Equation ofthe tangent

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In summary, the equations of the tangent and normal lines to the curve y=1+x+x^2 at the point (-2,-5) are y=5x+5 and 5x+y+5=0, respectively. The slope of the tangent line is 5 and the slope of the normal line is -1/5. It is important to distinguish between the original function and its derivative when finding these equations.
  • #1
BonBon101
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Homework Statement


Determine the equation of the tangent line and the equation of the normal line to the curve y at the point (-2,-5)

y=1+x+x^2


The Attempt at a Solution


y=1+x-x^2 point (-2,-5)

y=1+x-x^2
y=1-2x

sub in -2 for x
y=1-2(-2)y=1+4
y=5

then i use the formula y-y1=m(x-x1) to find the tangent
y+5=5(x+20
y+5=5x+10
y=5x+5

5x-y+5=0 (equation of the tangent)

im wondering is this right?
and how do i go about finding the equation of the normal line?
 
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  • #2
BonBon101 said:

Homework Statement


Determine the equation of the tangent line and the equation of the normal line to the curve y at the point (-2,-5)

y=1+x+x^2


The Attempt at a Solution


y=1+x-x^2 point (-2,-5)

y=1+x-x^2
y=1-2x
This should be y' = 1 - 2x or dy/dx = 1 - 2x
BonBon101 said:
sub in -2 for x
y=1-2(-2)y=1+4
y=5
This is the value of the derivative at x = -2.
BonBon101 said:
then i use the formula y-y1=m(x-x1) to find the tangent
y+5=5(x+20
Typo above. You hit 0 instead of ).
BonBon101 said:
y+5=5x+10
y=5x+5

5x-y+5=0 (equation of the tangent)
Either equation above is correct.
To check, is (-2, -5) a point on the line? Is the slope of the line 5? If the answer is yes to both questions, you have the right tangent line.
BonBon101 said:
im wondering is this right?
and how do i go about finding the equation of the normal line?

What will be the slope of the normal line? This line must also go through the point (-2, -5). If you have the slope and a point on the line, you can do as you did before to find its equation.

Your computations were correct, but you didn't distinguish between y in your original curve and y' (or dy/dx), which is the derivative function. It's very important that you understand the difference between a function and its derivative, and that your work shows that you know the difference.
 

1. What is the equation of a tangent?

The equation of a tangent line is a mathematical expression that represents a line that touches a curve at only one point. It can be written in the form y = mx + b, where m represents the slope of the tangent line and b represents the y-intercept.

2. How do you find the equation of a tangent?

To find the equation of a tangent line, you first need to find the derivative of the curve at the point of tangency. Then, substitute the x-coordinate of the point of tangency into the derivative to find the slope. Finally, use the slope and the coordinates of the point of tangency to write the equation of the tangent line in point-slope form.

3. Can there be more than one tangent line to a curve at a given point?

Yes, there can be more than one tangent line to a curve at a given point, as long as the curve has a sharp turn or point of inflection at that point. In these cases, the curve may have two or more tangent lines that touch the curve at the same point.

4. What is the significance of the equation of a tangent?

The equation of a tangent line is important because it allows us to calculate the instantaneous rate of change of a curve at a specific point. This can be useful in many applications, such as finding the velocity of an object at a certain time or determining the slope of a curve at a critical point.

5. Is the equation of a tangent the same as the equation of a secant?

No, the equation of a tangent line and the equation of a secant line are not the same. A secant line is a line that intersects a curve at two or more points, while a tangent line only touches the curve at one point. Therefore, the equations of these two types of lines are different.

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