Finding Horizontal Tangents of x^2+4y+22=y^2+10x

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter candynrg
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Horizontal
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on finding the points where the tangent line to the equation x² + 4y + 22 = y² + 10x is horizontal. By differentiating the equation implicitly, the first derivative is established as (2x - 10) / (2y - 4). Setting the numerator to zero reveals that x = 5, leading to the points P(5, 1) and P(5, 3) where the tangent line is horizontal. The concept of tangents is clarified, emphasizing that a tangent line touches a curve at exactly one point, with its slope determined by the derivative at that point.

PREREQUISITES
  • Implicit differentiation
  • Understanding of derivatives
  • Knowledge of quadratic equations
  • Basic algebraic manipulation
NEXT STEPS
  • Study implicit differentiation techniques in calculus
  • Explore the concept of horizontal tangents in curve analysis
  • Learn about the geometric interpretation of derivatives
  • Investigate applications of tangents in real-world scenarios
USEFUL FOR

Students and educators in calculus, mathematicians analyzing curves, and anyone interested in the geometric properties of functions and their derivatives.

candynrg
Messages
5
Reaction score
0
Find the point(s) (x,Y) at which the tangent line to x^2+4y+22=y^2+10x is horizontal.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
What does it means when the tangent line is horizontal? what does the first derivative has to do with the "tangent"?
 
Differentiating this equation implicitly with respect to x yields 2x-10/2y-4. Thus we see that 2x-10=0 (2y-4 can't equal zero, that would be undefined) From here x=5. So the point is P(5,y). set x=5 in the original equation, solve for y and there you got the y. This turns out that that y has two values for x=5, and those being 1 and 3.

Btw, tangent comes from the latin word tangens, which means touch. So a tangent line touches a curve at just one point. And the derivative of the curve at that point gives us the slope of the tangent line.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
4K
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
5K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
Replies
5
Views
3K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
1K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K