About Difference Quotient:
In some cases, we are asked to find the difference quotient of a given function. Additionally, there are specific measures we need to take in order to find the difference quotient with fractions and with square roots.
Test Objectives
- Demonstrate the ability to find the difference quotient
- Demonstrate the ability to rationalize the numerator
#1:
Instructions: find the difference quotient.
$$\frac{f(x + h) - f(x)}{h}$$
$$a)\hspace{.2em}f(x)=5x - 3$$
$$b)\hspace{.2em}f(x)=3x - 7$$
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#2:
Instructions: find the difference quotient.
$$\frac{f(x + h) - f(x)}{h}$$
$$a)\hspace{.2em}f(x)=3x^2 - 5x - 1$$
$$b)\hspace{.2em}f(x)=x^2 - 25$$
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#3:
Instructions: find the difference quotient.
$$\frac{f(x + h) - f(x)}{h}$$
$$a)\hspace{.2em}f(x)=x^3 + 1$$
$$b)\hspace{.2em}f(x)=-2x^3 - x - 7$$
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#4:
Instructions: find the difference quotient.
$$\frac{f(x + h) - f(x)}{h}$$
$$a)\hspace{.2em}f(x)=\frac{7}{x - 1}$$
$$b)\hspace{.2em}f(x)=\frac{4x}{x - 5}$$
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#5:
Instructions: find the difference quotient.
$$\frac{f(x + h) - f(x)}{h}$$
$$a)\hspace{.2em}f(x)=\sqrt{x - 4}$$
$$b)\hspace{.2em}f(x)=\sqrt{7 - x^2}$$
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Written Solutions:
#1:
Solutions:
$$a)\hspace{.2em}5$$
$$b)\hspace{.2em}3$$
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#2:
Solutions:
$$a)\hspace{.2em}6x + 3h - 5$$
$$b)\hspace{.2em}2x + h$$
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#3:
Solutions:
$$a)\hspace{.2em}3x^2 + 3xh + h^2$$
$$b)\hspace{.2em}{-}6x^2 - 6xh - 2h^2 - 1$$
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#4:
Solutions:
$$a)\hspace{.2em}\frac{-7}{(x + h - 1)(x - 1)}$$
$$b)\hspace{.2em}\frac{-20}{(x + h - 5)(x - 5)}$$
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#5:
Solutions:
$$a)\hspace{.2em}\frac{1}{\sqrt{x + h - 4}+ \sqrt{x - 4}}$$
$$b)\hspace{.2em}\frac{-2x - h}{\sqrt{7 - (x + h)^2} + \sqrt{7 - x^2}}$$