Math Problem Statement
Solution
The problem shown in the image asks for the equation of the tangent line to the graph of at the point .
Steps to solve the problem:
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Find the derivative of : The derivative of the function gives us the slope of the tangent line. First, rewrite as: To differentiate, apply the chain rule:
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Find the slope at : To find the slope of the tangent line at the point , plug into :
Simplify: Therefore, the slope of the tangent line is .
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Use the point-slope form of the equation of a line: The point-slope form is: where is the point of tangency, and is the slope.
Substituting these values: Simplifying:
Conclusion:
The equation of the tangent line is:
It matches the answer given in the image. Would you like further clarification or more details on any part of this solution?
Here are 5 related questions for deeper understanding:
- How do you apply the chain rule when differentiating composite functions?
- Why is the slope of the tangent line equal to the derivative at a given point?
- What are other methods to find the equation of a tangent line?
- How do you interpret the point-slope form of a line equation geometrically?
- How would the process change if the function was more complex, like ?
Tip:
For finding derivatives of square roots, always rewrite the square root as an exponent to make differentiation easier!
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Math Problem Analysis
Mathematical Concepts
Calculus
Derivatives
Tangent Lines
Algebra
Formulas
f'(x) = 1 / (2√(x + 12))
Point-slope form: y - y1 = m(x - x1)
Theorems
Chain Rule
Suitable Grade Level
Grades 11-12 (High School Calculus or College Level)