# Symmetric Difference Qutotient

1. Oct 30, 2006

Show agrebraically that symmetric difference quotient produces the exact derivative f'(x) = 2ax+b for the quadractic function f(x) = ax^2+bx+c

i know that:

f(a + h) - f(a - h)
Symmetric Difference Quotient = -------------------
2h

I really have no clue on this problem..

2. Oct 30, 2006

### Hurkyl

Staff Emeritus
Have you done any work at all on this? Even a tiny amount?

3. Oct 30, 2006

i seem not to get the question can u tell me ?

4. Oct 30, 2006

### Hurkyl

Staff Emeritus
It wants you to prove

{symmetric quotient of f} = {derivative of f}

Oh, I apologize: you have at least written down the definition of the symmetric quotient of f, evaluated at a, so you have done some work. But my reaction was due to there being a very obvious next thing to try with that expression.

(P.S. the letter a is already defined to be one of the coefficients of your polynomial. So, you should be using a different variable to denote the point at which you're evaluating the symmetric difference)

Last edited: Oct 30, 2006
5. Oct 30, 2006

Hurkyl,

1st thanks for replying, could you help me a little bit here...What's the 1st step i should do? (Prolly not finding the derivative of {symmetric quotient})..umm some help

symmetric difference quotient:
f(n + h) - f(n - h)
-------------------
2h

Last edited: Oct 30, 2006
6. Oct 30, 2006

### Hurkyl

Staff Emeritus
You've already invoked the definition of symmetric quotient, to get:

$$\{\, \text{symmetric quotient of f at n}\, \} = \frac{f(n + h) - f(n - h)}{2h}$$

Are there any other definitions you can invoke to rewrite that expression? Or maybe an algebraic manipulation you can apply to it?

7. Oct 30, 2006

definition of derivative?

8. Oct 30, 2006

### Hurkyl

Staff Emeritus
The definition of derivative has already been applied: (you know f'(x) = 2ax + b). How about the definition of f?

9. Oct 30, 2006

definition of f? isn't f a function of x?

Last edited: Oct 30, 2006
10. Oct 30, 2006

### Office_Shredder

Staff Emeritus
What IS f(n+h)?

11. Oct 30, 2006

the distance in a point

12. Oct 31, 2006

it is said that this can make an invalid approximation..any ideas?

13. Oct 31, 2006

### Hurkyl

Staff Emeritus
No. f(x) is a function of x.

But you know a lot more about f than "f is a function"... you know exactly what function it is.

Last edited: Oct 31, 2006
14. Nov 1, 2006

### HallsofIvy

Staff Emeritus
Ouch! f is a function. f(x) is a number: the value of that function at x.

15. Nov 1, 2006

### HallsofIvy

Staff Emeritus
Ouch! f is a function. f(x) is a number: the value of that function at x.

Juwan, Hurkyl is trying to get you to DO what the problem itself tells you to do! f isn't just "a" function, it is a specific function and you know what it is. In your first post you said "f(x)= " and then gave the formula. If you've forgotten what it was go back and read your first post!

Now, do the calculation! Exactly what is f(x+h) for that f? Exactly what is f(x-h) for that f?

16. Nov 1, 2006

now i see..i got the first part done..

$$\L\\\lim_{h\to\0}\frac{[a(x+h)^{2}+b(x+h)+c]-[a(x-h)^{2}+b(x-h)+c]}{2h}$$

$$\L\\\lim_{h\to\0}\frac{ax^{2}+2axh+ah^{2}+bx+c-ax^{2}+2axh-ah^{2}-bx+bh-c}{2h}$$

$$\L\\\lim_{h\to\0}\frac{4axh+2bh}{2h}$$

$$\L\\\lim_{h\to\0}\frac{2\sout{4}ax\sout{h}}{\sout{2h}}+\lim_{h\to\0}\frac{\sout{2}b\sout{h}}{\sout{2h}}=2ax+b$$
explain why symmetric difference quotient usually gives a good approximation of the numerical derivative at a point on the graph of a function?

Last edited: Nov 1, 2006
17. Nov 1, 2006

One last question

For what types of problems is the symmetric difference quotient useful?

18. Nov 1, 2006

### Hurkyl

Staff Emeritus
There is no limit in the symmetric difference quotient.

19. Nov 1, 2006