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Version 15 Version 14
Two plane curves are said to {\em touch each other} or {\em have a tangency} at a point if they have a common tangent at that point. Two plane curves are said to {\em touch each other} or {\em have a tangency} at a point if they have a common tangent at that point.
The {\em envelope} of a family of plane curves is a curve which touches in each of its points one of the curves of the family.\\ The {\em envelope} of a family of plane curves is a curve which touches in each of its points one of the curves of the family.\\
For example, the envelope of the family\, $y = mx-\sqrt{1+m^2}$,\, with $m$ the parameter, is the \PMlinkname{open}{OpenSet} lower semicircle of the unit circle.\, Indeed, the distance of any line For example, the envelope of the family\, $y = mx-\sqrt{1+m^2}$,\, with $m$ the parameter, is the \PMlinkname{open}{OpenSet} lower semicircle of the unit circle.\, Indeed, the distance of any line
$$mx-y-\sqrt{1+m^2} = 0$$ $$mx-y-\sqrt{1+m^2} = 0$$
of the family from the center of the unit circle is of the family from the center of the unit circle is
$$\frac{|m\cdot0-1\cdot0-\sqrt{1+m^2}|}{\sqrt{m^2+(-1)^2}} = 1,$$ $$\frac{|m\cdot0-1\cdot0-\sqrt{1+m^2}|}{\sqrt{m^2+(-1)^2}} = 1,$$
whence the line is the tangent to the circle. whence the line is the tangent to the circle.
Below, the red curve is the lower semicircle of the unit circle, the black lines belong to the family\, $y=mx-\sqrt{1+m^2}$,\, and the equation of each line is given. Below, the red curve is the lower semicircle of the unit circle, the black lines belong to the family\, $y=mx-\sqrt{1+m^2}$,\, and the equation of each line is given.
\begin{center} \begin{center}
\begin{pspicture}(-3,-3)(3,0) \begin{pspicture}(-3,-3)(3,0)
\psarc[linecolor=red]{o-o}(0,0){2}{180}{360} \psarc[linecolor=red]{o-o}(0,0){2}{180}{360}
\rput(3,0.1716){.}
\rput(-0.1716,-3){.}
\psline{-}(-0.1716,-3)(3,0.1716) \psline{-}(-0.1716,-3)(3,0.1716)
\rput[l](2.9,-0.1716){$y=x+\sqrt{2}$} \rput[l](2.9,-0.1716){$y=x+\sqrt{2}$}
\psline{-}(-3,-2)(3,-2) \psline{-}(-3,-2)(3,-2)
\rput[a](-2.3,-2.3){$y=-1$} \rput[a](-2.3,-2.3){$y=-1$}
\psline{-}(-2.3094,0)(-0.577,-3) \psline{-}(-2.3094,0)(-0.577,-3)
\rput(-2.3094,0){.}
\rput(-0.577,-3){.}
\rput[r](-2.3094,-0.1716){$y=-x\sqrt{3}-2$} \rput[r](-2.3094,-0.1716){$y=-x\sqrt{3}-2$}
\rput[b](-0.577,-3){.} \rput[b](-0.577,-3){.}
\end{pspicture} \end{pspicture}
\end{center} \end{center}
Let $c$ be the parameter of the family\, $F(x,\,y,\,c) = 0$\, of curves and suppose that the function $F$ has the partial derivatives $F'_x$, $F'_y$ and $F'_c$ in a certain domain of $\mathbb{R}^3$.\, If the family has an envelope $E$ in this domain, then the coordinates $x,\,y$ of an arbitrary point of $E$ and the value $c$ of the parameter determining the family member touching $E$ in\, $(x,\,y)$\, satisfy the pair of equations Let $c$ be the parameter of the family\, $F(x,\,y,\,c) = 0$\, of curves and suppose that the function $F$ has the partial derivatives $F'_x$, $F'_y$ and $F'_c$ in a certain domain of $\mathbb{R}^3$.\, If the family has an envelope $E$ in this domain, then the coordinates $x,\,y$ of an arbitrary point of $E$ and the value $c$ of the parameter determining the family member touching $E$ in\, $(x,\,y)$\, satisfy the pair of equations
\begin{align*} \begin{align*}
\begin{cases} \begin{cases}
F(x,\,y,\,c) = 0,\\ F(x,\,y,\,c) = 0,\\
F'_c(x,\,y,\,c) = 0. F'_c(x,\,y,\,c) = 0.
\end{cases} \end{cases}
\end{align*} \end{align*}
I.e., one may in principle eliminate $c$ from such a pair of equations and obtain the equation of an envelope. I.e., one may in principle eliminate $c$ from such a pair of equations and obtain the equation of an envelope.
\textbf{Example.} \textbf{Example.}