A Curve (C) Has Parametric Equations x=3cost and y=cos2t and find the coordinates on the point on the curve where the gradient is 1?

1 Answer
Aug 3, 2016

#((x), (y))= ((9/4), (1/8)) #

Explanation:

by gradient i think you mean slope ie #dy/dx#. [there is a big difference though it comes later in the math journey, when gradient does not mean slope!!]

We can say, from the chain rule, that

#dy/dx = dy/dt*dt/dx = (dy/dt)/(dx/dt) = (-2 sin 2t)/(- 3 sin t)#

#= (4 sin t cos t)/( 3 sin t)# ....we just used the ID, #sin 2A = 2 sin A cos A#

#= 4/3 cos t#

Now if

#[dy/dx]_{t = t_o} = 1 #

then
# 4/3 cos t_o = 1 implies cos t_o = 3/4#

from the Pythagorean ID: #sin^2 + cos ^2 = 1#

we know that #sin t_o = sqrt 7 /4#

the point on the curve is # ((x), (y)) = ((3 cos t), (cos 2t))#

and from an additional trig ID: #cos 2A = 2cos^2 A - 1#

we can say that #cos 2 t_o = 2 * 9/16 -1 = 2/16#

so

# ((x), (y)) = ((3 * 3/4), (1/8)) = ((9/4), (1/8)) #

this can be also done by de-parameterising the equation

from #x = 3 cos t#, we say that #cos t = x/3#

we then have #y = cos 2t# and from that double angle identity we say that

#y = 2 cos^2 t - 1#

#= 2 (x/3)^2 - 1#

so #y' = (4x)/3*1/3 = (4x)/9#

#y' = 1 implies x = 9/4#

and so

#y = 2 ((9/4)/3)^2 - 1 = 18/16 -1 = 1/8#