Using definition of derivative to calculate, stuck, cant find a cancellation

[irebat]

use the definition of the derivative to compute the derivative of the function at x=1

f(x) = 1/(1 + x 2) for all x.

The Attempt at a Solution

i put it into lim[ (f(x)-f(x_o))/x-x_o ] form and got

[(1/1+x²) - (1/2)] <---------numerator
___________________________ <----- division sign ("over")
x-1 <----------- denomenator

form and from there canceled to
2-1-x² / 2(x²+1)

and then again to -x² + 1 / 2(x²+1)

but now I am stuck and can't find a cancellation to calculate the limit at x=1 without getting a 0 in there soemwhere

if i stick this into the limit calculation formula itll just give me a 0 and that's no good. i already know the answer is -1/2 but i can't quite get there. any help is appreciated, thanks.

 

[BrianMath]

use the definition of the derivative to compute the derivative of the function at x=1

f(x) = 1/(1 + x 2) for all x.

The Attempt at a Solution

i put it into lim[ (f(x)-f(x_o))/x-x_o ] form and got

[(1/1+x²) - (1/2)] <---------numerator
___________________________ <----- division sign ("over")
x-1 <----------- denomenator

form and from there canceled to
2-1-x² / 2(x²+1)

and then again to -x² + 1 / 2(x²+1)

but now I am stuck and can't find a cancellation to calculate the limit at x=1 without getting a 0 in there soemwhere

if i stick this into the limit calculation formula itll just give me a 0 and that's no good. i already know the answer is -1/2 but i can't quite get there. any help is appreciated, thanks.

Okay, if I've read this correctly, so far you have
[tex]\lim_{x\to 1} \frac{\frac{-x^2 + 1}{2(x^2 + 1)}}{x-1}[/tex]
right?

What happens if you factor out a [itex]-1[/itex] from the top fraction's numerator? Is there any algebra you can do on that to divide out the [itex]x-1[/itex]?

 

[irebat]

Okay, if I've read this correctly, so far you have
[tex]\lim_{x\to 1} \frac{\frac{-x^2 + 1}{2(x^2 + 1)}}{x-1}[/tex]
right?

What happens if you factor out a [itex]-1[/itex] from the top fraction's numerator? Is there any algebra you can do on that to divide out the [itex]x-1[/itex]?

well, actually right now i have

[tex]\lim_{x\to 1} \frac{-x^2 + 1}{2(x^2 + 1)}[/tex]

 

[BrianMath]

well, actually right now i have

[tex]\lim_{x\to 1} \frac{-x^2 + 1}{2(x^2 + 1)}[/tex]

Where did the [itex]x-1[/itex] in the denominator go?

[tex]\lim_{x\to 1} \frac{\frac{1}{1+x^2} - \frac{1}{2}}{x-1} =
\lim_{x\to 1} \frac{\frac{2}{2(1+x^2)} - \frac{1+x^2}{2(1+x^2)}}{x-1} =
\lim_{x\to 1} \frac{\frac{2 - 1 - x^2}{2(1+x^2)}}{x-1} =
\lim_{x\to 1} \frac{\frac{-x^2 + 1}{2(1+x^2)}}{x-1}[/tex]

 

[irebat]

Where did the [itex]x-1[/itex] in the denominator go?

[tex]\lim_{x\to 1} \frac{\frac{1}{1+x^2} - \frac{1}{2}}{x-1} =
\lim_{x\to 1} \frac{\frac{2}{2(1+x^2)} - \frac{1+x^2}{2(1+x^2)}}{x-1} =
\lim_{x\to 1} \frac{\frac{2 - 1 - x^2}{2(1+x^2)}}{x-1} =
\lim_{x\to 1} \frac{\frac{-x^2 + 1}{2(1+x^2)}}{x-1}[/tex]

omg your right.

careless mistake got me again. dang
yeah, taking that -1 out brings out an x-1 in the numerator that cancels with the denominator that I completely forgot about

and then i can take my limit to get -2/4, which is right.

BIG THANKS, man, seriously.

 

[BrianMath]

omg your right.

careless mistake got me again. dang
yeah, taking that -1 out brings out an x-1 in the numerator that cancels with the denominator that I completely forgot about

and then i can take my limit to get -2/4, which is right.

BIG THANKS, man, seriously.

No problem, little mistakes like these happen to the best of us.