linearization and equation of tangent plane

Dr, Taylor

What is the difference between linearization and finding the eq of the tangent plane at a specific point. I find them to be practically the same.

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They are almost the same thing.  The linearization is just a rearrangement of the equation of the tangent plane; from the equation of the tangent plane 

∂f/∂x(x_0,y_0)(x-x_0) + ∂f/∂y(x_0,y_0)(y-y_0) - (z-z_0) = 0 

you can rearrange to get the linearization

                              z = ∂f/∂x(x_0,y_0)(x-x_0) + ∂f/∂y(x_0,y_0)(y-y_0) + z_0