Bytelearn - cat image with glassesAI tutor

Welcome to Bytelearn!

Let’s check out your problem:

The function 
f is defined as 
f(x)=3x-2.
What is the 
x-coordinate of the point on the function's graph that is closest to the origin?

The function f f is defined as f(x)=3x2 f(x)=3 x-2 .\newlineWhat is the x x -coordinate of the point on the function's graph that is closest to the origin?

Full solution

Q. The function f f is defined as f(x)=3x2 f(x)=3 x-2 .\newlineWhat is the x x -coordinate of the point on the function's graph that is closest to the origin?
  1. Define Distance Formula: To find the point on the graph of the function f(x)=3x2f(x) = 3x - 2 that is closest to the origin, we need to minimize the distance from any point (x,f(x))(x, f(x)) on the graph to the origin (0,0)(0,0). The distance DD between the point (x,f(x))(x, f(x)) and the origin (0,0)(0,0) can be found using the distance formula: D=((x0)2+(f(x)0)2)D = \sqrt{((x - 0)^2 + (f(x) - 0)^2)}.
  2. Substitute f(x)f(x): Substitute f(x)f(x) with 3x23x - 2 into the distance formula: D=x2+(3x2)2D = \sqrt{x^2 + (3x - 2)^2}.
  3. Expand Expression: Expand the expression inside the square root: D=x2+(9x212x+4)D = \sqrt{x^2 + (9x^2 - 12x + 4)}.
  4. Combine Like Terms: Combine like terms inside the square root: D=10x212x+4D = \sqrt{10x^2 - 12x + 4}.
  5. Minimize Expression: To find the minimum distance, we can minimize the expression inside the square root since the square root function is increasing. This is equivalent to minimizing the quadratic expression 10x212x+410x^2 - 12x + 4. To find the minimum of a quadratic function, we can use the vertex formula x=b2ax = -\frac{b}{2a}, where the quadratic is in the form ax2+bx+cax^2 + bx + c.
  6. Apply Vertex Formula: Apply the vertex formula to the quadratic expression 10x212x+410x^2 - 12x + 4. Here, a=10a = 10 and b=12b = -12. So, x=(12)/(210)=12/20=0.6x = -(-12)/(2\cdot10) = 12/20 = 0.6.
  7. Find x-coordinate: The xx-coordinate of the point on the graph of the function that is closest to the origin is 0.60.6. This is the final answer.

More problems from Rational functions: asymptotes and excluded values