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\(1-4\) Find the linearization \(L(x)\) of the function at a. \(f(x)=x^{4}+3 x^{2}, \quad a=-1\)

Short Answer

Expert verified
The linearization is \(L(x) = 4 - 10(x + 1)\).

Step by step solution

01

Understand Linearization Formula

The linearization of a function \(f(x)\) at a point \(a\) is given by the formula \(L(x) = f(a) + f'(a) (x - a)\). This approximation uses the function's value and its derivative at \(a\) to create a linear approximation.
02

Compute f(a)

Calculate the value of the function at \(a = -1\). The function is \(f(x) = x^4 + 3x^2\). Substitute \(x = -1\) into \(f(x)\):\[ f(-1) = (-1)^4 + 3(-1)^2 = 1 + 3 = 4 \].
03

Determine f'(x)

Find the derivative of \(f(x)\). Using the power rule, the derivative is:\[ f'(x) = 4x^3 + 6x \].
04

Compute f'(a)

Evaluate the derivative at \(a = -1\). Substitute \(x = -1\) into \(f'(x)\):\[ f'(-1) = 4(-1)^3 + 6(-1) = -4 - 6 = -10 \].
05

Formulate the Linearization Equation

Use the values calculated in the previous steps to form \(L(x)\):\[ L(x) = f(a) + f'(a)(x - a) = 4 - 10(x + 1) \].

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Derivative
The concept of a derivative is a fundamental part of calculus. It measures how a function changes as its input changes, basically telling us the rate at which the function's value is changing at any point. Let's break it down a bit further:
  • A derivative expressed as \( f'(x) \) for a function \( f(x) \) gives us the slope of the tangent line to the function at any point \( x \).
  • It helps in determining things like velocity and acceleration in physics, or the rate of change in any mathematical model.
In our example, the derivative \(f'(x)\) was computed to be \(4x^3 + 6x\) using the power rule. This derivative tells us how the function \(f(x) = x^4 + 3x^2\) changes when \(x\) changes. At \(a = -1\), the derivative value is \(-10\), indicating a negative slope at that point.
Linear approximation
Linear approximation, also known as linearization, is a way to approximate a function using a linear function. The idea is to find a line that closely follows the behavior of the function near a certain point. Here's what you need to know:
  • The formula for linearization is \(L(x) = f(a) + f'(a)(x - a)\), where \(a\) is the point at which you're approximating.
  • This formula uses the function's value and derivative at \(a\) to craft a linear representation that approximates \(f(x)\) nearby \(a\).
In the exercise provided, we found \(f(a) = 4\) and \(f'(a) = -10\) at \(a = -1\). Thus, the linear approximation or linearization of our function at \(a\) is \(L(x) = 4 - 10(x + 1)\). This provides an easier-to-handle linear expression instead of the more complex original fourth-degree polynomial.
Power rule
The power rule is a handy tool in calculus for finding derivatives. It gives a quick way to differentiate functions of the form \(x^n\). Here's a closer look:
  • The power rule states that the derivative of \(x^n\) is \(nx^{n-1}\). For example, the derivative of \(x^4\) is \(4x^3\).
  • It simplifies the process of taking derivatives, especially when you have polynomial functions with several terms.
In the original exercise, the power rule was used to determine the derivative \(f'(x) = 4x^3 + 6x\). The first term, \(x^4\), was differentiated to \(4x^3\) and the second term, \(3x^2\), to \(6x\). This demonstrates how efficient the power rule can be for quickly finding derivatives without going into complex calculations.

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