Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Derivative
The derivative of a function at a given point measures the rate at which the function's value changes as its input changes. It is defined as the limit of the average rate of change of the function over an interval as the interval approaches zero. In this context, finding the slope of the graph at a specific point involves calculating the derivative of the function and evaluating it at that point.
Recommended video:
Exponential Function
An exponential function is a mathematical function of the form f(x) = a * e^(bx), where e is Euler's number (approximately 2.71828). In the given function f(x) = 2 + xe^x, the term xe^x combines polynomial and exponential behavior, which affects the function's growth rate and curvature. Understanding how to differentiate such functions is crucial for finding slopes.
Recommended video:
Point-Slope Form
The point-slope form of a linear equation is used to describe the slope of a line given a point on the line. It is expressed as y - y1 = m(x - x1), where m is the slope and (x1, y1) is a point on the line. In this problem, after finding the derivative, we can use the slope at the point (0, 2) to understand the behavior of the function near that point.
Recommended video: