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$$\begin{align} f(x) &=7\\f'(x)&=2\\ g(x) &=2 \\ g'(x)&=-5 \\ h(x) &= f(x) + g(x)\end{align}$$

Find: $h'(2)$

My attempt was:

$2+7=9$ but it seems to be wrong.

Brad
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John
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    The question wants the derivative of the sum function $ \ h(x) \ $ at $ \ x = 2 \ $ . What is the derivative of $ \ f(x) \ + \ g(x) \ $ ? – colormegone Jun 18 '14 at 23:53
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    You may be misquoting the problem. For example, if $f(x)$ is identically equal to $2$, then $g'(x)=0$. – André Nicolas Jun 19 '14 at 00:04
  • What @AndréNicolas said. The only way I can think of for this problem statement to be valid is if $x$ represents one specific (but unspecified) value at which the given equations are true. But in that case, unless $x = 2$, we have no information at all about $h'$ at $2$. – David Z Jun 19 '14 at 01:46
  • It didn't even register on me that the question as stated is inconsistent :/ ... I assumed that if this was a homework problem, it would have been written in the typical fashion, with all given values at the intended value of $ \ x \ $ (since it was evidently not a function composition problem). – colormegone Jun 19 '14 at 03:21

2 Answers2

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$$h(x)=f(x)+g(x) \Rightarrow h'(x)=f'(x)+g'(x) =2-5=-3 \Rightarrow h'(2)=-3$$

Mary Star
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You found $h(2)$. Instead we want to find $h'(2)$. First, take the derivative of $h(x)=f(x)+g(x)$ with respect to $x$ and use the given values above to find $h'(2)$. So $h'(x)=f'(x)+g'(x)$ and we will let $x=2$ to obtain $h'(2)=f'(2)+g'(2)=2+(-5)=-3$. Thus $h'(2)=-3$.

1233dfv
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