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Suppose $f$ is a function satisfying the equation $$f(x+y)=f(x)+f(y)+x^2y+xy^2$$ for all real numbers $x$ and $y$ Suppose also that $\lim \limits_{x \to 0}\frac{f(x)}{x}=1$

Find $f'(x)$

By using the definition of derivative,I obtained $f(0)=0$ and $f'(0)=1$

How will I get $f'(x)$?

PiGamma
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1 Answers1

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The definition of the derivative is $$ f'(x) = \lim_{h\to 0}\frac{f(x+h) - f(x)}{h} $$ Using the property we've been given about $f$, we get $$ \frac{f(x+h) - f(x)}{h} = \frac{f(x) + f(h) + x^2h + xh^2 - f(x)}{h}\\ = \frac{f(h)}{h} + x^2 + xh $$ This gives $$ f'(x) = \lim_{h\to 0}\frac{f(x+h) - f(x)}{h}\\ = \lim_{h\to 0}\left(\frac{f(h)}h + x^2 + xh\right)\\ = 1 + x^2 $$

Arthur
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