[Math] Find the gradient of a graph at the y axis

calculusderivatives

The question gave the equation:
$y^3+2y = \sin x+\cos x-1+3x^{2}$ and then asked to find the gradient of the curve at the points when the graph cuts the y axis.

I am not sure how to approach this.
Maybe let $x = 0$?

If we do then we get $y(y^{2}+2)= 0$ so $y = 0$?

Then maybe find the derivative using implicit differentiation but not sure how far that would get us?

Thanks.

Best Answer

Solving for gradient [i.e. "slope"] at $x = 0$ ($x = 0$ is that is the equation of the y-axis) given

$\;y^3+2y = \sin x+\cos x-1+3x^{2}\tag{1}$

  • Solve for $y$ at $x = 0$: $\quad x = 0 \implies y^3 + 2y = y(y^2 + 2) = 0\implies y = 0, \;x, y \in \mathbb R$

  • Use implicit differentiation on the left hand side and the right hand side: as a check, $$\frac{dy}{dx} = \frac{6x + \cos x - \sin x}{3y^2 + 2}$$

  • Evaluating the derivative at $(0, 0)$ will give the slope/gradient $m$ of the curve at the $y\text{-intercept}.\;$ As a check: we should get $m = 1/2.$


And here, in fact, is the graph of your function near the origin, and a graph of your function with the line tangent to the curve at $(0, 0)$

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