67.0k views
1 vote
Find all points where the tangent line is horizontal: x2+xy+y2=1?

User Lavekush
by
7.8k points

1 Answer

2 votes

Final answer:

To find the points where the tangent line is horizontal, find the derivative and set it equal to zero. Solve for x and substitute it back into the original equation to find the values of y. The solutions to y³ - 3y² = 1 are the points where the tangent line is horizontal.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the points where the tangent line is horizontal for the equation x²+xy+y²=1, we need to find the derivative and set it equal to zero. The derivative of the equation with respect to x is 2x+y. Setting this derivative equal to zero, we get 2x+y=0. Solving for x, we find that x = -y/2.

Now, substitute this value of x back into the original equation to find the values of y when the tangent line is horizontal. We have (-y/2)² + (-y/2)*y + y² = 1. Simplifying this equation, we get y³ - 3y² = 1.

The points where the tangent line is horizontal are the solutions to this equation. You can solve it graphically or numerically using a calculator to find the approximate values of y.

User Blaise Swanwick
by
7.9k points

No related questions found

Welcome to QAmmunity.org, where you can ask questions and receive answers from other members of our community.

9.4m questions

12.2m answers

Categories