Question

estimating slope of a secant line using a table of values

Answer 1

Well, I thought if I estimated the derivative using the point on either side they would match.

Answer 2

when I used the slope formula at x = 1
I got -4 and 1
I thought this would help me determine if the function is increasing or decreasing
when I used the slope formula at x=0
I got -1/3 and -4 that told me the f(x) is decreasing at x=0 since the slopes are negative
I can't do this at x=1
what I am doing incorrect?

Answer 3

when I graph the points it looks like x=1 is a minimum but am I correct in stating that

Answer 4

sorry I was helping someone with a problem. I figure I could help others while I wait

Answer 5

well looks like x=1 is a min
x=4 is a max
x=-6 is a min

Answer 6

I am just concluding that based on the graph, I plotted them on my graphing calculator.

Answer 7

For \(x = 0\) :
slope of secant line = \(\dfrac{f(1) - f(-3)}{1-(-3)} \)

Answer 8

ok so I am doing this incorrect. I was using the point on the side of the given point. I was calculating 2 slopes. I should have been just doing one slope

Answer 9

ok let me redo this

Answer 10

okiee

Answer 11

@ganeshie8 when you have time I have a question

Answer 12

sure ask precal :)

Answer 13

ok I don't know the purpose of this exercise at all.
when I graph these points, I determine that 1,4,6 were mins or max
when I calculated the slope of the secant line I got
x=0, x=1, x=4 decreasing and x=6 increasing

Answer 14

so I know I am overlooking something

Answer 15

i see, but we cannot say 1,4,6 are mins/max cuz we don't have the graph - we just have few points and we don't know how the graph behaves at other points