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EXAMPLE 16Finding the Limit of a Difference Quotient

  1. (a) For f(x)=2x23x+1, find the difference quotient f(x+h)f(x)h, h0.
  2. (b) Find the limit as h approaches 0 of the difference quotient of f(x)=2x23x+1.

Solution(a) To find the difference quotient of f, we begin with f(x+h). f(x+h)=2(x+h)23(x+h)+1=2(x2+2xh+h2)3x3h+1=2x2+4xh+2h23x3h+1

Now f(x+h)f(x)=(2x2+4xh+2h23x3h+1)(2x23x+1)=4xh+2h23h

Then, the difference quotient is f(x+h)f(x)h=4xh+2h23hh=h(4x+2h3)h=4x+2h3, h0

(b) lim