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November 08, 2025, 08:21:09 am

Author Topic: Equation of normal of curve f(x)=x³-4x²+5x+2, at x=1  (Read 920 times)  Share 

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naki12

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Equation of normal of curve f(x)=x³-4x²+5x+2, at x=1
« on: September 25, 2011, 08:58:26 pm »
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So I came across an interesting question in the Essential Mathematical Methods 1&2 Teacher CD-ROM:
Find the equation of the normal to the following curve f(x)=x³-4x²+5x+2 at x=1.
What's interesting is that my method of working out the normal leads me to something of a dead end.
Here is my working out:
f(x)=x³-4x²+5x+2
f(1)=1³-4*1²+5*1+2 = 4
f'(x)=3x²-8x+5
f'(1)=3*1²-8*1+5=0
here is where I am stuck, because I usually use the gradient to find the other number which times together with it to give a -1. But here, some number n*0=-1. This is not possible, thus, I cannot work out the next part to find the normal equation.

Can anyone help? Sorry for writing so much, you can just solve using the 'Subject' sentence.

paulsterio

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Re: Equation of normal of curve f(x)=x³-4x²+5x+2, at x=1
« Reply #1 on: September 25, 2011, 09:03:14 pm »
+1
This means that the tangent at that point will be a horizontal line, so the normal would be the vertical line through that point
i.e. The Normal is x = 1 :)

Lasercookie

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Re: Equation of normal of curve f(x)=x³-4x²+5x+2, at x=1
« Reply #2 on: September 25, 2011, 09:03:47 pm »
+2
Assuming that there hasn't been any mistakes made in the working out, if the gradient is 0, that means it is a stationary point. So the gradient of the normal is -1/0, or undefined.

If the gradient is undefined, that means that it is a vertical line.

edit: my working out was completely wrong, redacted it now. y = 4 is a horizontal line - I forgot to use common sense.
« Last Edit: September 25, 2011, 09:07:14 pm by laseredd »

naki12

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Re: Equation of normal of curve f(x)=x³-4x²+5x+2, at x=1
« Reply #3 on: September 26, 2011, 07:18:09 pm »
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This means that the tangent at that point will be a horizontal line, so the normal would be the vertical line through that point
i.e. The Normal is x = 1 :)

Thanks for explanation. It is strange for the question to require an explanation instead of working out to solve; but I guess such things also exist.

paulsterio

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Re: Equation of normal of curve f(x)=x³-4x²+5x+2, at x=1
« Reply #4 on: September 26, 2011, 10:29:32 pm »
+1
There are explain questions in maths - there's one in the VCAA 2009 Exam 1 - if I remember correctly - so you need to know the theory behind it as well as how to do questions :)