Finding the slope of the tangent line

Posted by Ronnie Dobbs on October 16, 2002 at 15:55:42:

Find the slope of the tangent line to the curve y = x^3 at the point (-1, -1).

So we're using...

lim x-> -1

[ f(x) - f(a) ] / x - a

lim x-> -1

[x^3 - f(-1)] / x - (-1) = [x^3 - (-1)] / x - (-1)

= lim x->-1 [x^3 + 1] / x + 1

This is where I'm stuck...can anyone shed some light on what my next step(s) is? Thanks.

Follow Ups:

• no need for such ...stuff... T.Gracken 19:41:38 10/16/02 (0)
• Have you done "derivatives [df(x)/dx]" yet ? (n/t) Suubhotosh Khan 16:44:02 10/16/02 (4)
  • Re: Have you done "derivatives [df(x)/dx]" yet ? (n/t) Ronnie Dobbs 16:57:13 10/16/02 (3)
    • Well then... Subhotosh Khan 18:38:26 10/16/02 (1)
      • Re: Well then... Joel 19:21:18 10/16/02 (0)
    • Divide and conquer... Joel 18:25:23 10/16/02 (0)

Post a Followup