What is the equation of the normal line of f(x)=(x+2)/(x-4) at x=3?

1 Answer
Apr 5, 2016

Equation of the normal line is x-2y-13=0

Explanation:

At x=3, f(3)=(3+2)/(3-4)=5/-1=-5

Hence normal is desired at point (3,-5) on the curve.

Slope of tangent is given by f'(x)

= ((x-4)*d/dx(x+2)-(x+2)*d/dx(x-4))/(x-4)^2

= ((x-4)*1-(x+2)*1)/(x-4)^2=(x-4-x-2)/(x-4)^2=-2/(x-4)^2

Hence slope of tangent at (3,-5) is -2/(3-4)^2=-2.

Hence slope of normal would be -1/-2=1/2

And equation of the normal line using point slope form is

(y-(-5))=1/2(x-3) or

2*(y+5)=(x-3) or x-2y-13=0