Thread: Linear approximation help.

Part b. I need help with. I don't get it! Please help!

the tangent line, , serves as an approximation of function values close to x = 2.

for values of x close to x = 2.





... as far as an "over" or "under" estimate, look at the tangent line and the concavity of f(x) on both sides of x = 2.

... the tangent line and f(x) have the same value at x = 2. What do you think happens to the accuracy of the approximation as x gets farther away from x = 2?

Book has f(2.1),overestimate and f(1.98), underestimate. That part I don't get, should it be the other way? I get that the second approximation, f(1.98), is better because it is closer to 2. The over and under is throwing me off! Thanks for your reply.

"book" has it backwards w/r to over and underestimates