The general equation of a straight line is y=mx+b, where m is a slope, and b is the intercept on the y-axis.
Suppose the line passing through the points (3, 5) and (0, b).
Then we have:
5=3m+b,
3m=5−b,
m=35−b.
We have found the slope, so the equation of the curve is:
y=35−bx+b.
Now we can find the intercept on the x-axis (y=0):
0=35−bx+b,
35−bx=−b,
x=5−b−3b=b−53b.
The area of the right triangle is S=21ab , so we have
S=21bb−53b=2(b−5)3b2.
To find its minimum we have to find the derivative:
S′=4(b−5)26b⋅2(b−5)−3b2⋅2=4(b−5)212b2−60b−6b2=
=4(b−5)26b2−60b=4(b−5)26b(b−10).
S′=0 when b=0 or b=10.
So b=10 produce the least area, and
m=35−b=35−10=−35.
The equation of the line through the point (3, 5) that cuts off the least area from the first quadrant is
y=−35x+10.
Answer: y=−35x+10.
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