Calculus, 10th Edition (Anton)

Published by Wiley
ISBN 10: 0-47064-772-8
ISBN 13: 978-0-47064-772-1

Chapter 1 - Limits and Continuity - 1.1 Limits (An Intuitive Approach) - Exercises Set 1.1 - Page 61: 28

Answer

$y-0=0(x-0)$ or $y=0$

Work Step by Step

Let the given point be $P(0,0)$. Let the slope of the secant line from $P$ to a distinct point $Q(x,x^2)$ be $m$. $\implies m=\dfrac{x^2-0}{x-0}$ Now simplify $ m=\dfrac{x^2-0}{x-0}$. We get, $m=\dfrac{x^2}{x}=x$ if point $Q$ moves toward the point $P$ on the curve. Then, $x$ approaches $0$. That gives $m=0$ We know that if $Q$ gets closer to $P$, then the slope of secant gets closer to the slope of the tangent at $P$. Hence, the slope of the tangent at $P$ is $0$. Thus, the equation of the tangent line at $P$ can be written using point-slope form of a line as follows: $y-0=0(x-0)$ or $y=0$
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