Answer:
3, in both a), b)
Step-by-step explanation:
a) The slope of the line tangent to the curve that passes through the point (2,-10) is equal to the derivative of p at x=2.
Using differentiation rules (power rule and sum rule), the derivative of p(x) for any x is . In particular, the value we are looking for is
.
If you would like to compute the equation of the tangent line, we can use the point-slope equation to get
b) The instantaneus rate of change is also equal to the derivative of P at the point x=2, that is, P'(2). This is equal to .