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Question 107 of 148

Q.Let P be a point on the curve y=x3y = x^3 and suppose that the tangent line at P intersects the curve again at Q. Prove that the slope at Q is four times the slope at P.

Tamil Nadu DgeTamil Nadu HSC (DGE) Board 2018Subjective· 10mImportance★★★★★
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Finding the tangent at a general point P=(p,p3)P=(p,p^3) on y=x3y=x^3 and its second intersection QQ with the curve shows the slope at QQ is exactly 44 times the slope at PP.

  1. Let P=(p,p3)P=(p,p^3) be a point on y=x3y=x^3.
  2. Differentiating, dydx=3x2\dfrac{dy}{dx}=3x^2, so the slope of the tangent at PP is mP=3p2m_P = 3p^2.
  3. Equation of tangent at PP: y−p3=3p2(x−p)⇒y=3p2x−3p3+p3=3p2x−2p3y-p^3 = 3p^2(x-p) \Rightarrow y = 3p^2x - 3p^3+p^3 = 3p^2x-2p^3.
  4. Find where this line meets the curve y=x3y=x^3 again: set x3=3p2x−2p3x^3 = 3p^2x - 2p^3, i.e. x3−3p2x+2p3=0x^3-3p^2x+2p^3=0.
  5. Since the tangent touches the curve at x=px=p, x=px=p is a (double) root of this cubic. Factor it out: dividing x3−3p2x+2p3x^3-3p^2x+2p^3 by (x−p)2=x2−2px+p2(x-p)^2=x^2-2px+p^2 gives quotient (x+2p)(x+2p). Check: (x−p)2(x+2p)=(x2−2px+p2)(x+2p)=x3+2px2−2px2−4p2x+p2x+2p3=x3−3p2x+2p3(x-p)^2(x+2p) = (x^2-2px+p^2)(x+2p) = x^3+2px^2-2px^2-4p^2x+p^2x+2p^3 = x^3-3p^2x+2p^3 ✓. …

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