- #1
Jan Hill
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Homework Statement
Given a point P (3, 10) and the equation of a curve as x^2 -5x-4, find the slope of the secant and the equation of the tangent line to the curve
Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
I tried using y = f(x + h) -f(x) all divided by h and got (x + h)^2 - 5(x + h) - 4 -x^2 - 5x-4 all divided by h
I got x^2 + 2xh + h^2 - 5x-5h -4-x^2 -4 all divided by h
which equals 2xh + h^2 - 5x-5h - 4+5x + 4 all divided by h
which equals 2x + h all divided by h
Can we then claim that the slope of the secant is probably 2 and substitute this into an equation of the form
y - 10 = 2(x-3)
or y = 2(x-3) + 10 to get the equation of the tangent line