# A challenge question

A challenge question:

The curve with equation $y=e^{kx}$ is tangent to the curve with equation $y=x^2$. Find $k$.

Curves tangent to other curves? Well, why not! Tangent just means 'touching' -- so as long as there's a point common to both curves where the gradients are the same, we're good.

So, we need to solve $e^{kx} = x^2$, and -- for the gradients:,$ke^{kx} = 2x$.

Those look tricky. However, you can solve them by substituting the first into the second:

$k \left(x^2\right) = 2x$, so $k = \frac{2}{x}$.1

Substituting that into the first equation gives $e^{2} = x^2$, so $x = \pm e$.

Lastly, put this back into the $k$ equation to get $k = \pm \frac{2}{e}$.

Click on the picture to play with it:

Edited 2015-06-18 to correct an oversight.

## Colin

Colin is a Weymouth maths tutor, author of several Maths For Dummies books and A-level maths guides. He started Flying Colours Maths in 2008. He lives with an espresso pot and nothing to prove.

1. As @realityminus3 has pointed out, I've lost a 'solution' of $x=0$ -- although it turns out to be extraneous, I should have accounted for it. []

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