A versatile tool
Due to its properties, the tangent can be interpreted in various ways: line approximating a curve, trajectory of a light ray, geodesic of a particular space… Depending on the viewpoint adopted, the tangent under consideration then conveys a particular characteristic of the problem being studied. In physics, for example, we will use the focal properties of conics to explain a phenomenon. In economics, budget lines will help identify the achievable investment policies of a company. To every problem, its line, which very often turns out to be a tangent!
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When waves go off on a tangent
Whether reflecting sound or waves, parabolic reflectors rely on the properties of tangents to conic sections. Let's fully dissect the underlying geometric phenomenon exploited in the making of antennas of every kind.
Different types of tangency in microeconomics | Tangente
In microeconomics, certain arguments rely on a graphical representation and call upon different types of tangency. This is the case with basic consumer theory, the Edgeworth box, and a firm's long-run average cost.
Curves made of straight lines: string art | Tangente
String pictures—decorative designs drawn or made with thread or cord—enjoyed their heyday around 1975. Today they are back in fashion under the name string art.
The revenge of the tangent spheres in 4D | Tangente
By shedding new light on the semiregular polyhedra of space, Alicia Boole Stott's method makes it possible to go further and explore objects in the fourth dimension. In particular, she was able to set out in search of semiregular polytopes.