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Mathematical differentiation?

Find the equation of the tangents to the curve y=x^ 3 - 6x^ 2 + 12x + 2 which are parallel to the line y = 3x

3 Answers

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  • 9 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    The tangent line to y at x will have slope y'. Therefore, we should start by finding the derivative.

    y' = 3x^2 -12x + 12

    We want the tangent line to be parallel to y=3x. Parallel lines have the same slope, so you are being asked to find where the tangent line will have slope 3, or where y' =3.

    3x^2 - 12x + 12 = 3

    3x^2 -12x + 9 = 0

    x^2 -4x + 3 = 0

    (x-3)(x-1) = 0

    so at x=3 and x=1, y'=3, which means the tangent line has slope 3.

    To finish the question, you just need to find the equations of the tangent lines at x=3 and x=1.

    You already know the slope is 3 for both.

    Evaluate y at x=1: 1-6+12+2 = 9. So the tangent line has slope 3 and passes through (1, 9)

    y-9 = 3(x-1)

    y=3x + 6

    Evaluate y at x=3: 27 - 54 + 36 + 2 = 11

    y-11 = 3(x-3)

    y=3x + 2

  • 9 years ago

    the slope of y = 3x is 3

    y' = 3x^2 - 12x + 12

    slope is also y' = 3

    3 = 3x^2 - 12x + 12

    1 = x^2 - 4x + 4

    1 = (x-2)^2

    +/- 1 = x - 2

    x = 3 and x = 1

    (3, 11) and (1, 9)

    Slope forms:

    y - 11 = 3(x - 3)

    y - 9 = 3(x - 1)

    y = 3x + 2

    y = 3x + 6

  • Ed I
    Lv 7
    9 years ago

    dy/dx = 3x^2 - 12x + 12 = 3

    x^2 - 4x + 4 = 1

    (x - 2)^2 = 1

    x - 2 = ± 1

    x = 2 ± 1

    x = 3 or 1

    If x = 3, y = 11.

    y - 11 = 3(x - 3)

    If x = 1, y = 9.

    y - 9 = 3(x - 1)

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