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Homework Statement


The curve C has equation y=k x^3-x^2+x-5 where k is a constant.

A) Find the derivative of the function with respect to x

The point A with x-coordinate -\frac{1}{2} lies on C. The tangent to C at A is parallel to the line with equation 2 y-7 x+1=0 .

Find...

B) the value of k

C) the value of the y-coordinate at A.


Homework Equations



C is y=k x^3-x^2+x-5
Equation of the line parallel to the tangent of C at A ( -\frac{1}{2}) 2 y-7 x+1=0 .

The Attempt at a Solution



Ok, so I have found the derivative to be equal to: y'=3 k x^2-2 x+1

I am having trouble with the find y (and k) because if you were to solve that equation by substituting into it x we then have: \frac{1}{2} (7 x-1)=y=-2.25 but that y value isn't on the tangent line to C. So how would i go about completing these problems?

Thanks
 
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There are two things I don't understand about this problem. First, when finding the nth root of a number, there should in theory be n solutions. However, the formula produces n+1 roots. Here is how. The first root is simply ##\left(r\right)^{\left(\frac{1}{n}\right)}##. Then you multiply this first root by n additional expressions given by the formula, as you go through k=0,1,...n-1. So you end up with n+1 roots, which cannot be correct. Let me illustrate what I mean. For this...
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