Question

Using the pencil and paper method a derivative came out to be 600, but using a calculator the derivative came out to be 600.000002. Which value is actually the slope of a secant?

I'm not sure what this means? Help please

Answer 1

Neither do i




Sorry

Answer 2

No way to tell, but I'm betting on the secant. The derivative is the limit of the secant's slope, and the calculator can only approximate that using polynomials of finite precision.

For instance, if y=2x^3, then y' = 6x^2
at x=10, the slope of the tangent is 600
But (f(10+h)-f(10))/h = 600.000002 when h= 1/3 * 10^-8
(2*(10+h)^3 - 2*10^3)/h = 600.000002

Answer 3

So which value would you bet on is the slope of the seacant?

Answer 4

As I said, at x=10, the slope of the tangent is 600
That would mean the other value is the approximation -- the slope of the secant.