Thread: Simple Calculus

My math class has just started getting into calculus and I have a few questions that I'd like to ask. Our school uses a program called TLM that spits out some random math problems from a huge database, and here are a couple of questions that I'm having trouble with.

Given the function
evaluate

For this question should I just pop in for x?

EDIT:



The question then asks me what is and when x changes from 1.6 to 2.2
For delta y I just subbed in the numbers and got 15

For finding the dy/dx I'm drawing a complete blank. I feel like it should be easy but I can't figure out what to do.

You are correct for the first question:



Your answer to the second question also looks correct. To find , we just divide the answer by .

To find , we evaluate what is called a limit:



We can do this by simplifying the fraction and noting that certain terms containing approach as itself approaches zero, leaving us with the derivative of the function .

Hope this helps!

Thanks for the answers Scott, but I'm still having a bit of trouble grasping the concept for the second part of my second question.


when x changes from 1.6 to 2.2.

Find

I don't really understand what "rule" or equation to use to find the answer. It ended up being 25.

Again, any help is much appreciated!

EDIT: I found out this is the delta process, but I'm still attempting to wrap my head around it.