Hey, In the conics topic, if part of a question requires use of e.g. a tangent or a normal, are we required to derive the formula from scratch or can we just quote the standard form (e.g. x.x1/a^2 + y.y1/b^2 = 1 for the tangent to an ellipse) and go from there? I have been under the impression that, even if it doesn't explicitly state it, we are required to derive the formula; but i want to be sure as it could save some time in the exam if i'm mistaken.
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Conics: deriving tangent/normal (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Mr-Morten
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Dumbledore
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unless it says "you may assume ...etc" then u have to derive it for tangents and normals
for chord of contact, u can state it unless it asks u to prove it
for chord of contact, u can state it unless it asks u to prove it
kwabon
Banned
derive derive derive unless it says assume, dumbledore is quite right, but unfortunately HE IS DEAD!!! :-(
annabackwards
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