Question

Any help Is appreciated. Need help with how to start these. Thanks.

Answer 1

a, b, and c are virtually identical apart from different values of h. You set up a difference quotient to find the slope:

mPQ = ( f(8 + h) - f(8) ) / ((8 + h) - 8)

mPQ = ( f(8 + h) - f(8) ) / (h)

Then, for each of a, b and c, find mPQ given that f(x) = 1/2 x^2 - 1 and the given value of h.

An example with part a:

f(8 + 0.5) = f(8.5) = 1/2 (8.5)^2  - 1 = 35.125

f(8) = 1/2 (8)^2 - 1 = 31

mPQ = ( f(8 + h) - f(8) ) / h = (35.125 - 31) / 0.5 = 8.25

Then repeat the process for the given h-values.

You should be able to recognize some sort of limit for a by the time you get to h = 0.01.

Then, using the "a" you get in d, you can evaluate L(20) with some substitutions.

Answer 2

A secant line on a curve is just a straight line that connects two points on the curve.  So for (a), where you are given h = 0.5, you are looking for the slope of the line between ( 8, f(8) ) and ( 8.5, f(8.5) ).

Since you have the function f(x) = x\^2 / 2 - 1, finding both f(8) and f(8.5) is just plug and chug.  Then, the slope of the line between those two points is just the normal Delta-y / Delta-x business.

The repetitions then involve changing h.  You'll notice that "h" is getting smaller and smaller, and what you're doing is taking "aim" at what the slope of the line would be if the second point actually collapsed right back on top of the first.  In other words, you're learning how to discover the slope of a line at a SINGLE point by following the trend as the second point gets closer and closer to the first.  It's cool stuff.

Also, WebWork is awesome :-)

Answer 3

I have gone ahead and attempted this question, but get lost on the MPQ, do I substitute them both into it or one at a time?