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could someone help me with math

Name: Anonymous 2009-09-30 2:17

I am working on a math problem that just has me stumped, could someone please help and explain it to me?
The question is:
Find a third degree polynomial that is tangent to the line y = 14x - 13 at the point (1,1) and tangent to y = -2x - 5 at the point (-1,-3). (Start with a generic cubic polynomial.)
Thanks in advance

Name: Anonymous 2009-09-30 3:52

What does it mean for a polynomial if it's tangent to a line at a certain point?

Name: 4tran 2009-09-30 16:01

>>2
It cannot be tangent without passing through the point.
Furthermore, slope of polynomial = slope of line at the point.

This will probably involve finding the inverse of a 4x4 matrix/Gaussian elimination

Name: Anonymous 2009-09-30 16:09

>>1
"Generic cubic polynomial" here means begin with the polynomial
y = aX^3 + bX^2 + cX + d
where a,b,c and d are unknown (real) constants. Use calculus to find slopes of functions of x, plug in x and y values to derive equations for your constants, then what 4tranny said.

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