Engineering Board Exam Reviewer · Curvature and Radius of Curvature · medium

Find the radius of curvature of the parabola y2=4x at the point (1,2).

1. 2.83
2. 11.31
3. 5.66
4. 0.18

Answer

C. 5.66

Solution

From y2=4x: y'= 2y=1 and y''=-2y'/y2=- 12 at (1,2). R= (1+1)3/21/2=2·23/2=4 2 5.66.

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