What is the equation of the normal line of f(x)=x^3e^-x+x^3 at x=-5?

1 Answer
Feb 12, 2016

y_(t)=color(red)m_tx+color(red)b_t
The normal equation is y_(n)= color(blue)m_nx+color(blue)b_n
a) Where color(red)m_t = -1/color(blue)m_n
b) color(red)b_t = color(blue)b_n

Explanation:

the slope of the normal line is the negative reciprocal of the slope of the tangent line. so what you need to don is :
1) find the the slope of f(x) at x = -5 => f'(-5)
a) f'(x)=3x^2e^-x - x^3e^-x + 3x^2
b) f'(-5)=y=75e^5 + 125e^5-125
2) find the equation of line, equation of tangent at (-5, f(5))
a) Tangent equation, y_(t)=color(red)m_tx+color(red)b_t
b) color(red)m_t = f'(-5)
c) y_(t)-f(-5)=color(red)f'(-5)(x+5)+color(red)b_t solve for b
4) The normal equation is y_(n)= color(blue)m_nx+color(blue)b_n
a) Where color(red)m_t = -1/color(blue)m_n
b) color(red)b_t = color(blue)b_n

There is some algebra that you need to, which I leave to you. the recipe for solving is there for you for now and future problems...

Good luck