Chapter 2: Problem 6
a) Graph the function. b) Draw tangent lines to the graph at points whose \(x\) -coordinates are \(-2,0\), and \(1 .\) c) Find \(f^{\prime}(x)\) by determining \(\lim _{h \rightarrow 0} \frac{\int(x+h)-f(x)}{h}\). d) Find \(f^{\prime}(-2), f^{\prime}(0)\), and \(f^{\prime}(1)\). How do these slopes compare with those of the lines you drew in part (b)? $$f(x)=-x^{3}$$
Short Answer
Step by step solution
Graph the Function
Draw Tangent Lines
Find the Derivative
Simplify the Derivative Expression
Find Specific Derivative Values
Compare the Slopes
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Graphing functions
Tangent lines
Limit definition of derivative
\[ f'(x) = \lim_{h \to 0} \frac{f(x+h) - f(x)}{h} \] For the function \( f(x) = -x^3 \), the steps are:
- Compute \( f(x+h) \) which gives: \( f(x+h) = -(x+h)^3 \).
- Use the limit formula: \[ f'(x) = \lim_{h \to 0} \frac{-(x+h)^3 + x^3}{h} \]
- Simplify the expression inside the limit by expanding \( -(x+h)^3 \) and combining like terms.
- This process results in \( f'(x) = -3x^2 \), the derivative of our function.
Cubic functions
- They can have one or three real roots, where the graph intersects the x-axis.
- They may have inflection points, where the concavity of the graph changes.
- The end-behavior of the graph depends on the leading coefficient's sign.
Slope of tangents
- Calculating the derivative, \( f'(x) \), of the function.
- Substituting the specific points of interest into the derivative.
At \( x = -2 \), \( f'(-2) = -12 \). This means the slope of the tangent line at \( x = -2 \) is -12.
At \( x = 0 \), \( f'(0) = 0 \), indicating a horizontal tangent line.
At \( x = 1 \), \( f'(1) = -3 \). These values reflect how steep or flat the tangents are at the given points.