Calculus (3rd Edition)

Published by W. H. Freeman
ISBN 10: 1464125260
ISBN 13: 978-1-46412-526-3

Chapter 3 - Differentiation - 3.6 Trigonometric Functions - Exercises - Page 140: 31

Answer

The equation of the tangent line at $ t=\frac{\pi}{3}$ is given by $$ y=-\frac{7}{6} t+\frac{\sqrt{3}}{6}+\frac{ 7\pi}{18} .$$

Work Step by Step

Recall the product rule: $(uv)'=u'v+uv'$ Recall that $(\cos x)'=-\sin x$. Recall that $(\cot x)'=-\csc^2 x$. Since $ y=\cot t\cos t $, then using the product rule one can find that $ y'=-\csc^2 t \cos t-\cot t \sin t $ and hence the slope at $ t=\frac{\pi}{3}$ is $ m=-\csc^2 \frac{\pi}{3} \cos \frac{\pi}{3}-\cot \frac{\pi}{3} \sin \frac{\pi}{3}=-\frac{7}{6}.$ Now, the equation of the tangent line at $ t=\frac{\pi}{3}$ is given by $$ y=-\frac{7}{6} t+c.$$ Since the curve and the line coincide at $ t=\frac{\pi}{3}$, then $$\cot \frac{\pi}{3} \cos \frac{\pi}{3}=-\frac{7}{6} t+c \Longrightarrow c= \frac{\sqrt{3}}{6}+\frac{ 7\pi}{18} .$$ Hence, the equation of the tangent line at $ t=\frac{\pi}{3}$ is given by $$ y=-\frac{7}{6} t+\frac{\sqrt{3}}{6}+\frac{ 7\pi}{18} .$$
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