Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Finding Points of Intersection
To find where the curve intersects the x-axis, set y = 0 in the equation x² + xy + y² = 7. This simplifies to x² = 7, giving the points of intersection as (√7, 0) and (-√7, 0). These are the points where the curve crosses the x-axis.
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Implicit Differentiation
Implicit differentiation is used to find the derivative of a function defined implicitly, such as x² + xy + y² = 7. By differentiating both sides with respect to x, and treating y as a function of x, we can find dy/dx, which represents the slope of the tangent line at any point on the curve.
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Finding The Implicit Derivative
Parallel Lines and Slopes
Two lines are parallel if they have the same slope. After finding dy/dx using implicit differentiation, evaluate it at the points of intersection (√7, 0) and (-√7, 0). If the slopes at these points are equal, the tangent lines are parallel. The common slope is the value of dy/dx at these points.
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