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Unit tangent vector for $$$\mathbf{\vec{r}\left(t\right)} = \left\langle \cos{\left(t \right)}, \sqrt{3} t, \sin{\left(t \right)}\right\rangle$$$

The calculator will find the unit tangent vector to $$$\mathbf{\vec{r}\left(t\right)} = \left\langle \cos{\left(t \right)}, \sqrt{3} t, \sin{\left(t \right)}\right\rangle$$$, with steps shown.

Related calculators: Unit Normal Vector Calculator, Unit Binormal Vector Calculator

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Find the unit tangent vector for $$$\mathbf{\vec{r}\left(t\right)} = \left\langle \cos{\left(t \right)}, \sqrt{3} t, \sin{\left(t \right)}\right\rangle$$$.

Solution

To find the unit tangent vector, we need to find the derivative of $$$\mathbf{\vec{r}\left(t\right)}$$$ (the tangent vector) and then normalize it (find the unit vector).

$$$\mathbf{\vec{r}^{\prime}\left(t\right)} = \left\langle - \sin{\left(t \right)}, \sqrt{3}, \cos{\left(t \right)}\right\rangle$$$ (for steps, see derivative calculator).

Find the unit vector: $$$\mathbf{\vec{T}\left(t\right)} = \left\langle - \frac{\sin{\left(t \right)}}{2}, \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}, \frac{\cos{\left(t \right)}}{2}\right\rangle$$$ (for steps, see unit vector calculator).

Answer

The unit tangent vector is $$$\mathbf{\vec{T}\left(t\right)} = \left\langle - \frac{\sin{\left(t \right)}}{2}, \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}, \frac{\cos{\left(t \right)}}{2}\right\rangle$$$A.