A curve has equation y = f(x), write an expression for the slope of the secant line through the points P(3, f(3) and Q(x, f(x))

Question

A curve has equation y = f(x), write an expression for the slope of the secant line through the points P(3, f(3) and Q(x, f(x))

Answer 1

The slope of the secant line is the difference in y coordinates devided by the difference in x coordintes

 

slope = (y2-y1)/(x2-x1) =[f(x)-f(3)] /(x-3)

Answer 2

 

 M = { f(x) - f(3) }/ (x-3)