Finite Math and Applied Calculus (6th Edition)

Published by Brooks Cole
ISBN 10: 1133607705
ISBN 13: 978-1-13360-770-0

Chapter 10 - Section 10.5 - Derivatives: Numerical and Graphical Viewpoints - Exercises - Page 751: 4

Answer

$-0.6$

Work Step by Step

The derivative, or instantaneous rate of change of $f(x)$ at $x=a$ is defined as $f^{\prime}(a)=\displaystyle \lim_{h\rightarrow 0}\frac{f(a+h)-f(a)}{h},\ \ \ \ $(*) if the limit exists. (A limit at x=a exists if both one-sided limits exist, and the one-sided limits are equal.) ---------------- The first two rows indicate that the right sided limit exists, because as h approaches zero from the right (the $+$ side), $\displaystyle \frac{s(a+h)-s(a)}{h}$ approaches $-0.6$. The last two rows indicate that the left sided limit exists, because as h approaches zero from the left (the - side), $\displaystyle \frac{s(a+h)-s(a)}{h}$ approaches $-0.6$ Since we estimate that both one-sided limits exist and equal $-0.6$, the limit (*) exists and equals $-0.6$, so our estimate for $s^{\prime}(0)$ is $s^{\prime}(0)=-0.6$
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