Calculus: Early Transcendentals 9th Edition

Published by Cengage Learning
ISBN 10: 1337613924
ISBN 13: 978-1-33761-392-7

Chapter 2 - Problems Plus - Problems - Page 172: 4

Answer

As $P$ approaches the origin $Q$ approaches the point $(0, \frac{1}{2})$

Work Step by Step

Let the x-coordinate of $P$, $x_P = a$, since P lies on the parabola $y = x^{2}$ $P$ must have coordinates $(a,a^{2})$. The line $OP$ must be in the form $y=mx$, since it goes through the origin. $m = \frac{Δy}{Δx} = \frac{a^{2}}{a} = a$ So $OP: y = ax$ Let $l$ be the perpendicular bisector of $OP$. $l$ must have the form $l:y = cx + d$. Since it is perpendicular to $OP$, $c = -\frac{1}{a}$ The point halfway between $O$ and $P$ will be $(\frac{1}{2}a,\frac{1}{2}a^{2})$ Since $l$ passes through this point we can say that $y = -\frac{1}{a}x+d$ $\frac{1}{2}a^{2} = -\frac{1}{a}(\frac{1}{2}a) + d$ $\frac{1}{2}a^{2} = -\frac{1}{2} + d$ $d = \frac{1}{2}a^{2}+\frac{1}{2}$ Which gives $l:y=-\frac{1}{a}x+\frac{1}{2}a^{2}+\frac{1}{2}$ The x-coordinate of $Q$ must be $0$ and $Q$ must lie on $l$ thus we get $y_Q = -\frac{1}{a}(0)+\frac{1}{2}a^{2}+\frac{1}{2} = \frac{1}{2}a^{2}+\frac{1}{2}$ Thus $Q$ must have coordinates $(0,\frac{1}{2}a^{2}+\frac{1}{2})$ As $P$ approaches the origin $a \to 0$ Thus we compute $\lim\limits_{a \to 0}(\frac{1}{2}a^{2}+\frac{1}{2})$ $= \frac{1}{2}$ So we get coordinates for $Q$ $(0,\frac{1}{2})$ as $P$ approaches the origin.
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