Question

Use the linear approximation to find an approximation for the function for values of x near zero.
a) f(x) = (1-x)^3

Answer 1

im not really sure what this is even asking me to do

Answer 2

english, please?

Answer 3

1

Answer 4

Do you know about the Taylor Series?
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taylor_series
A linear approximation is a straight line that best matches the curve (over a short interval), that you find by using the first 2 terms of the Taylor Series.
See attached

Answer 5

\[(1-x)^3=\underbrace{1-3x}_{f(x)_{approx}}+3x^2-x^3\quad,\quad x\rightarrow 0\]