Math Problem Statement

Find the tangent line to the graph of f(x)=x-x^3 at the point (1,0)

Solution

To find the tangent line to the graph of the function f(x)=xx3f(x) = x - x^3 at the point (1,0)(1, 0), follow these steps:

Step 1: Find the derivative of f(x)f(x)

The derivative of f(x)f(x) will give us the slope of the tangent line at any point on the graph.

f(x)=ddx(xx3)=13x2f'(x) = \frac{d}{dx}(x - x^3) = 1 - 3x^2

Step 2: Evaluate the derivative at x=1x = 1

The slope of the tangent line at x=1x = 1 is:

f(1)=13(1)2=13=2f'(1) = 1 - 3(1)^2 = 1 - 3 = -2

Step 3: Use the point-slope form of the equation of a line

The point-slope form of a line is given by:

yy1=m(xx1)y - y_1 = m(x - x_1)

Where mm is the slope and (x1,y1)(x_1, y_1) is the point of tangency, which in this case is (1,0)(1, 0).

Substituting the values:

y0=2(x1)y - 0 = -2(x - 1)

Simplifying:

y=2x+2y = -2x + 2

Final Answer

The equation of the tangent line to the graph of f(x)=xx3f(x) = x - x^3 at the point (1,0)(1, 0) is:

y=2x+2y = -2x + 2

Would you like more details or have any other questions?


Here are five related questions you can explore:

  1. How do you find the normal line to a curve at a given point?
  2. What is the geometric meaning of the derivative at a point?
  3. Can a curve have multiple tangent lines at a single point?
  4. How do you find the second derivative of f(x)=xx3f(x) = x - x^3?
  5. What is the concavity of the graph of f(x)=xx3f(x) = x - x^3 at x=1x = 1?

Tip: When finding the equation of a tangent line, always remember to substitute both the slope and the point into the point-slope form to avoid mistakes.

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Calculus
Derivatives
Tangent Lines

Formulas

f'(x) = 1 - 3x^2
y - y1 = m(x - x1)

Theorems

Derivative of a function gives the slope of the tangent line at a point
Point-Slope Form of a Line

Suitable Grade Level

Grades 10-12