Find the difference quotient of LaTeX:  \displaystyle f(x)=4 - 9 x .

The difference quotient is LaTeX:  \displaystyle \frac{f(x+h)-f(x)}{h} . Evaluating LaTeX:  \displaystyle f(x+h)=- 9 h - 9 x + 4 and expanding gives LaTeX:  \displaystyle f(x+h)=- 9 h - 9 x + 4 Evaluating the difference quotient gives LaTeX:  \displaystyle \frac{(- 9 h - 9 x + 4)-(4 - 9 x)}{h} Simplifying gives LaTeX:  \displaystyle \frac{- 9 h}{h}=-9