[Math] Slope of the tangent lines

calculus

The slope of the tangent line to the parabola $y = x^2 + 6x + 7$ at the point $( 3 , 61 )$ is:
The equation of this tangent line can be written in the form $y = mx+b$ where $m$ is: __
and where $b$ is: __?

and also:

Let $f(x) = \sqrt{10-x}$
The slope of the tangent line to the graph of $f(x)$ at the point $(6,2)$ is .
The equation of the tangent line to the graph of $f(x)$ at $(6,2)$ is $y=mx+b$ for
$m=$ __ and $b=$ __
Hint: the slope is given by the derivative at $x=6$, ie.
$\lim_{x\to6} \frac{(f(6+h)-f(6))}{h}$

I'm absolutely stumped…. 🙁
Help?!

Best Answer

Equation of tangent line at point $(a,f(a))$ is $y = f(a) + f'(a)(x - a)$, so we have to find $f'(x)$ and than plug in value $a$ into the result.

$f'(x)=(4x^2+6x+7)'=8x+6 \Rightarrow f'(3)=30$

Since $f(a)=f(3)=61$, we may write next tangent line equation:

$y=61+30(x-3) \Rightarrow y=30x-29$

For the second tangent line we have that $f'(x)=\frac{-1}{2\sqrt{10-x}}\Rightarrow f'(6)=\frac{-1}{4}$ ,and $f(6)=2$, so the second tangent line is:

$y=2-\frac{1}{4}(x-6) \Rightarrow y=\frac{-1}{4}x+\frac{7}{2}$

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