Precalculus: Concepts Through Functions, A Unit Circle Approach to Trigonometry (3rd Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0-32193-104-1
ISBN 13: 978-0-32193-104-7

Chapter 13 - A Preview of Calculus: The Limit, Derivative, and Integral of a Function - Section 13.4 The Tangent Problem; The Derivative - 13.4 Assess Your Understanding - Page 917: 30

Answer

$8$

Work Step by Step

Consider the tangent line that contains the point $(x, c)$. The slope the tangent line to the graph of $f(x)$ at $(x, c)$ can be written as $f'(x) =\lim\limits_{x \to c} \dfrac{f(x)-f(c)}{x-c}$ Consider $c=-1$ and $f(x)=x^3-2x^2+x$. Thus, we have: $f'(-1) =\lim\limits_{x \to 1} \dfrac{f(x)-f(-1)}{x-(-1)} \\=\lim\limits_{x \to -1} \dfrac{(x^3-2x^2+x)-(-4)}{x+1}\\=\lim\limits_{x \to -1} \dfrac{(x^2-3x+4)(x+1)}{x+1} \\=\lim\limits_{x \to -1} x^2-3x+4 \\=8 $
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