document.write( "Question 824097: Given that f(x)= x^3-x+1, find (f(h)-f(-h))/2h
\n" ); document.write( "Thanks!!
\n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #496080 by jim_thompson5910(35256)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
f(x)= x^3-x+1\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "f(h)= h^3-h+1 ... replace EVERY copy of x with h\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "-------------------------------------------------------\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "f(x)= x^3-x+1\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "f(-h)= (-h)^3-(-h)+1 ... replace EVERY copy of x with -h\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "f(-h)= -h^3-(-h)+1\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "f(-h)= -h^3+h+1\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "-------------------------------------------------------\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "f(h)-f(-h) = (h^3-h+1) - (-h^3+h+1)\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "f(h)-f(-h) = h^3-h+1 + h^3 - h - 1\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "f(h)-f(-h) = 2h^3-2h\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "-------------------------------------------------------\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So...\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(f(h)-f(-h))/2h\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "turns into\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(2h^3-2h)/2h\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "then you factor out 2h in the numerator to get\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(2h(h^2-1))/2h\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "and then cancel out the '2h' terms to get\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "h^2 - 1\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "and then you can optionally factor to get\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "(h-1)(h+1)\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "=======================================================\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "So the answer is either h^2 - 1 or (h-1)(h+1)\r
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "They are equivalent. The second expression is the factored form of the first (using the difference of squares rule).
\n" ); document.write( "
\n" );