# Descartes Tangent Lines

by William Barnier (Sonoma State University) and James Jantosciak (Brooklyn College)

College Mathematics Journal
January, 2007

Subject classification(s): Calculus | Single Variable Calculus
Applicable Course(s): 3.0 Calculus | 3.1 Mainstream Calculus I

Given any positive integer $n$, find polynomial curves that have exactly $n$ tangent lines which intersect the curve exactly once.

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Capsule Course Topic(s):
One-Variable Calculus | Differentiation: Definition and Elementary Application