What is the equation of the line normal to #f(x)=3x^2 -5x +1 # at #x=-3#?
1 Answer
Feb 7, 2016
23y - x - 762 = 0
Explanation:
To find the equation of the normal , y - b = m(x - a ) , first find the gradient (m) of the tangent by differentiating f(x) and evaluating f'(x) at x = - 3. To find a point on the line (a , b ) evaluate f(x) at x = -3
f'(x) = 6x - 5 and f'(-3) = 6(-3) - 5 = -18 - 5 = -23 = m of tangent
If
# m_1 color(black)(" is gradient of normal") # then :
#m xx m_1 = -1 rArr -23 xx m_1 = -1 rArr m_1 = 1/23 # f(-3)
# = 3(-3)^2 -5(-3) + 1 = 27 + 15 + 1 = 33# hence (a , b ) = (-3 , 33 ) and
# m_1 = 1/23 # equation of normal :
# y - 33 = 1/23 (x+ 3 ) # [ multiply through by 23 to eliminate fraction ]
hence : 23y - 759 = x + 3
# rArr 23y - x - 762 = 0#