How do you give the equation of the normal line to the graph of y=2xsqrt(x^2+8)+2 at point (0,2)?

1 Answer
Mar 1, 2015

The answer is: y=-sqrt2/8x+2.

The normal line to the graph in one point is the perpendicular at the tangent line to the graph in that point.

Remembering that two lines n and t are perpendicular if and only if this rule is verified:

m_n=-1/m_t , where m is the slope,

and

the slope of the tangent line in a point to a curve is the first derivative in that point,

y'=2(1*sqrt(x^2+8)+x*1/sqrt(x^2+8)*2x)

and so:

y'(0)=2sqrt8=4sqrt2.

So:

m_t=4sqrt2rArrm_n=-1/(4sqrt2)=-1/(4sqrt2)*sqrt2/sqrt2=-sqrt2/8.

The line that passes from a given a point P(x_P,y_P) and with a slope m, is:

y-y_P=m(x-x_P)

so:

y-2=-sqrt2/8(x-0)rArry=-sqrt2/8x+2.