for the function f(x)= x^2+9, construct and simplify the difference quotient f(x+h) -f(x) / h

Answer :

We are given the following function:

[tex]f\mleft(x\mright)=x^2+9[/tex]

We are asked to determine the following quotient:

[tex]\frac{f(x+h)-f(x)}{h}[/tex]

To do that, we will first determine the function f(x + h), to do that we will replace the variable "x" for the variable "x + h", like this:

[tex]f(x+h)=(x+h)^2+9[/tex]

Solving the parenthesis, using the following property:

[tex](a+b)^2=a^2+2ab+b^2[/tex]

Applying the property:

[tex]f(x+h)=x^2+2hx+h^2+9[/tex]

Substituting in the quotient:

[tex]\frac{x^2+2hx+h^2+9-(x^2+9)}{h}[/tex]

Now we change the sing to the terms inside the parenthesis since it is preceded by a minus sing:

[tex]\frac{x^2+2hx+h^2+9-x^2-9}{h}[/tex]

Adding line terms:

[tex]\frac{2hx+h^2}{h}[/tex]

Now we take "h" as a common factor in the numerator:

[tex]\frac{h(2x+h)}{h}[/tex]

Canceling out the "h":

[tex]2x+h[/tex]

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