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Find a parametrization of the tangent line at the indicated point.

r(t)= (In t)i+t⁻⁴j+3tk, t = 1
L(t) =______

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The parametrization of the tangent line at the point where t = 1 for the curve r(t) = (ln t)i + t^{-4}j + 3tk is L(t) = ti + (1 - 4t)j + (3 + 3t)k.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find a parametrization of the tangent line at a given point on the curve r(t), we first need to find the derivative of the vector function r(t) to obtain the tangent vector. The vector function given is r(t) = (ln t)i + t^{-4}j + 3tk, and we are interested in the tangent at t = 1.

The derivative of r(t), denoted as r'(t), gives us the components of the tangent vector at any point t. The derivative of each component is as follows:

  • d(ln t)/dt = 1/t
  • d(t^{-4})/dt = -4t^{-5}
  • d(3t)/dt = 3

Thus, r'(t) = (1/t)i - 4t^{-5}j + 3k. At t = 1, this simplifies to r'(1) = i - 4j + 3k.

The point on the curve at t = 1 is given by r(1) = (ln 1)i + (1^{-4})j + 3(1)k = 0i + 1j + 3k.

Hence, the parametrization of the tangent line L(t) at t = 1 can be given by the point on the curve at t = 1 plus a scalar multiple of the tangent vector:

L(t) = r(1) + t * r'(1) = (0i + 1j + 3k) + t(i - 4j + 3k)

Therefore, the parametrization of the tangent line at t = 1 is L(t) = ti + (1 - 4t)j + (3 + 3t)k.

User Lele
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