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HomeMHT-CETMathematicsApplication of Derivatives › Tangent to the curve $y = \sqrt x + \sqrt y = c$…

Tangent to the curve $y = \sqrt x + \sqrt y = c$ (where $c > 0$) at any point on it makes equal intercepts on the axes equal to $c^2$. Hence at the point where this tangent meets the line $y = x$:

AThe point is $(c^2/4, c^2/4)$
BThe point is $(c, c)$
CSum of squares of intercepts is $c^4 \cdot 2 = 2c^4$
DTangent has slope −1; for $y = x$, intersection at $(c^2/2, c^2/2)$
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. The point is $(c^2/4, c^2/4)$
Tangent to $\sqrt x + \sqrt y = c$ has the property: sum of x and y intercepts equals $c^2$. The tangent line intersects $y = x$ at one point. By symmetry, that's where the curve crosses $y = x$. Set $y = x$ in original: $2\sqrt x = c$ ⇒ $x = c^2/4$. So point is $(c^2/4, c^2/4)$.
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