Calculus with Applications (10th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321749006
ISBN 13: 978-0-32174-900-0

Chapter 3 - The Derivative - 3.4 Definition of the Derivative - 3.4 Exercises - Page 176: 32

Answer

$$ f(x)=\frac{6}{x} $$ Now use the rules for limits to get $$ \begin{split} f^{\prime}(x) &=\lim\limits_{h \to 0} \frac{f(x +h)- f(x)}{h}\\ &=\lim\limits_{h \to 0} \frac{\frac{6}{x+h}-\frac{6}{x}}{h}\\ &=\lim\limits_{h \to 0} \frac{-6h}{xh(x+h)}\\ &=\lim\limits_{h \to 0} \frac{-6}{x(x+h)} \\ &=\frac{-6}{x^{2}} \end{split} $$ Use this result to find $$ f^{\prime}(2)=\frac{-6}{(2)^{2}}=\frac{-3}{2} $$ $$ f^{\prime}(16)=\frac{-6}{(16)^{2}}=\frac{-6}{4}=\frac{-6}{256}= \frac{-3}{128} $$ and $$ f^{\prime}(-3)=\frac{-6}{(-3)^{2}}= \frac{-6}{9}=\frac{-2}{3} $$

Work Step by Step

$$ f(x)=\frac{6}{x} $$ Go through the four steps to find $f^{\prime}(x)$ Step 1 Find $f(x+h)$ by replacing $x$ with $x +h$ $$ f(x +h)=\frac{6}{x+h} $$ Step 2 $$ f(x +h) -f(x)=\frac{6}{x+h}-\frac{6}{x} $$ Step 3 $$ \frac{f(x +h)- f(x)}{h}= \frac{\frac{6}{x+h}-\frac{6}{x}}{h} $$ Step 4 Now use the rules for limits to get $$ \begin{split} f^{\prime}(x) &=\lim\limits_{h \to 0} \frac{f(x +h)- f(x)}{h}\\ &=\lim\limits_{h \to 0} \frac{\frac{6}{x+h}-\frac{6}{x}}{h}\\ &=\lim\limits_{h \to 0} \frac{-6h}{xh(x+h)}\\ &=\lim\limits_{h \to 0} \frac{-6}{x(x+h)} \\ &=\frac{-6}{x^{2}} \end{split} $$ Use this result to find $$ f^{\prime}(2)=\frac{-6}{(2)^{2}}=\frac{-3}{2} $$ $$ f^{\prime}(16)=\frac{-6}{(16)^{2}}=\frac{-6}{4}=\frac{-6}{256}= \frac{-3}{128} $$ and $$ f^{\prime}(-3)=\frac{-6}{(-3)^{2}}= \frac{-6}{9}=\frac{-2}{3} $$
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