A difference quotient is an expression that represents the ...

16-week Lesson 19 (8-week Lesson 15)

Difference Quotient

A difference quotient is an expression that represents the difference

between two function values divided by the difference between two

inputs. This is an extension of the slope formula from Lessons 16 and 17 ( = ), when we found the change in (or the difference between two values) and divided by the change in . Now we will find the difference between two function values, divided by the difference between two

inputs:

() ( + ) - () = ( + ) -

By combining like terms in the denominator, we get the following simplified form of a difference quotient:

() ( + ) - ()

=

Difference Quotient:

- a fraction (or quotient) containing the difference of two functions

values in the numerator, and the difference of two inputs in the

denominator

o

(+)-()

o the input could be replaced with a numeric value or another

expression

Our focus when working with difference quotients in this class is to simplify them. To do so, I prefer to follow the step-by-step procedure which is demonstrated on the next page, but you are welcome to use another method if you choose.

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16-week Lesson 19 (8-week Lesson 15)

Difference Quotient

Example 1: Given () = 5 - 2, find the difference quotient (+)-().

Steps for Simplifying a Difference Quotient:

1. find the first function value o in Example 1 I find ( + ) by replacing in the function () = 5 - 2 with the expression +

( + ) = 5( + ) - 2

5 + 5 - 2

2. find the second function value o I find () by replacing in the function () = 5 - 2 with the expression

() = 5 - 2

3. find the difference between the two function values o I find ( + ) - () by taking the two function values from

steps 1 and 2 and subtracting them

( + ) - () = 5 + 5 - 2 - (5 - 2)

5 + 5 - 2 - 5 + 2

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4. divide the difference by the expression o since a difference quotient is a fraction, be sure to simplify completely by factoring and canceling common factors

(+)-() = 5

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16-week Lesson 19 (8-week Lesson 15)

Difference Quotient

Example 2: Given () = -2 - + 7, find the difference quotient

(3+)-(3).

a. (3 + ) = -(3 + )2 - (3 + ) + 7

Notice that after

= -(3 + )(3 + ) - 3 - + 7

replacing with 3 + in the function , we

= -(9 + 6 + 2) - 3 - + 7 basically do addition, subtraction, and

= -9 - 6 - 2 - 3 - + 7 multiplication with

= - - -

polynomials, just like we've already done in Lesson 5.

b. (3) = -32 - 3 + 7 = -9 - 3 + 7

Be aware on part b. that -32 is the same as -1 32, which is why

= -

it simplifies to -9.

c. (3 + ) - (3) =

d.

(3+)-(3)

=

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16-week Lesson 19 (8-week Lesson 15)

Difference Quotient

Example 3: Given the function () = 2 - 3, find the difference quotient (+)-().

Steps for Determining the Value of a Difference Quotient: 1. find the first function value

( + ) = 2( + ) - 3

( + ) = 2 + 2 - 3 2. find the second function value

() = 2 - 3

3. find the difference between the two function values ( + ) - () = 2 + 2 - 3 - (2 - 3) ( + ) - () = 2 + 2 - 3 - 2 + 3 ( + ) - () = 2

4. divide the difference by the expression

( + ) - () 2

=

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16-week Lesson 19 (8-week Lesson 15)

Difference Quotient

Again, I prefer to break difference quotients into smaller pieces in order to simplify them, but you do not have to. You can go through and simplify difference quotients by leaving them as one single expression the entire time, as demonstrated in the next example.

Example 4: Given the function () = -52 + 10, find the difference quotient (+)-().

( + ) - () -5( + )2 + 10( + ) - (-52 + 10)

=

-5( + )( + ) + 10 + 10 + 52 - 10

-5(2 + 2 + 2) + 10 + 10 + 52 - 10

-52 - 10 - 52 + 10 + 10 + 52 - 10

-10 - 52 + 10

- - +

When simplifying difference quotients, use whichever procedure makes the most sense to you.

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