MHB Brandon's questions at Yahoo Answers regarding tangent lines

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The discussion centers on solving two mathematical problems involving tangent lines to curves. The first problem involves finding the constant k in the curve equation y = 2x^2 - kx + 3, given that the tangent at point A passes through point B(5,1). The second problem requires determining the equation of the tangent line to the curve y = x + x^2 at x = a, and finding values of a such that this tangent passes through point P(-2,3). It is concluded that there are no real values of a for which the tangent line intersects point P, suggesting a possible error in the coordinates of point P. Alternative scenarios for point P yield potential solutions for tangent lines.
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Here are the questions:

Tangents, Normal. Need some help.?


I just recently took a test, and i am unsure of the following questions. It would be great if you provide me some explanations and workings.

1) A curve has the equation y = 2x^(2) - kx + 3, where k is a constant. The tangent at the point A passes through the point B(5,1). Find the value of k.

2) A curve has the equation y = x + x^(2). Find

i) The equation of the tangent to the curve at the point where x = a.

ii) The value(s) of a for which this tangent passes through the point P(-2,3)

iii) Hence find the possible equations of the tangent from P to the curve.

Thank you so much guys! Have a great day

I have posted a link there to this thread so the OP can view my work.
 
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Hello Brandon,

1.) We are given the curve:

$$y=2x^2-kx+3$$ where $k$ is a constant.

Let point $A$ be given by:

$$\left(x_A,y_A \right)=\left(x_A,2x_A^2-kx_A+3 \right)$$

The slope of the line passing through the points $A$ and $B$ is:

$$m=\frac{\left(2x_A^2-kx_A+3 \right)-(1)}{\left(x_A \right)-(5)}=\frac{2x_A^2-kx_A+2}{x_A-5}$$

Also, given that:

$$m=\left.\frac{dy}{dx} \right|_{x=x_A}=4x_A-k$$

We may then state:

$$\frac{2x_A^2-kx_A+2}{x_A-5}=4x_A-k$$

Multiplying through by $$x_A-5$$, we obtain:

$$2x_A^2-kx_A+2=4x_A^2-(20+k)x_A+5k$$

Combining like terms, we may arrange this as:

$$5k=2+20x_A-2x_A^2$$

Hence:

$$k=\frac{2}{5}\left(1+10x_A-x_A^2 \right)$$

2.) We are given the curve:

$$y=x+x^2$$

i) First we find the slope of the tangent line at $x=a$ is:

$$m=\left.\frac{dy}{dx} \right|_{x=a}=2a+1$$

And this tangent line must pass through the point:

$$\left(a,a+a^2 \right)$$

Thus, using the point-slope formula, we find the equation of the tangent line is given by:

$$y-\left(a+a^2 \right)=(2a+1)(x-a)$$

Distributing on the right side, we get:

$$y-\left(a+a^2 \right)=(2a+1)x-2a^2-a$$

Adding $a+a^2$ to both sides, we get the tangent line in slope-intercept form:

$$y=(2a+1)x-a^2$$

ii) If this tangent line passes through the point $(-2,3)$, then we must have:

$$3=(2a+1)(-2)-a^2$$

Now we may solve for $a$. Arranging the quadratic in $a$ in standard form, we obtain:

$$a^2+4a+5=0$$

We see the discriminant is negative, and so we conclude there are no real values of $a$ for which a tangent line to the given quadratic curve will pass through point $B$.

iii) There are no such possible tangent lines as we found in part ii).

I suspect that point $P$ was incorrectly given. I will consider the two following cases:

a) Point $P$ is supposed to be $(-2,-3)$. Then part ii) becomes:

$$-3=(2a+1)(-2)-a^2$$

Now we may solve for $a$. Arranging the quadratic in $a$ in standard form, we obtain:

$$a^2+4a-1=0$$

Application of the quadratic formula yields:

$$a=-2\pm\sqrt{5}$$

And so the two tangent lines would be given by:

$$y=\left(2\left(-2\pm\sqrt{5} \right)+1 \right)x-\left(-2\pm\sqrt{5} \right)^2=\left(-3\pm2\sqrt{5} \right)x-\left(9\pm4\sqrt{5} \right)$$

b) Point $P$ is supposed to be $(2,3)$. Then part ii) becomes:

$$3=(2a+1)(2)-a^2$$

Now we may solve for $a$. Arranging the quadratic in $a$ in standard form, we obtain:

$$a^2-4a+1=0$$

Application of the quadratic formula yields:

$$a=2\pm\sqrt{3}$$

And so the two tangent lines would be given by:

$$y=\left(2\left(2\pm\sqrt{3} \right)+1 \right)x-\left(2\pm\sqrt{3} \right)^2=\left(5\pm2\sqrt{3} \right)x-\left(7\pm4\sqrt{3} \right)$$
 
Here is a little puzzle from the book 100 Geometric Games by Pierre Berloquin. The side of a small square is one meter long and the side of a larger square one and a half meters long. One vertex of the large square is at the center of the small square. The side of the large square cuts two sides of the small square into one- third parts and two-thirds parts. What is the area where the squares overlap?

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