What is the equation of the line that is normal to #f(x)= -xsin^2x# at # x=(4pi)/3 #?

1 Answer
Aug 19, 2017

#y+pi=(4sqrt3)/(3sqrt3+16pi)(x-(4pi)/3)#

Explanation:

The line intersects the function at:

#f((4pi)/3)=-(4pi)/3sin^2((4pi)/3)=-(4pi)/3(-sqrt3/2)^2=-pi#

To find the slope of the normal line, first find the slope of the tangent line by differentiating the function. We'll need first the product rule, then the chain rule.

#f'(x)=-(d/dxx)sin^2x-x(d/dxsin^2x)#

#color(white)(f'(x))=-sin^2x-x(2sinx)(d/dxsinx)#

#color(white)(f'(x))=-sin^2x-2xsinxcosx#

So the slope of the tangent line is:

#f'((4pi)/3)=-sin^2((4pi)/3)-2((4pi)/3)sin((4pi)/3)cos((4pi)/3)#

#color(white)(f'((4pi)/3))=-(-sqrt3/2)^2-(8pi)/3(-sqrt3/2)(-1/2)#

#color(white)(f'((4pi)/3))=-3/4-(4pi)/sqrt3=-(3sqrt3+16pi)/(4sqrt3)#

The normal line is perpendicular to the tangent line, so their slopes will be opposite reciprocals. Thus, the slope of the normal line is:

#(4sqrt3)/(3sqrt3+16pi)#

Since we know the slope of the normal line and a point that it passes through, #((4pi)/3,-pi)#, we can write the line's equation:

#y-y_0=m(x-x_0)#

#color(blue)(y+pi=(4sqrt3)/(3sqrt3+16pi)(x-(4pi)/3)#