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: 85

Answer

$-\displaystyle \frac{2x+h}{x^{2}(x+h)^{2}}$

Work Step by Step

$f(x)=\displaystyle \frac{1}{x^{2}}$ $\displaystyle \frac{f(x+h)-f(x)}{h}=\frac{\frac{1}{(x+h)^{2}}-\frac{1}{x^{2}}}{h}$ ... Write the numerator as one fraction, LCD=$x^{2}(x+h)^{2}$ $=\displaystyle \frac{1}{h}\cdot\frac{x^{2}-(x+h)^{2}}{x^{2}(x+h)^{2}}$ $=\displaystyle \frac{1}{h}\cdot\frac{x^{2}-(x^{2}+2xh+h^{2})}{x^{2}(x+h)^{2}}$ $=\displaystyle \frac{1}{h}\cdot\frac{-2xh-h^{2}}{x^{2}(x+h)^{2}}$ ... factor out $-h$ in the numerator $=\displaystyle \frac{1}{h}\cdot\frac{-h(2x+h)}{x^{2}(x+h)^{2}}$ ... h cancels $=-\displaystyle \frac{2x+h}{x^{2}(x+h)^{2}}$
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