Find the equation of the tangents to the curve, y = cos(x+y), -2≤ x≤ 2Π, that are parallel to the line x + 2y = 0.

Two parallel lines have the same slope
The given line can be written as- 
y = -(12)∙x 
So it has slope: 
dydx=-12 

The slope of tangent line to a curve at point equals dydx at this point. So you need to find the point (x,y) on the curve for which 
dydx=-12 
The equation of a tangent line is given by point slope form: 
y -y= m∙(x - x) = y - (12)∙(x - x

The slope of the tangent can be found by implicit differentiation: 
y = cos(x + y) 
 
y'= ddxcosx+y

dydx ​ = -sin(x + y) ∙(1 + dydx ) 

dydx =-sinx+y1+sinx+y 

At the point you're looking for 
dydx= --sinx0+y01+sinx0+y0=-12 
solving we get, 
2sin(x + y) = 1 + sin(x₀ + y₀)  
sin(x + y) = 1 
That means 
x + y = (π2) ± 2nπ 
were n is an arbitrary integer. 
More important is the fact that cosine vanishes at points were sine equals zero, i.e. 
cos(x + y) = 0 if sin(x + y) = 1 
Hence, 
y = cos(x + y) = 0 
So the condition for the slope leads to 
sin(x) = 1 
which has only one solution on the interval [0,2π], it is: 
x =(π2
So the equation of the tangent line is: 
y = y - (12)(x - x) 
y = 0 - (12)​(x -(π2) ) 
y = π4-x2 

  • 16

The range is -2Π≤ x≤ 2Π.

  • 8
What are you looking for?