# Math Help - Finding equation of tangent lines:

1. ## Finding equation of tangent lines:

Hello,
So I am having problems with trying to find the equations of tangent lines when the point the lines pass through is not on the original function.

ex:
f(x)=x^2
find equations of tangent lines through the point (1,-4)

2. ## Re: Finding equation of tangent lines:

we need to find the tangents to the curve $y=x^2$ passing through $(1,-4)$.

$y=x^2$

$\Rightarrow \frac{dy}{dx}=2x$ ...(i)

(1)Let the tangent pass through the point $(a,b)$ such that $(a,b)$ lies on $y=x^2$, then the slope of the tangent is $m=2a$(using (i)). Since $(1,-4)$ lies on the tangent, the equation of the tangent is $y=2ax-a^2$ or $y=2ax-(2a+4)$.

(2)Also note that slope, $m=\frac{b+4}{a-1}=\frac{a^2+4}{a-1}$. We also know that $m=2a$ (we found it in point 1 using differentiation).

Relating these two: $2a=\frac{a^2+4}{a-1}$
$\Rightarrow a^2-2a-4=0$.
Solving this with quadratic formula : $a=1 \pm \sqrt{5}$. Since there are two values of $a$, there must be two equations.

(3)Put the values of a in any of the two equations (in point 1) and you will get: $y=(2+2\sqrt{5})x-(6+2\sqrt{5})$ and $y=(2-2\sqrt{5})x+(-6+2\sqrt{5})$.

3. ## Re: Finding equation of tangent lines:

As we know, the tangent equation is the straight line $y=ax+b$.

From this "...through the point (1,-4)" we get the condition $a+b=-4$ (why?).

Also, the equations $y=x^2,~y=ax+b$ must have one common point; therefore, the quadratic equation $x^2=ax+b$ must have a single root, which is possible, if his discriminant is equal to zero $\Delta=a^2+4b=0$.

So, the unknown parameters of the tangent equations is solutions of this equations system

$\begin{cases}a+b=-4,\\ a^2+4b=0.\end{cases}$ which has two pairs of roots $\begin{cases}a_{1,2}=2\pm2\sqrt{5},\\ b_{1,2}=-6\mp2\sqrt{5}.\end{cases}$

Finally, we have $y=(2+2\sqrt{5})x+(-6-2\sqrt{5})$ and $y=(2-2\sqrt{5})x+(-6+2\sqrt{5})$.

See the picture

4. ## Re: Finding equation of tangent lines:

As long as f is a polynomial, you can solve an problem like this using Fermat's method of "ad-equation" (predating Calculus). As has been said, the equation of any line through (1, -4) must be of the form y= m(x- 1)- 4. Also as has been said, at a point of tangency, the curve and line must cross: $y= x^2= m(x- 1)- 4$ which gives the quadratic equation $y^2- mx+ (m+ 4)= 0$.

But in order to be tangent, that x must be a double root of the equation. And that means the "discriminant", $b^2- 4ac= (m^2)- 4(1)(m+4)= 0$. That gives a quadratic equation for m which has two roots as sbhatnagar and deMath indicate.