Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Tangent Lines
A tangent line to a curve at a given point is a straight line that touches the curve at that point without crossing it. The slope of the tangent line represents the instantaneous rate of change of the function at that point. Understanding tangent lines is crucial for analyzing the behavior of functions, especially in relation to their derivatives.
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Derivative
The derivative of a function at a point quantifies how the function's output changes as its input changes. It is defined as the limit of the average rate of change of the function as the interval approaches zero. For the function f(x) = x^2 - 4x + 3, finding the derivative will help identify points where the slope of the tangent line is zero, indicating potential local maxima or minima.
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Quadratic Functions
A quadratic function is a polynomial function of degree two, typically expressed in the form f(x) = ax^2 + bx + c. The graph of a quadratic function is a parabola, which can open upwards or downwards depending on the sign of the coefficient 'a'. Analyzing the graph of f(x) = x^2 - 4x + 3 will reveal its vertex, intercepts, and the nature of its tangent lines.
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Introduction to Polynomial Functions