How do you find the instantaneous rate of change for f(x)=(x^2-2)/(x-1) for x=2?

2 Answers
Feb 2, 2018

Please refer to the explanation below.

Explanation:

We have to take the derivative of the function f(x), and then plug in x=2 into f'(x).

f(x)=(x^2-2)/(x-1)

So, we have to use the quotient rule, which states that,

d/dx(u/v)=(u'v-uv')/v^2

Here, u=x^2-2, v=x-1

:.f'(x)=(2x(x-1)-1*(x^2-2))/(x-1)^2

f'(x)=(2x^2-2x-x^2+2)/(x-1)^2

f'(x)=(x^2-2x+2)/(x-1)^2

Plugging in x=2, we get

f'(2)=(2^2-2*2+2)/(2-1)^2

f'(2)=(4-4+2)/1^2

f'(2)=2/1

f'(2)=2

So, the instantaneous rate of change will be 2.

Feb 2, 2018

m=2

Explanation:

By finding the derivativ of f(x)

f(x)=(x^2-2)/(x-1)
f'(x)=((x^2-2)*1-(x-1)*2x)/(x-1)

Now we determinate the value of the divertive at the point x=2

f'(2)=2