I am wondering whether an undefined derivative at a point implies that the tangent line to that point is vertical, and also how the tangent line could still exist if the derivative doesn't exist. For my first question, although I have read that vertical tangent lines will have an undefined derivative, I am wondering whether every single instance of a derivative being undefined at a point means that the tangent line at that point is vertical, and that there isn't another explanation for an undefined derivative. I am confused on this because my Professor intermediately concludes a vertical tangent line when the derivative is undefined, but it seems any situation where the derivative doesn't exist would lead to an undefined derivative, which may not necessarily have a vertical tangent line.
For my second question, what is the reason why we regard the tangent line as existing when the derivative doesn't exist when we define the tangent line to a point to have slope equal to the derivative at that point? It seems that if a component of the tangent (its slope) doesn't exist, then the tangent line itself wouldn't exist.
UPDATE:
I am now wondering whether the derivative being of the form $a \over 0$ implies that there is a vertical tangent line after reading the answers. Can a derivative of the form $a \over 0 $ eventualize for any other reason that a vertical tangent line?
Best Answer
Consider the absolute value function f(x) = |x|. Its derivative is not defined at x=0. It has no "tangent" at x=0, either, as it would look different coming from the left or right. That the slope does not exist at x=0 does not mean imply that the "tangent" is vertical, or that it even exists.
A derivative of the form a/0 does imply a vertical "tangent" - it indicates that the line exhibits vertical displacement a with no horizontal displacement whatsoever. The line moves only vertically.
That the slope of a vertical line does not exist does not suggest that vertical lines cannot exist. What it does suggest is that vertical lines cannot be expressed in the usual equation of a line (y=ax+b) which is a function that maps each input to exactly one output. Vertical lines are not functions, they map one input x value to an infinite number of output y values. Vertical lines exist, but functions describing vertical lines do not. It does not make sense to describe the derivative or slope of non-functions, because there are multiple f(x) and f'(x) for at least some x in non-functions.