# Thread: Find the difference quotient and simplify answer

1. ## Find the difference quotient and simplify answer

f(x)=x^3-5x^2+x , f(x+h)-f(x)/h, h cannot = 0

so far i got this

3x^2h+3xh^2+h^3-10xh-5h^2+h/H

i just need the correct answer so to see what i did or did not do.

2. Now factorise h out of the top to get h(....) and then cancel the h's.

3. ok now if i factor out h then i get

h(3x^2+3xh+h^2-10x-5h)/h

which = 3x^2+3xh+h^2-10x-5h

for some reason this doesnt look right to me what did i do wrong????

4. you've lost a "+1" at the end

5. your not helping what is the answer?? im so stuck? i know i lost the +1 at the end. whats next?

6. I actually think I am helping - I'm just not doing it for you ....there's a difference!

What is the actual question...because you have "found the difference quotient and simplified the answer". Are you supposed to now go on and take the limit as h approaches 0?

7. Originally Posted by Debsta
I actually think I am helping - I'm just not doing it for you ....there's a difference!

What is the actual question...because you have "found the difference quotient and simplified the answer". Are you supposed to now go on and take the limit as h approaches 0?
im sorry you are helping but its just because im to freaking dumb to understand this stuff.

8. Apology accepted . Don't put yourself down. What you have done so far is right (except for losing the +1 at the end, which is easy to do). Can you please quote the qusetion word for word?

9. Originally Posted by Debsta
Apology accepted . Don't put yourself down. What you have done so far is right (except for losing the +1 at the end, which is easy to do). Can you please quote the qusetion word for word?
Find the difference quotient and simplify your answer.

f(x)=x^3-5x^2+x, f(x+h)-f(x)/h, h cannot = 0

i tried my best but the answer i got look so different from the examples in the book? or maybe the answer is right but just looks different?

10. Can you show me the answer in the book - so I can see if it is just in a different form?

11. Originally Posted by Debsta
Can you show me the answer in the book - so I can see if it is just in a different form?
the book does not give the answer to this problem because its and even number problems the book only gives odd number problems. but its ok i think this is correct though thank you so much.

12. Glad to help!