finding the coordinantes for the tangent line.

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July 8th 2007, 09:05 AM
driver327

finding the coordinantes for the tangent line.

Find the coordinates of each point on the graph of the given function where the tangent line is horizontal.
I have this problem:
f(x)=(sqrt x)(x-3).
I used the product rule:
(sqrt x)(x-3)'+(sqrt x)'(x-3)
coming out (sqrt x)+x-3. I know this cannot be right.
What am I doing wrong with this?
The answer is suppose to be (1,-2).
July 8th 2007, 09:21 AM
galactus

You should get $f'(x)=\frac{3(x-1)}{2\sqrt{x}}$

As you can see, what makes the numerator equal to 0?.
July 8th 2007, 09:31 AM
driver327

Quote:

Originally Posted by galactus

You should get $f'(x)=\frac{3(x-1)}{2\sqrt{x}}$

As you can see, what makes the numerator equal to 0?.

From what you wrote, I understand how the numerator get to zero, But I am lost on how to get it to that particular form.
July 8th 2007, 09:44 AM
red_dog

$f(x)=(x-3)\sqrt{x}$
$f'(x)=(x-3)'\sqrt{x}+(x-3)(\sqrt{x})'=\sqrt{x}+\frac{x-3}{2\sqrt{x}}=\frac{3x-3}{2\sqrt{x}}=\frac{3(x-1)}{2\sqrt{x}}$
July 8th 2007, 01:04 PM
Soroban

Hello, driver!

Quote:

Find the coordinates of each point on the graph of the given function
where the tangent line is horizontal: . $f(x)\;=\;\sqrt{x}(x-3)$

We have: . $f(x)\;=\;x^{\frac{1}{2}}(x - 3) \;=\;x^{\frac{3}{2}} - 3x^{\frac{1}{2}}$

Then: . $f'(x)\;=\;\frac{3}{2}x^{\frac{1}{2}} - \frac{3}{2}x^{-\frac{1}{2}}\;=\;0\quad\Rightarrow\quad\frac{3}{2} \left(\sqrt{x} - \frac{1}{\sqrt{x}}\right)\:=\:0\quad\Rightarrow\qu ad \sqrt{x} - \frac{1}{\sqrt{x}} \;=\;0$

Multiply through by $\sqrt{x}\!:\;\;x - 1\:=\:0\quad\Rightarrow\quad x \,=\,1$

There is a horizontal tangent at $(1,\,-2)$