What is the equation of the normal line of f(x)=3^x-x at x=-3?

1 Answer

y-82/27=27/{27-\ln3}(x+3)

Explanation:

Substituting x=-3 in the given function: f(x)=3^x-x to get y-coordinate of given point as follows

y=f(-3)

=3^{-3}-(-3)

=82/27

Now, the slope of tangent dy/dx at any point to the given curve: y=3^x-x is given by differentiating given function w.r.t. x as follows

dy/dx=f'(x)

=d/dx(3^x-x)

=3^x\ln3-1

hence the slope of tangent at (-3, 82/27)

f'(-3)=3^{-3}\ln3-1

={\ln3-27}/27

hence the slope (m) of normal at the same point (-3, 82/27)

m=-1/{f'(-3)}

=-1/{{\ln3-27}/27}

=27/{27-\ln3}

hence the equation of normal at the point (x_1, y_1)\equiv(-3, 82/27) & having slope m=27/{27-\ln3} is given by following formula

y-y_1=m(x-x_1)

y-82/27=27/{27-\ln3}(x-(-3))

y-82/27=27/{27-\ln3}(x+3)