Q. For the function f(x)=x2+1, find the slope of the secant line between x=−4 and x=−2.Answer:
Identify Points: To find the slope of the secant line between two points on a function, we use the slope formula, which is the change in y divided by the change in x (rise over run). The two points we are interested in are when x=−4 and x=−2. We need to find the corresponding y values for these x values by plugging them into the function f(x)=x2+1.
Calculate Y Values: First, let's find the y value when x=−4. We substitute −4 into the function: f(−4)=(−4)2+1=16+1=17.
Calculate Slope: Next, we find the y value when x=−2. We substitute −2 into the function: f(−2)=(−2)2+1=4+1=5.
Substitute into Formula: Now we have two points on the function: Point A (−4,17) and Point B (−2,5). We can use these points to calculate the slope of the secant line. The slope m is given by the formula m=x2−x1y2−y1, where (x1,y1) and (x2,y2) are the coordinates of the two points.
Substitute into Formula: Now we have two points on the function: Point A (−4,17) and Point B (−2,5). We can use these points to calculate the slope of the secant line. The slope m is given by the formula m=x2−x1y2−y1, where (x1,y1) and (x2,y2) are the coordinates of the two points.Substitute the coordinates of the two points into the slope formula: m=−2−(−4)5−17=2−12=−6.
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