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Calculus 1

This document provides steps to find the tangent line to the function f(x) = x^2 - 4x - 3 at the point x=1. It first finds the corresponding y-value, which is -6. It then takes the derivative of the function to find the slope, which is -2. Finally, it uses the point-slope formula with the point (1,-6) and slope -2 to derive the equation of the tangent line as y = -2x - 4.

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Jude Metante
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1K views

Calculus 1

This document provides steps to find the tangent line to the function f(x) = x^2 - 4x - 3 at the point x=1. It first finds the corresponding y-value, which is -6. It then takes the derivative of the function to find the slope, which is -2. Finally, it uses the point-slope formula with the point (1,-6) and slope -2 to derive the equation of the tangent line as y = -2x - 4.

Uploaded by

Jude Metante
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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10/10/2020 Mathway | Algebra Problem Solver

Find the Tangent Line at x=1

2
f (x) = x − 4x − 3 x = 1

Write the problem as a mathematical expression.


2
f (x) = x − 4x − 3 x = 1

Find the corresponding y-value to x = 1 .


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Substitute 1 in for x.
2
y = (1) − 4 ⋅ 1 − 3

Solve for y.
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Remove parentheses.
2
y = (1) − 4 ⋅ 1 − 3

Simplify (1) .
2
− 4 ⋅ 1 − 3

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Simplify each term.


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One to any power is one.


y = 1 − 4 ⋅ 1 − 3

Multiply −4 by 1.
y = 1 − 4 − 3

Simplify by subtracting numbers.


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Subtract 4 from 1.
y = −3 − 3

Subtract 3 from −3.


y = −6

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10/10/2020 Mathway | Algebra Problem Solver

Find the first derivative and evaluate at x = 1 and y = −6 to find the slope of the tangent
line.
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Differentiate.
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By the Sum Rule, the derivative of x 2


− 4x − 3 with respect to x is
d d d
2
[x ] + [−4x] + [−3] .
dx dx dx

d d d
2
[x ] + [−4x] + [−3]
dx dx dx

d
Differentiate using the Power Rule which states that n
[x ] is nx n−1
where n = 2 .
dx

d d
2x + [−4x] + [−3]
dx dx

d
Evaluate [−4x] .
dx

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Since −4 is constant with respect to x, the derivative of −4x with respect to x is


d
−4 [x] .
dx

d d
2x − 4 [x] + [−3]
dx dx

d
Differentiate using the Power Rule which states that n
[x ] is nx n−1
where n = 1 .
dx

d
2x − 4 ⋅ 1 + [−3]
dx

Multiply −4 by 1.
d
2x − 4 + [−3]
dx

Differentiate using the Constant Rule.


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Since −3 is constant with respect to x, the derivative of −3 with respect to x is 0.


2x − 4 + 0

Add 2x − 4 and 0.
2x − 4

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10/10/2020 Mathway | Algebra Problem Solver

Evaluate the derivative at x = 1 .


2 (1) − 4

Simplify.
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Multiply 2 by 1.
2 − 4

Subtract 4 from 2.
−2

Plug the slope and point values into the point-slope formula and solve for y.
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Use the slope −2 and a given point (1, −6) to substitute for x and y in the point-slope
1 1

y2 − y1
form y − y 1 = m (x − x1 ) , which is derived from the slope equation m = .
x2 − x1

y − (−6) = −2 ⋅ (x − (1))

Simplify the equation and keep it in point-slope form.


y + 6 = −2 ⋅ (x − 1)

Solve for y.
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Simplify −2 ⋅ (x − 1).
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Apply the distributive property.


y + 6 = −2x − 2 ⋅ −1

Multiply −2 by −1.
y + 6 = −2x + 2

Move all terms not containing y to the right side of the equation.
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Subtract 6 from both sides of the equation.


y = −2x + 2 − 6

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10/10/2020 Mathway | Algebra Problem Solver

Subtract 6 from 2.
y = −2x − 4

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