Saturday, May 3, 2014

x=t+4 , y=t^3-3t Find all points (if any) of horizontal and vertical tangency to the curve.

Parametric curve (x(t),y(t)) has a horizontal tangent if its slope dy/dx is zero, i.e when dy/dt=0 and dx/dt!=0
Curve has a vertical tangent line, if its slope approaches infinity i.e dx/dt=0
and dy/dt!=0
Given parametric equations are:
x=t+4
y=t^3-3t
dx/dt=1
dy/dt=3t^2-3
For Horizontal tangents,
dy/dt=0
3t^2-3=0
=>3t^2=3
=>t^2=1
=>t=+-1
Corresponding points on the curve can be found by plugging in the values of t in the equations,
For t=1,
x_1=1+4=5
y_1=1^3-3(1)=-2
For t=-1,
x_2=-1+4=3
y_2=(-1)^3-3(-1)=2
Horizontal tangents are at the points (5,-2) and (3,2)
For vertical tangents,
dx/dt=0
However dx/dt=1!=0
So the curve has no vertical tangents.
 
 

No comments:

Post a Comment

Summarize the major research findings of "Toward an experimental ecology of human development."

Based on findings of prior research, the author, Bronfenbrenner proposes that methods for natural observation research have been applied in ...