College Algebra (10th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321979478
ISBN 13: 978-0-32197-947-6

Chapter 3 - Section 3.1 - Functions - 3.1 Assess Your Understanding - Page 212: 89

Answer

$\displaystyle \frac{1}{\sqrt{x+h-2}+\sqrt{x-2}}$

Work Step by Step

$f(x)=\sqrt{x-2}$ $\displaystyle \frac{f(x+h)-f(x)}{h}=\frac{\sqrt{x+h-2}-\sqrt{x-2}}{h}$ ... use the hint, rationalize with $\displaystyle \frac{\sqrt{x+h-2}+\sqrt{x-2}}{\sqrt{x+h-2}+\sqrt{x-2}}$ $=\displaystyle \frac{(x+h-2)-(x-2)}{h(\sqrt{x+h-2}+\sqrt{x-2})}$ $=\displaystyle \frac{h}{h(\sqrt{x+h-2}+\sqrt{x-2})}$ ... h cancels $=\displaystyle \frac{1}{\sqrt{x+h-2}+\sqrt{x-2}}$
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