How to find the equation of the tangent to the parabola $y = x^2$ at the point (-2, 4)? This question is from George Simmons' Calc with Analytic Geometry. This is how I solved it, but I can't find the two points that satisfy this equation: 
$$
\begin{align}
\text{At Point P(-2,4):} \hspace{30pt} y &= x^2 \\
\frac{dy}{dx} &= 2x^{2-1} \\
&= 2x = \text{Slope at P.}
\end{align}
$$
Now, the equation for any straight line is also satisfied for the tangent:
$$
\begin{align}
y - y_0 &= m(x - x_0) \\
\implies y - y_0 &= 2x (x - x_0) \\
\text{For point P, } x_0 &= -2 \text{ and } y_0 = 4 \\
\implies y - 4 &= 2x(x+2)\\
\implies y - 4 &= 2x^2 + 4x\\
\implies y &= 2x^2 + 4x +4\\
\end{align}
$$
This is where the problem occurs. If I were to try to solve for $y$ using:
$$
y = ax^2+bx+c \implies y = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}
$$
I'd get:
$$
\begin{align}
y &= 2x^2+4x+4 \text{ and, at x-intercept: }\\ 
x &= \frac{-4 \pm \sqrt{4^2 - (4\times2\times4)}}{2\times2} \\
x &= \frac{-4 \pm \sqrt{16 - 32}}{4} \\
x &= \frac{-4 \pm 4i}{4} \\
x &= -1 \pm i
\end{align}
$$
Is this the correct direction, or did I do something wrong? 

The derivative of the function $f(x)$ is the slope of the tangent line at that particular value of $x$. Meaning when you differentiate $f(x)=x^2$, the tangent line at that value is at $x=-2$ so$$f'(2)=-4$$Therefore you're tangent line is actually

$$y-4=-4(x+2)$$

