Calculus: Early Transcendentals 8th Edition

Published by Cengage Learning
ISBN 10: 1285741552
ISBN 13: 978-1-28574-155-0

Chapter 3 - Section 3.1 - Derivatives of Polynomials and Exponential Functions - 3.1 Exercises - Page 180: 36

Answer

The equation of tangent line to the curve at $(1,0)$ is $$(l):y=-\frac{3}{4}x+\frac{3}{4}$$

Work Step by Step

$$y=\sqrt[4]x-x$$$$y=x^{1/4}-x$$ 1) Find the derivative of $y$ $$y'=\frac{d}{dx}(x^{1/4})-\frac{d}{dx}(x)$$ $$y'=\frac{1}{4}x^{-3/4}-1$$ $$y'=\frac{1}{4x^{3/4}}-1$$ $$y'=\frac{1}{4\sqrt[4]{x^3}}-1$$ 2) Find the slope of the tangent line to the curve at $(1,0)$, or in fact, $y'(1)$ $$y'(1)=\frac{1}{4\sqrt[4]{1^3}}-1$$$$y'(1)=\frac{1}{4}-1=-\frac{3}{4}$$ 3) The tangent line to the curve at $(1,0)$ would have the following equation: $$(l):y=y'(1)x+b$$$$y=-\frac{3}{4}x+b$$ Since $(1,0)$ lies in the tangent line $(l)$, we can use that point to find $b$. In detail, $$-\frac{3}{4}\times1+b=0$$$$-\frac{3}{4}+b=0$$$$b=\frac{3}{4}$$ In conclusion, the equation of tangent line to the curve at $(1,0)$ is $$(l):y=-\frac{3}{4}x+\frac{3}{4}$$
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