Find dy/dx at (2,5)
in Other Math Topics by Level 4 User (7.5k points)

Your answer

Your name to display (optional):
Privacy: Your email address will only be used for sending these notifications.
Anti-spam verification:
To avoid this verification in future, please log in or register.

1 Answer

Differentiating: 2x-xdy/dx-y-2ydy/dx=0. At (2,5), 4-2dy/dx-5-10dy/dx=0, 12dy/dx=-1, dy/dx=-1/12.

However, (2,5) does not lie on the curve so the gradient has no meaning.

When x=2 and y=5, x2-xy-y2=4-10-25=-31, so the gradient only has meaning if x2-xy-y2=-31.

However, if the question means the gradient dy/dx when a tangent passes through (2,5) we can write:

dy/dx=(2x-y)/(x+2y). At point (p,q) on the curve, dy/dx=(2p-q)/(p+2q) and this is the gradient m of the line y=mx+a passing through (2,5) and (p,q).

y-5=m(x-2), y=mx-2m+5 so a=-2m+5, or m=(y-5)/(x-2).

Since (p,q) lies on the curve, p2-pq-q2-15=0, p=(q±√(5q2+60))/2, using the quadratic formula.

2p-q=±√(5q2+60), p+2q=(5q±√(5q2+60))/2. We then need to substitute for p in (2p-q)/(p+2q) so the gradient is in one variable, q. We have m=(q-5)/(p-2) from the equation of the tangent line since (p,q) must lie on the line as well as the curve. By equating these two equations for m and substituting for p we get:

(2p-q)/(p+2q)=(q-5)/(p-2), ±2√(5q2+60)/(5q±√(5q2+60))=2(q-5)/(q-4±√(5q2+60)).

The algebra gets too complicated after this. However, q=-2.04041 and -2.79830 approx, so p=-5.5151 and 3.5796, making (p,q)=(-5.5151,-2.0404) and (3.5796,-2.7983).

dy/dx=m=7.0404/7.5151=0.9368 and -7.7983/1.5796=-4.9369.

Because of this complication, it is unlikely that this is the intended solution, and perhaps the question has been wrongly presented.

by Top Rated User (1.1m points)

Related questions

1 answer
asked Jul 14, 2015 in Algebra 1 Answers by anonymous | 1.3k views
2 answers
asked May 30, 2012 in Algebra 1 Answers by jeannine worthem Level 1 User (120 points) | 1.1k views
1 answer
1 answer
asked Mar 11, 2014 in Calculus Answers by RE Dot Ro Level 1 User (120 points) | 1.5k views
1 answer
asked Nov 19, 2013 in Algebra 1 Answers by anonymous | 1.1k views
1 answer
asked Sep 18, 2013 in Pre-Algebra Answers by anonymous | 653 views
2 answers
asked Jun 14, 2013 in Algebra 1 Answers by anonymous | 3.2k views
1 answer
asked Jan 9, 2013 in Calculus Answers by anonymous | 629 views
1 answer
asked Dec 24, 2012 in Algebra 2 Answers by anonymous | 822 views
Welcome to MathHomeworkAnswers.org, where students, teachers and math enthusiasts can ask and answer any math question. Get help and answers to any math problem including algebra, trigonometry, geometry, calculus, trigonometry, fractions, solving expression, simplifying expressions and more. Get answers to math questions. Help is always 100% free!
87,542 questions
99,806 answers
2,417 comments
523,491 users