Single Variable Calculus, Chapter 3, 3.1, Section 3.1, Problem 24

a.) Suppose that $\displaystyle G(x) = 4x^2 - x^3$, find $G'(a)$ and use it to find an equation of the tangent lines to the curve $\displaystyle y = 4x^2 - x^3$ at the point $(2,8)$ and $(3, 9)$

Using the definition of the derivative of a function $G$ at a number $a$, denoted by $G'(a)$, is

$\qquad \displaystyle \qquad G'(a) = \lim_{h \to 0} \frac{G(a + h) - G(a)}{h}$

We have,


$
\begin{equation}
\begin{aligned}

\qquad G'(a) =& \lim_{h \to 0} \frac{4(a + h)^2 - (a + h)^3 - (4a^2 - a^3)}{h}
&& \text{Substitute $G(a + h)$ and $G(a)$}\\
\\
\qquad G'(a) =& \lim_{h \to 0} \frac{4(a^2 + 2ah + h^2) - (a^3 + 3a^2 h + 3ah^2 + h^3) - 4a^2 + a^3}{h}
&& \text{Expand the equation}\\
\\
\qquad G'(a) =& \lim_{h \to 0} \frac{\cancel{4a^2} + 8ah + 4h^2 - \cancel{a^3} - 3a^2h - 3ah^2 - h^3 - \cancel{4a^2} + \cancel{a^3}}{h}
&& \text{Combine like terms}\\
\\
\qquad G'(a) =& \lim_{h \to 0} \frac{8ah + 4h^2 - 3a^2h - 3ah^2 - h^3}{h}
&& \text{Factor the numerator}\\
\\
\qquad G'(a) =& \lim_{h \to 0} \frac{\cancel{h} (8a + 4h - 3a^2 - 3ah - h^2)}{\cancel{h}}
&& \text{Cancel out like terms}\\
\\
\qquad G'(a) =& \lim_{h \to 0} (8a + 4h - 3a^2 - 5ah - h^2) = 8a + 4(0) - 3a^2 - 3a(0) - (0)^2
&& \text{Evaluate the limit}

\end{aligned}
\end{equation}
$


$\qquad \fbox{$G'(a) = 8a - 3a^2$} \qquad $ Equation of the slope of the tangent line

Solving for the slope and equation of the tangent line at $(2,8)$


$
\begin{equation}
\begin{aligned}

G'(2) =& 8(2) - 3(2)^2
&& \text{Substitute value of $a$}\\
\\
G'(2) =& 4
&& \text{Slope of the tangent line at $(2, 8)$}

\end{aligned}
\end{equation}
$


Using Point Slope Form where the tangent line $y = G(x)$ at $(a, G(a))$


$
\begin{equation}
\begin{aligned}

y - G(a) =& G'(a)(x - a)
&& \\
\\
y - 8 =& 4 (x - 2)
&& \text{Substitute value of $a, G(a)$ and $G'(a)$}\\
\\
y =& 4x - 8 + 8
&& \text{Combine like terms}

\end{aligned}
\end{equation}
$


$\qquad \qquad \fbox{$y = 4x$} \qquad $ Equation of the tangent line at $(2, 8)$

Solving for the slope and equation of the tangent line at $(3, 9)$


$
\begin{equation}
\begin{aligned}

G'(3) =& 8(3) - 3 (3)^2
&& \text{Substitute value of $(a)$}\\
\\

G'(3) =& -3
&& \text{Slope of the tangent line at $(3, 9)$}\\
\\
\end{aligned}
\end{equation}
$


Using Point Slope Form where the tangent line $y = G(x)$ at $(a, G(a))$


$
\begin{equation}
\begin{aligned}

y - 9 =& -3(x - 3)
&& \text{Substitute the value of the $a, G(a)$ and $G'(a)$}\\
\\
y =& -3x + 9 + 9
&& \text{Combine like terms}

\end{aligned}
\end{equation}
$


$\qquad\fbox{$ y =-3x + 18$} \qquad $ Equation of the tangent line at $(3, 9)$

b.) Draw a graph of the curve and the tangent lines on the same screen.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

In “Fahrenheit 451,” what does Faber mean by “Those who don’t build must burn. It’s as old as history and juvenile delinquents”?

Single Variable Calculus, Chapter 3, 3.6, Section 3.6, Problem 34

What was the effect of World War II on African Americans?