordinate
axis
 Sign of derivatives
 Region of Existence
 1. SYMMETRY:
➢ Symmetrical about X-axis :
If the given equation of the curve is an even function of y.
In the given equation if y appears only in even powers.
In other words if , f(x,-y) = f(x,y).

Example: y2=4ax
➢ Symmetrical about Y - axis:
If the given equation of the curve is an even function of x.
In the given equation if x appears only in even powers.
In other words if , f(-x,y) = f(x,y).
Example: x2=4ay
➢ Symmetrical about both X and Y - axes:
If the given equation of the curve is an even function of
both x and y.
In the given equation if x and y appear only in even powers.
In other words f(-x, -y) = f(x,y).
Example : x2+y2=a2
➢ Symmetrical about origin:
If the equation of the curve remains unaltered when x
and y are replaced by –x and –y.
In other words : f(-x,-y)=f(x,y)

Example: x5+y5=5a2x2y
Note : If a curve is symmetric about both the X – axis and
Y - axis, then it is symmetric about the origin also.
But the converse is not true (because of the presence of
odd powers).
➢ Symmetric about the line y = x :
If the equation of the curve remains unaltered when x and
y are interchanged.
In other words if : f(x, y) = f(y, x)

Example: x3+y3=3axy
➢ Symmetric about the line y = -x :
If the equation of the curve remains unaltered when x and
y are replaced by –y and -x.
If other words : f(x, y) = f(-y, -x)

Example: x3-y3=3axy
 ASYMPTOTE
(a) Equating the coefficient of highest degree terms in x to zero,
the asymptotes parallel to the x-axis can be obtained.
(b) Equating the coefficient of highest degree terms in y to zero, the
asymptotes parallel to the y-axis can be obtained.

Example: x2y – y – x=0 is of 3rd degree has maximum number

of 3 asymptotes

The asymptote parallel to x –axis is y = 0.

The asymptotes parallel to y-axis is x = ±1.
Note:
The asymptotes parallel to x-axis are called horizontal
asymptotes, those which are parallel to y-axis are called
vertical asymptotes and those which are neither parallel to
x-axis nor parallel to y-axis are called oblique asymptotes.
 No vertical or horizontal asymptotes:
In cases (a) and (b) if the coefficients are
constants or has imaginary factors, then curve has no
asymptotes.

Example: : x3+y3=3axy has no asymptotes parallel to x and

y-axes because coefficients of x3and y3 are constant one.
Oblique Asymptotes :
To obtain the Oblique Asymptotes,
 Substitute y = mx + c in the given equation
 Equate the coefficient of the highest degree term in x to
zero to obtain the value of m (provided that the coefficient
is not a constant)
 Equate the coefficient of the next highest degree term in x
to zero to obtain the value of c (provided that the
coefficient is not a constant)
 If the values of m and c exist, the y = mx + c is the equation
of the Oblique Asymptote.
Oblique Asymptotes :

𝑥 2 +2𝑥+1
Example : y =
𝑥
𝑥 2 +2𝑥+1
Substituting y = mx + c, we get mx + 𝑐 =
𝑥
ie, 𝑥 2 𝑚 + 𝑐𝑥 = 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 1
Co-efficient of x2 : 𝑚 − 1 = 0 ie, m = 1
Co-efficient of x : 𝑐 − 2 = 0 ie, c = 2

𝑥 2 +2𝑥+1
Therefore the Oblique asymptote to the curve y =
𝑥
is y=x+2
Oblique Asymptotes :

Example : x3 + y3 =3axy
Substituting y = mx + c, we get x3 +(mx + c)3 =3ax(mx + c)
ie, x3 + m3 x3 + 3 m2 x2c + 3 m x c2 = 3am x2+3ac
Co-efficient of x3 : m3 + 1 = 0 ie, m = -1
Co-efficient of x2 : 3(m2c-ma)= 0 ie, c = -a

Therefore the Oblique asymptote to the curve x3 + y3 =3axy

is y + x + a =0
 Sign of First Derivative
𝑑𝑦
 If > 0 in an interval [a , b], then the curve increases in
𝑑𝑥
that interval.
𝑑𝑦
 If < 0 in an interval [a , b], then the curve decreases in
𝑑𝑥
that interval.
𝑑𝑦
 If = 0 at a point 𝑥 = 𝑥0 then (𝑥0 , 𝑦0 )is a stationary point
𝑑𝑥
where maxima and minima can occur.
 Sign of Second Derivative
𝑑2𝑦
 If > 0 in an interval [a , b], then the curve is convex
𝑑𝑥 2
downward or concave upward in that interval.
𝑑2𝑦
 If < 0 in an interval [a , b], then the curve is convex
𝑑𝑥 2
upward or concave downward in that interval.
𝑑2𝑦
 The point at which = 0 is known as an inflection point
𝑑𝑥 2
where the curve changes the direction of concavity from
downward to upward or vice versa
Nature of Curve at the origin
Origin:
If f(0,0)=0, the curve passes through the Origin. In other
words, if origin(0,0) lies on the curve then there will be no
constant term in the equation.
Example:
1)𝑦 2 =4ax passes through the Origin.
2) 𝑥𝑦 2 = 4𝑎2 (a-x) does not pass through the Origin.
Tangents to the Curve at the Origin:

The equations of the tangents to the curve at the

origin is obtained by equating the lowest degree
terms in x and y in the given equation to zero,
provided the curve passes through the origin.
Examples

For the curve a2y2=a2x2-x4

y=±x are the two tangents at origin.

For the curve y2=4ax

y-axis is the tangent to the curve at origin.

For the curve x3+y3=3axy

x=0 and y=0 are the two tangents to the curve at origin.
 Tangent at any point:
The equations of the tangents to the curve at any point can
be determined by shifting the origin to that point and then
by equating to zero the lowest degree terms in x and y.

Example: 𝑦 2 𝑎 + 𝑥 = 𝑥 2 (𝑏 − 𝑥)

The curve intersects the x-axis at (0,0) and(b,0)

To find the tangent at (b,0) replace x=X+b, y=Y+0.

𝑌 2 𝑎 + 𝑋 + 𝑏 = (𝑋 + 𝑏)2 (−𝑋)
Equating the lowest degree term to zero, −𝑋(𝑏)2 =
0 𝑜𝑟 𝑋 = 0.
That is x-b=0 or x=b is the tangent to the curve at (b,0).
Points of intersection with the coordinate
axes: (Intercepts)
Putting x=0 and y=0, the points of intersection of the curve
with the y-axis and x-axis respectively can be obtained.

Points of Intersection with the line y=±x

When Curve is symmetric about the line y=±x, the points
of intersection are obtained by putting y=±x in the curve
equation.
Multiple points
 Multiple points
 If more than one branch of the curve passes through a
point, then that point is called a multiple point of the
curve.
 A double point is a point through which two branches of
the curve passes.
 Double point is classified as a node, a cusp or an isolated
(or) conjugate point according as the two tangents are
real distinct, coincident or imaginary.
Kinds of Double Points

(i) Node :
Def. A Double Point P on a curve is called a
Node if two real branches of a curve pass through P
and two tangents at which are real and different.
Thus the point P shown in fig. is a Node.
Y

O X
(ii) Cusp :
Def.
A Double Point Q on a curve is called a Cusp if two real
branches of a curve pass through Q and two tangents at
which are real and coincident.

Y Y

Q Q

O X O X

Thus the point Q shown in the adjoining two

figures is a Cusp.
(iii) Conjugate Point or Isolated point.
Def. A Double Point R on a curve is called a
Conjugate Point or Isolated point if there
exists no real points of the curve in the
neighborhood of R
Y

O X
Double points are obtained by solving for (x,y)
the three equations

and, in addition,
(I) for a node:
(II) for a cusp:

(III) for isolated points:

Example
For the curve y2=x2(x-1)
(0,0) is the double point and it is a conjugate point.

For the curve y2(a-x)=x3

(0,0) is the double point and it is a cusp.

For the curve x3-y2-7x2+4y+15x-13=0

(3,2) is the double point and it is a node.
REGION OF EXISTENCE:

The region of existence of the curve can be determined by

finding a set of real values of x and y. The curve does not lie
in the region whenever x or y is imaginary.
 2 3
1. Cissoid : 𝑦 2𝑎 − 𝑥 = 𝑥 ,𝑎 > 0
1.Symmetry :
Since y appears only in even powers, the curve
is symmetric about the x – axis.
2.Asymptote :
2
Equating the coefficient of 𝑦 to zero we have,
2𝑎 − 𝑥 = 0.
Therefore, 𝑥 = 2𝑎 is the vertical asymptote .
There is no horizontal asymptote since the
co-efficient of 𝑥 3 is a constant.
 2 3
Cissoid : 𝑦 2𝑎 − 𝑥 = 𝑥 ,𝑎 > 0
3) Origin :
The curve passes through the origin since f 0,0 = 0.
Tangents at the Origin :
Equating to zero the lowest degree terms to zero we have,
2ay 2 = 0 → y 2 = 0 → y = 0.
Therefore, y = 0 is a double point.
Since the two tangents at the origin are coincidental, the
origin is a cusp.
4)Points of intersection:
a) Intercepts : Putting x = 0, we obtain y = 0 and putting
y = 0, we obtain x = 0. Therefore the curve intersects the
co-ordinate axis only at the origin.
 2 3
Cissoid : 𝑦 2𝑎 − 𝑥 = 𝑥 ,𝑎 > 0
5)Region of Existence :
1
𝑥 2
a) Solving the equation for y we have, 𝑦 = ±𝑥
2𝑎−𝑥
y is imaginary when 𝑥 < 0 or when 𝑥 > 2𝑎.
Thus the curve does not exist for 𝑥 < 0 and 𝑥 > 2𝑎.
Curve exists only in the interval 0 ≤ 𝑥 < 2𝑎 .
b)Sign of the derivative :
𝑑𝑦 𝑥 3𝑎−𝑥 𝑑𝑦
=± 1/2 Since, = ±(+ve number) ,
𝑑𝑥 (2𝑎−𝑥)(2𝑎−𝑥) 𝑑𝑥
in 0 < 𝑥 < 2𝑎 .
the curve increases above x- axis & decreases below x- axis(
or due to symmetry) in 0 ≤ 𝑥 < 2𝑎 .
 2 2
Strophoid : 𝑦 𝑎 + 𝑥 = 𝑥 (𝑏 − 𝑥)
1.Symmetry :
Since y appears only in even powers,
the curve is symmetric about the x – axis.
2.Asymptote :
2
Equating the coefficient of 𝑦 to zero we have,
𝑎 + 𝑥 = 0.
Therefore, 𝑥 = −𝑎 is the vertical asymptote .
There is no horizontal asymptote since the
co-efficient of 𝑥 3 is a constant.
 2 2
Strophoid : 𝑦 𝑎 + 𝑥 = 𝑥 (𝑏 − 𝑥)
3)Origin :
The curve passes through the origin since 𝑓 0,0 = 0.
Tangents at the Origin :
Equating to zero the lowest degree terms to zero we have,
2 2 2 𝑏𝑥 2 𝑏
𝑎𝑦 − 𝑏𝑥 = 0 → 𝑦 = →𝑦=± 𝑥 are the two
𝑎 𝑎
tangents at the origin.
Since the two tangents are real and distinct, the origin is a
node.
 2 2
Strophoid : 𝑦 𝑎 + 𝑥 = 𝑥 (𝑏 − 𝑥)
5) Point of Intersection:
a)Intercepts :
Putting 𝑥 = 0, we obtain 𝑦 = 0 which implies that the curve
intersects the y-axis only at the origin.
Putting 𝑦 = 0, we obtain 𝑥 2 𝑏 − 𝑥 = 0 → 𝑥 = 0, 𝑥 = 𝑏.
Therefore the curve intersects the x-axis at the origin and
(𝑏, 0).
b) Loop :
Since the curve intersects the x – axis at (0,0)and (b,0)and is
symmetric about the x – axis, a loop exists between these 2
points.
 2 2
Strophoid : 𝑦 𝑎 + 𝑥 = 𝑥 (𝑏 − 𝑥)
6) Region: 1
𝑏−𝑥 2
a) Solving the equation for y we have, 𝑦 = ±𝑥
𝑎+𝑥
y is imaginary when 𝑥 < −𝑎 and 𝑥 > 𝑏.
Thus the curve does not exist for 𝑥 < −𝑎 and 𝑥 > 𝑏.
Curve exists only in the interval −𝑎 < 𝑥 < 𝑏 .
b) Sign of the derivative :

𝑑𝑦 (−2𝑥 2 − 3𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 2𝑎𝑏)

=±
𝑑𝑥 2(𝑎 + 𝑥)3/2 (𝑏 − 𝑥)1/2
𝑑𝑦
= infinity at x = b. So the tangent to the curve at b, 0 is vertical
𝑑𝑥
(parallel to y-axis).Therefore curve cuts the x-axis at right angle at (b,0). Since
𝑑𝑦
has both positive & negative sign in the interval −𝑎 < 𝑥 < 0 the function is
𝑑𝑥
decreasing above x-axis and increasing below x-axis.
 2 2
Case1: For the Curve 𝑦 𝑎 + 𝑥 = 𝑥 (𝑎 − 𝑥)
Replace b by a
 2 2
Case 2: For the curve 𝑦 𝑎 − 𝑥 = 𝑥 (𝑎 + 𝑥)
 Put b=a and x is replaced by –x
 Lemniscate of Bernoulli
2 2 2 2 2 2
𝑦 (𝑎 + 𝑥 ) = 𝑥 𝑎 − 𝑥 .

1)Symmetry:
Curve is symmetric about x-axis and y-axis since it
contains even powers of x and y.
2)Asymptotes:
No asymptote parallel to x-axis because the coefficient of
𝑥 4 is constant. No asymptotes parallel to y-axis because
the coefficient of 𝑦 2 has no real factors.
Lemniscate of Bernoulli
2 2 2 2 2 2
𝑦 (𝑎 + 𝑥 ) = 𝑥 𝑎 − 𝑥 .
3) Origin:
Origin lies on the curve.
Tangents at origin are obtained by equating the lowest
degree term 𝑦 2 − 𝑥 2 𝑎2 to zero. Thus y=±x are the two
tangents to the curve at origin. Hence origin is a node
because there are two real distinct tangent.
Lemniscate of Bernoulli
𝑦 2 (𝑎2 + 𝑥 2 ) = 𝑥 2 𝑎2 − 𝑥 2 .
4)Point of Intersection:
a)Intercepts:
x-intercept is (0,0).
y-intercept is 𝑥 2 𝑎2 − 𝑥 2 =0 or x=0or x= ± a.
Thus curve meets the x-axis at A(-a,0) and B(a,0). To find the tangents
at A and B,
𝑑𝑦 ± 𝑎4 − 2𝑎2 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 4
= 3ൗ 1ൗ
𝑑𝑥 2
𝑎 +𝑥 2 2 2 2
(𝑎 − 𝑥 ) 2
𝑑𝑦
→ ∞ when x→+a and x→-a.
𝑑𝑥
Thus tangents are parallel to y-axis at x=a and x=-a.
Lemniscate of Bernoulli
2 2 2 2 2 2
𝑦 (𝑎 + 𝑥 ) = 𝑥 𝑎 − 𝑥 .
5)Region:
a)Solving the equation for y, we get
𝒂𝟐 − 𝒙𝟐
𝒚 = ±𝒙 𝟐
𝒂 + 𝒙𝟐
y is defined only when 𝒂𝟐 − 𝒙𝟐 >0 or –a≤x ≤a.
Thus curve exists only when -a ≤x ≤a.
That is curve lies between the lines x=-a and x=a.
Lemniscate of Bernoulli
2 2 2 2 2 2
𝑦 (𝑎 + 𝑥 ) = 𝑥 𝑎 − 𝑥 .
𝑑𝑦
= 0 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑎4 − 2𝑎2 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 4 =0
𝑑𝑥
Solving we get x = .64a & x = −.64a
1 2

The tangents are parallel to x-axis at these points.

dy
Suppose y  0then − a  x  x & 0  x  x  0
2 1
dx dy
the curve is increasing & x  x  0 & x  x  a,  0
2 1
dx
the curve is decreasing.
Symmetry can be used for tracing the portion below the
x-axis.
3. Lemniscate of Bernoulli
2 2 2 2 2 2
𝑦 (𝑎 + 𝑥 ) = 𝑥 𝑎 − 𝑥 .
Folium of Descartes: x3+y3=3axy
1) Symmetry:
Curve is symmetric about the line y=x because
f(x,y)=f(y,x).
2)Asymptotes:
Since the coefficients of the highest power of x and y
are constants, there are no asymptotes parallel to the
coordinate axis.
Oblique asymptote is x+y+a=0.
Folium of Descartes: x3+y3=3axy
3) Origin:
O(0,0) is a point on the curve.
Tangents at Origin:
x=0 and y=0 are tangents to the curve at the Origin.
4) Points of intersection:
a)Intercepts:
There are no x-intercepts and y-intercepts except the
origin(0,0) because by putting x=0 in we get y=0 and
similarly putting y=0 we get x=0.
Folium of Descartes: x3+y3=3axy
b)Intersection of curve with the line y=x:
Put y= x in the given curve so that we obtain the point of
intersection to be (0,0) and (3a/2,3a/2).
Equation of tangent to the curve at the point(3a/2,3a/2):
𝑑𝑦 𝑎𝑦−𝑥 2
=
𝑑𝑥 𝑦 2 −𝑎𝑥
At(3a/2,3a/2),
𝑑𝑦
= −1.
𝑑𝑥
Therefore, the equation of tangent to the curve at the
point (3a/2,3a/2) is
 3𝑎 3𝑎
𝑦− =− 𝑥−
2 2
Or x+y-3a=0.
Thus this tangent is parallel to the asymptote x+y+a=0.
5) Region of Existence:
a) When both x and y are negative simultaneously equation
of the curve is not satisfied
(−𝑥)3 +(−𝑦)3 = 3a(-x)(-y)
We observe that R.H.S is positive while L.H.S is negative.
Thus no part of the curve exists in the 3rd quadrant.
Folium of Descartes: x3+y3=3axy
b)Since the Curve passes through (0, 0) and (3a/2,3a/2)
And also we note that the curve is symmetrical about the
line y=x and hence a loop exist between (0,0) and
(3a/2,3a/2).
Folium of Descartes: x3+y3=3axy