1. WMA11/01 Edexcel IAL P1 June 2021 Q1 (Differentiation & Straight Line Equation)
The curve C has equation
(a) Find
(4)
The point P(4, 3) lies on C.
(b) Find the equation of the normal to C at the point P. Write your answer in the form ax + by + c = 0, where a, b and c are integers to be found.
(4)
SOLUTION
a-
b-
To find the equation of the normal, first find the gradient of a tangent of a curve at point P and then find the gradient of normal line. At last, use the point slope formula to get the equation of the normal to C.
So let’s first find the gradient of tangent of curve.
Since normal line and tangent to the curve are perpendicular, the product of their gradients is equal to -1.
Now, using point slope formula to find the equation of normal, where the point P(4, 3) and gradient of normal is -4/9.