How do you find the parabola with equation #y=ax^2+bx# whose tangent line at (1,1) has equation #y=3x-2#?

1 Answer
Nov 28, 2016

The parabola has the equation #y=2x^2-x#.

Explanation:

If #y=ax^2+bx# then
#y'=2ax+b#.

This gives us our slope of #y# at any given #x#. So at the point #(1,1)#, the slope must be
#y'=2a(1)+b=2a+b#

We know the slope must also be #3# at the point #(1,1)#, to match the linear equation given. Thus, these two slope values must be equal:

#2a+b=3#       [1]

We also know that #(1,1)# is a point on the parabola, so it must satisfy the original parabola equation, thus:

#1=a(1)^2+b(1)#
#=>a+b=1#       [2]

So if both [1] and [2] are true, we can combine them to create a system of linear equations, to solve for the unknowns #a# and #b#.

#"   "2a+b=3#
#-(a+b=1)#
"==========="
#"     "a"       "=2#

And if #a=2#, then

#"       "a+b=1#
#=>2+b=1#
#=>"   "b="-"1#

So our parabola equation #y=ax^2+bx# becomes

#y=2x^2-x#.

Check:

#y=2x^2-x#
#=>y'=4x-1#
#=>y'|_(x=1)=4(1)-1=3# #"       "#(Slope at #(1,1)# is 3.)

#y=m(x-x_1)+y_1"       "#(Slope-point form of a line)
#=>y=3(x-1)+1#
#=>y=3x-3+1#
#=>y=3x-2"              "#(Matches given line equation)