Examine the function
f(x) = x + (2/x)
Find the point on the curve at which the tangent lines pass through the point (3, 3).
(x,y) = ?

Respuesta :

The tangent line to the function's graph at any point [tex](a,b)=\left(a,a+\dfrac2a\right)[/tex] has slope

[tex]f'(x)=1-\dfrac2{x^2}[/tex]

and thus has the equation

[tex]y-a-\dfrac2a=\left(1-\dfrac2{a^2}\right)(x-a)\implies y=\left(1-\dfrac2{a^2}\right)x+\dfrac4a[/tex]

Any such line that passes through (3,3) will then satisfy

[tex]3=\left(1-\dfrac2{a^2}\right)3+\dfrac4a\mplies\dfrac6{a^2}=\dfrac4a[/tex]

[tex]a[/tex] clearly can't be 0, so we can divide both sides by [tex]\dfrac1a[/tex] to end up with

[tex]\dfrac6a=4\implies a=\dfrac64=\dfrac32[/tex]

So the only point that answers the question is [tex]\left(\dfrac32,\dfrac32+\dfrac2{\frac32}\right)=\left(\dfrac32,\dfrac{17}6\right)[/tex]