Question

Suppose that f(x)f(x) is a function with f(155)=52f(155)=52 and f′(155)=4f′(155)=4. Estimate f(160)f(160).

Answer 1

By the mean value theorem, the linear approximation of a function around
`x=a` is


`L(x)=f(a)+f'(a)(x-a)`

so the desired approximation can be computed with


`f(160)\approx f(155)+f'(155)(160-155)=72`