Math 400
Project Difference Quotient
Paper Assignment
American River College
Name:_______________________
For a given function
a difference quotient is the ratio
. Difference
quotients are used to calculate something called the derivative which is very important in
calculus. In order to calculate a derivative using a difference quotient, we must often simplify the
difference quotient by canceling the
in the numerator and denominator of the difference
quotient, which is our goal.
Difference Quotients of Polynomials
For each given function, find the difference quotient and simplify by canceling the .
1.
2.
3.
Difference Quotients of Rational Expressions
For each given function, find the difference quotient and simplify by canceling the .
4.
5.
6.
Difference Quotients of Radical Expressions
For each given function, find the difference quotient and simplify by canceling the .
7.
8.
√
√
9.
10.
√
(Hint: write
, then use the difference of cubes)