How close does the curve y=sqrt{x} come to the point (3/2,0)?
The distance between (3/2, 0) and y = sqrt(x) is given by D = sqrt((3/2 - x)^2 + (0 - sqrt(x))^2) = sqrt((3/2 - x)^2 + x)
For the distance to be minimum, dD/dx = 0
1/2 1/sqrt((3/2 - x)^2 + x) (-2(3/2 - x) + 1) = 0
1/2 1/sqrt((3/2 - x)^2 + x) (-3 + 2x) = 0
-3 + 2x = 0
x = 3/2
Putting x = 3/2 into the formula for D, we have that D = sqrt(3/2)
Therefore, shortest distance is D = sqrt(3/2)