What is the slope of f(t) = (t-2t+4,t^2) at t =0?

1 Answer
Nov 22, 2016

0

Explanation:

Define x(t), y(t) as follows

{ (x(t)=t-2t+4=4-t), (y(t)=t^2) :} => f(t) = (x(t), y(t))

Differentiating x(t) wrt t we get:

dot x(t) = dx/dt = -1

Differentiating y(t) wrt t we get:

dot y(t) = dy/dt=2t

Then the applying the chain rule;

f'(t) = dy/dx = dy/dt*dt/dx = (dy/dt)/(dx/dt)
:. f'(t) = ( 2t ) / ( -1 )
:. f'(t) = -2t

So when t=0 we get:

f'(0) = 0

Hence, The slope of f(t) is 0 at t=0