Question

Evaluate the function at the given numbers (correct to six decimal places).

Answer 1

\[f(x)=\frac{ x^2-4x }{ x^2-x-2 }\]

For:

x= 0
x= -0.5
x= -0.9
x= -0.95
x= -0.99
x= -0.999
x= -2
x= -1.5
x= -1.1
x= -1.01
x= -1.001

The only values for f(x) which I got correctly were x=0, x=-0.5, and x=-2 . I don't understand what I am doing wrong because I am just plugging-in values. I've tried factoring the whole equation as well, but other than x=0, x=-0.5, and x=-2, all values for x, listed above, which I plug-in, are all wrong!

Answer 2

.... six decimal places

Answer 3

I've tried that too. Didn't work for me.

Answer 4

Differences in values, such as x^2 - x, aggravate any rounding/truncation errors, which may be the lesson this seeks to teach.