Finding a derivative from the limit definition

Jimmy25
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Homework Statement



Find the derivative of f(x)=x1/3 using the limit definition of a derivative.

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



I am stuck once I plug the numbers into the limit definition equation. How can I simplify the numerator in such a way the the h in the denominator will cancel when both the numbers in the number are cube roots?
 
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You're going to want to use this idea : (a - b)(a2 + ab + b2) = a3 - b3. This formula can be modified to work with cube roots, like so. (a1/3 - b1/3)(a2/3 + a1/3b1/3 + b2/3) = a - b.
 
Edit: Don't worry, Mark got it better than me
 
There are two things I don't understand about this problem. First, when finding the nth root of a number, there should in theory be n solutions. However, the formula produces n+1 roots. Here is how. The first root is simply ##\left(r\right)^{\left(\frac{1}{n}\right)}##. Then you multiply this first root by n additional expressions given by the formula, as you go through k=0,1,...n-1. So you end up with n+1 roots, which cannot be correct. Let me illustrate what I mean. For this...
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