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Samuelb88
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Homework Statement
Tangent lines T1 and T2 are drawn at two points P1 and P2 on the parabola y=x^2 and they intersect at a point P. Another tangent line T is drawn at a point between P1 and P2; it intersects T1 at Q1 and T2 at Q2. Show that:
(PQ1/PP1) + (PQ2/PP2) = 1
Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
Let f(x) function y=f(x)=x^2. Therefore:
- P1(p1,f(p1))
- P2(p2,f(p2))
and the x-coordinate of P is:
- P: x=(p1+p2)/2
I've constructed a third point M where the 3rd tangent line T is drawn, therefore:
- M(m,f(m))
The x-coordinates of Q1 and Q2 are:
- Q1: x=(m+p1)/2
- Q2: x=(m+p2)/2
I realize that the tangent-lines of any two points on a parabola will intersect at a point whose x-coordinate is the midpoint of the x-coordinates of the two points on the parabola, therefore the x-coordinates of point P will be halfway between points P1 and P2. And the tangent-line T, which corresponds to point M, if placed directly between points P1 and P2, then; (PQ1/PP1) = 1/2 and (PQ2/PP2) = 1/2, therefore the sum is obviously 1 and the x-coordinates of the point Q1 will be directly between P1 and P and the x-coordinate of Q2 will be directly between P2 and P. What I'm having problems doing is proving the statement it asks me to prove and how calculus is involved in this problem. I've thought about using the distance formula but it expands into a very messy problem. I don't understand how to express the line-segments PQ1, PP1, PQ2, PP2 and how it relates to differentiation.
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