Question

Consider the function below. g(x) = 4x − 1 Find the difference quotient below (where h ≠ 0) and simplify your answer. g(x + h) − g(x) -------------------- h

Answer 1

Answer:

The difference quotient is 4.

Step-by-step explanation:

Given that:

$g(x) = 4x - 1$

To find:

Difference quotient = ?

where $h \neq 0$

Solution:

Formula for Difference quotient is given as:

$\dfrac{g(x+h)-g(x)}{h}$

First of all, let us find out $g(x+h)$

Replacing $x$ with $x+h$

$g(x+h) = 4(x+h)-1 \\\Rightarrow g(x+h) = 4x+4h-1$

Now,

$g(x+h)-g(x) = (4x+4h-1 )-(4x-1)\\\Rightarrow g(x+h)-g(x) = 4x+4h-1 -4x+1\\\Rightarrow g(x+h)-g(x) = 4h$

Putting the above value in:

$\dfrac{g(x+h)-g(x)}{h} = \dfrac{4h}{h}$

We are given that, $h \neq 0$

$\therefore \dfrac{4h}{h} = 4$

So, the difference quotient is 4.