Math Problem Statement
Find the equation of the tangent line to the curve y = 3x cos(x) at the point (π, -3π).
Solution
The task in the image asks to find the equation of the tangent line to the curve at the point .
Steps to find the equation of the tangent line:
-
Differentiate the function to find the slope of the tangent line:
- The equation of the curve is .
- Using the product rule for differentiation:
- Applying the product rule on :
- Therefore, the derivative is:
- This derivative gives the slope of the tangent line at any point .
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Evaluate the slope at :
- Plug into the derivative:
- Using and :
- So, the slope of the tangent line at is .
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Find the equation of the tangent line:
- The equation of a line is .
- Here, , , and .
- Substituting these values into the point-slope form:
So, the equation of the tangent line is , which matches the equation you provided.
Would you like further details or have any questions?
Here are some related questions:
- What is the product rule and how is it applied?
- Can we use this approach for finding the tangent to any curve?
- How do you find the normal line to a curve at a given point?
- Why do we need the derivative to find the slope of a tangent line?
- What does the derivative represent geometrically?
Tip: When differentiating products like , always remember to apply the product rule: .
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Math Problem Analysis
Mathematical Concepts
Calculus
Differentiation
Tangent Line
Formulas
y = 3x cos(x)
Derivative of y = 3(cos(x) - x sin(x))
Point-slope form of a line: y - y1 = m(x - x1)
Theorems
Product Rule for Differentiation
Suitable Grade Level
Grades 11-12, College