What is the slope of the line normal to the tangent line of #f(x) = sin(3x-pi) # at # x= pi/3 #?

1 Answer
Nov 28, 2016

#y = -1/3x + pi/9#

Explanation:

We start by finding the corresponding #y# coordinate.

#f(pi/3) = sin(3(pi/3) - pi)#

#f(pi/3) = sin(pi - pi)#

#f(pi/3) = sin(0)#

#f(pi/3) = 0#

We now differentiate. We let #y = sinu# and #u = 3x- pi#.

Then #dy/(du)= cosu# and #(du)/dx = 3#, since #pi# is but a constant.

By the chain rule,

#f'(x) = dy/(du) xx (du)/dx#

#f'(x) = cosu xx 3#

#f'(x) = 3cos(3x - pi)#

We now determine the slope of the tangent.

#f'(pi/3) = 3cos(3(pi/3) - pi)#

#f'(pi/3) = 3cos(0)#

#f'(pi/3) = 3#

The normal line is perpendicular to the tangent, so the slope will be the negative reciprocal.

#m_"normal" = -1/3#

We can now determine the equation.

#y - y_1 = m(x- x_1)#

#y - 0 = -1/3(x- pi/3)#

#y = -1/3x + pi/9#

Hopefully this helps!