Question

Find the equation of the line tangent to the graph of y= x^3-5x^2-2x when x = 2.

Answer 1

can you find f'(x)?

Answer 2

how?

Answer 3

take the derivative of the function

Answer 4

okay

Answer 5

after i find the y what do i do?

Answer 6

plug in x=2

Answer 7

i did and i found the y

Answer 8

After you find the corresponding y value you plug it in to the equation y-y1=m(x-x1) for y1. Then you can plug in 2 into the derivative represented as m, (the slope of the tangent line).
Your answer will be in the form y=mx+b

Answer 9

do i plug x in to the original equation or the derivative to figure out the y?

Answer 10

The original equation to get y. You will then have a point. After you take the derivative you will have your m slope in the equation for a tangent line. Plug x=2 into it finally to simplify the slope.

Answer 11

Okay thank you

Answer 12

You're welcome!