- #1
themadhatter1
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Homework Statement
Find the derivative of f using the difference quotient and use the derivative of f to determine any points on the graph of f where the tangent line is horizontal.
[tex]f(x)=3x^3-9x[/tex]
Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
[tex]\lim_{\Delta x\rightarrow0}=\frac{3(x+\Delta x)^3-9(x+\Delta x)-3x^3+9x}{\Delta x}[/tex]
[tex]\lim_{\Delta x\rightarrow0}=\frac{3(x^3+3x^2\Delta x+3x\Delta x^2+\Delta x^3)-9x-9\Delta x-3x^3+9x}{\Delta x}[/tex]
[tex]\lim_{\Delta x\rightarrow0}=\frac{3x^3+9x^2\Delta x+9x\Delta x^2+3\Delta x^3-9x-9\Delta x-3x^3+9x}{\Delta x}[/tex]
The '3x3's and '9x's cancel out and you are left with
[tex]\lim_{\Delta x\rightarrow0}=\frac{9x^2\Delta x+9x\Delta x^2+3\Delta x^3-9\Delta x}{\Delta x}[/tex]
Then if you take the limit as delta x approaches 0 you will get
[tex]9x^2+9x-6[/tex] I know the answer is [tex]9x^2-9[/tex] via the rules of differentiation.
What am I doing wrong with this example?