Thread: Find the difference quotient and simplify answer

f(x)=x^3-5x^2+x , f(x+h)-f(x)/h, h cannot = 0


so far i got this

3x^2h+3xh^2+h^3-10xh-5h^2+h/H

i just need the correct answer so to see what i did or did not do.

Now factorise h out of the top to get h(....) and then cancel the h's.

ok now if i factor out h then i get

h(3x^2+3xh+h^2-10x-5h)/h

which = 3x^2+3xh+h^2-10x-5h

for some reason this doesnt look right to me what did i do wrong????

you've lost a "+1" at the end

your not helping what is the answer?? im so stuck? i know i lost the +1 at the end. whats next?

I actually think I am helping - I'm just not doing it for you ....there's a difference!

What is the actual question...because you have "found the difference quotient and simplified the answer". Are you supposed to now go on and take the limit as h approaches 0?

Originally Posted by Debsta

I actually think I am helping - I'm just not doing it for you ....there's a difference!

What is the actual question...because you have "found the difference quotient and simplified the answer". Are you supposed to now go on and take the limit as h approaches 0?

im sorry you are helping but its just because im to freaking dumb to understand this stuff.

Apology accepted . Don't put yourself down. What you have done so far is right (except for losing the +1 at the end, which is easy to do). Can you please quote the qusetion word for word?

Originally Posted by Debsta

Apology accepted . Don't put yourself down. What you have done so far is right (except for losing the +1 at the end, which is easy to do). Can you please quote the qusetion word for word?

Find the difference quotient and simplify your answer.

f(x)=x^3-5x^2+x, f(x+h)-f(x)/h, h cannot = 0


i tried my best but the answer i got look so different from the examples in the book? or maybe the answer is right but just looks different?

Can you show me the answer in the book - so I can see if it is just in a different form?

Originally Posted by Debsta

Can you show me the answer in the book - so I can see if it is just in a different form?

the book does not give the answer to this problem because its and even number problems the book only gives odd number problems. but its ok i think this is correct though thank you so much.

Glad to help!