College Algebra (11th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321671791
ISBN 13: 978-0-32167-179-0

Chapter 2 - Section 2.8 - Function Operations and Composition - 2.8 Exercises - Page 268: 39

Answer

$a)$ $f(x+h)=\frac{1}{x+h}$ $b)$ $f(x+h)-f(x)=\frac{-h}{(x+h)x}$ $c)$ $\frac{f(x+h)-f(x)}{h}=-\frac{1}{(x+h)x}$

Work Step by Step

$a)$ $$f(x)=\frac1x$$ Replace $x$ with $x+h$: $$f(x+h)=\frac{1}{x+h}$$ $b)$ $$f(x+h)-f(x)$$ Substitute corresponding expressions: $$\frac{1}{x+h}-\frac1x$$ $$\frac{x-(x+h)}{(x+h)x}=\frac{x-x-h}{(x+h)x}=\frac{-h}{(x+h)x}$$ $c)$ $$\frac{f(x+h)-f(x)}{h}$$ Substitute corresponding expression for numerator: $$\frac{\dfrac{-h}{(x+h)x}}{h}=-\frac{1}{(x+h)x}$$
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