Parametric Equations and tangent lines at given points

Lizzy

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Jan 11, 2007
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I need help answering this question in my homework:

Instructions: Find an equation of the tangent line at the indicated points on the curve.

The points are (-2/(3^1/2), 3/2), (0, 2), and (2(3^1/2), 1/2).

The equations are x = 2 cot t and y = 2 (sin t)^2.

Thanks for the help!
 
Your book should have given you a fairly straightforward methodology for this sort of exercise. You've followed those steps, right?

You've found dx/dt and dy/dt, and divided dy/dt by dx/dt to find dy/dx.

You've plugged the given x- and y-values into the x- and y-functions and found the corresponding t-values for each (x, y) point.

You've then plugged the t-values into dy/dx and found the corresponding slopes m.

Then what? Where are you stuck?

Please be specific. Thank you.

Eliz.
 
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