Tangent line to curve, derivative.

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around finding the equation of a tangent line to a curve using derivatives. The original poster expresses frustration over receiving feedback that their answer is incorrect, despite their belief in its validity. They mention difficulties in simplification and potential errors in their approach after a long break from math.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the need to evaluate the derivative at a specific point to find the slope for the tangent line. The original poster shares their derivative calculation and the application of the point-slope formula, questioning if they are on the right track.

Discussion Status

Some participants provide guidance on evaluating the derivative at the specified point rather than using the derivative expression directly. There is an acknowledgment of the original poster's confusion and a suggestion to clarify their approach.

Contextual Notes

The original poster is returning to math after a significant hiatus, which may contribute to their uncertainty in simplification and derivative evaluation. There is a mention of an attachment that is not visible in the discussion.

Puchinita5
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Homework Statement


See the attachment. I feel like my answer is right, but I keep getting told I am wrong. This is the first time I have taken any math in 5 years so I am figuring I must not be simplifying enough? But I can't see what I need to simplify. Perhaps I have made a dumb error and I'm just not seeing it. ARR. I have put this response in a million different ways but I keep getting told I'm wrong, please help! I've tried taking the e^2x out. I've tried multiplying the x through the parenthisis, tried brackets instead of parenthesis. What am i missing?


Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution

 

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I'm not sure why you attached that x+1 to the end but the expression that's attached is just the derivativ of the whole function. You're looking for the slope at a single point only, that is (0,1), and then you can go ahead and find an equation of a tangent line using the slope and a point.

So you're next step should be to evaluate the derivative at the point you need the slope for.

Hope that helps.
 
hmmm perhaps I should so my work...

I got the derivative, so m, to equal (e^2x)(-pisin(pix)) + (2e^2x)(cos(pix))

and then using the point slope formula

y-1=m(x-0)...

and then i plugged in what I got for the derivative for m

which gave me the answer I had posted above, and moving the -1 to the other side which makes it +1.

Am I totally off base?
 
Puchinita5 said:
hmmm perhaps I should so my work...

I got the derivative, so m, to equal (e^2x)(-pisin(pix)) + (2e^2x)(cos(pix))

and then using the point slope formula

y-1=m(x-0)...

and then i plugged in what I got for the derivative for m

which gave me the answer I had posted above, and moving the -1 to the other side which makes it +1.

Am I totally off base?

You don't plug in the derivative. You plug in the value of derivative at the point specified.
 
OMG THANK U! i was making my life so much harder than it needed to be! :)
 

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