silemus.

9Derivative of a cubic

Let f(x)=x3−5x2+2x\displaystyle f(x) = x^3 - 5x^2 + 2x. Find f′(2)\displaystyle f'(2).

Differentiate term by term: f'(x) = 3x² − 10x + 2. Plugging in x = 2 gives 3(4) − 20 + 2 = 12 − 20 + 2 = −6, so f'(2) = −6.

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