How do you show that the point #(p,4p^2)# lies on the curve #y=4x^2# for all real values of p and then find the equation of the tangent to #y=4x^2# at #(p,4p^2)#?

1 Answer
Apr 9, 2015

You can substitute the coordinate #x=p# of your point into the function to get: #y=4p^2# so your point does lie on the curve represented by #y=4x^2#.

Your function is a quadratic which can accept all real values of #x# so that #p# can be every real value.

Deriving your function you get the slope of the tangent to the curve at a generic #x#:
#y'=8x#

The slope in #x=p# is: #y'(p)=8p#

The equation of the line through your point (of coordinates #(x_0,y_0)#) and slope #m=8p# is:
#y-y_0=m(x-x_0)#
#y-4p^2=8p(x-p)#
and finally:
#y=8px-4p^2#