Question

I’m not sure how to solve this.

Answer 1

Answer: 2x + h - 2

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Work Shown:

Part 1

`f(x) = x^2 - 2x + 8\\\\f(x+h) = (x+h)^2 - 2(x+h) + 8\\\\f(x+h) = (x+h)(x+h) - 2(x+h) + 8\\\\f(x+h) = x(x+h)+h(x+h) - 2(x+h) + 8\\\\f(x+h) = x^2+xh+xh+h^2 - 2x-2h + 8\\\\f(x+h) = x^2+2xh+h^2 - 2x-2h + 8\\\\`

Part 2

`(f(x+h)-f(x))/(h) = ((x^2+2xh+h^2 - 2x-2h + 8) - (x^2-2x+8))/(h)\\\\(f(x+h)-f(x))/(h) = (x^2+2xh+h^2 - 2x-2h + 8 - x^2+2x-8)/(h)\\\\(f(x+h)-f(x))/(h) = (2xh+h^2-2h)/(h)\\\\(f(x+h)-f(x))/(h) = (h(2x+h-2))/(h)\\\\(f(x+h)-f(x))/(h) =2x+h-2\\\\`

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In part 1, I replaced every x with x+h. Then I expanded things out using the distributive property. This is to figure out what f(x+h) is equal to.

In part 2, I then computed the difference quotient. Notice how basically all of the terms in the original f(x) cancel out. Leaving nothing but h terms behind. We factor out h to cancel it with the denominator.