Chapter 1: Problem 3
Find the limit. $$\lim _{x \rightarrow 0} \frac{3 x^{2}}{x^{4}}$$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The limit does not exist; it approaches infinity.
Step by step solution
01
Simplify the Expression
Start by simplifying the fraction \( \frac{3x^2}{x^4} \). This can be done by dividing the numerator and the denominator by \( x^2 \). This gives us:\[\frac{3x^2}{x^4} = \frac{3}{x^2}\]
02
Evaluate the Limit of Simplified Expression
Now that the expression is simplified to \( \frac{3}{x^2} \), evaluate the limit as \( x \) approaches 0:\[\lim_{x \to 0} \frac{3}{x^2}\]As \( x \) approaches 0, \( x^2 \) also approaches 0, making \( \frac{3}{x^2} \) go to infinity since the denominator becomes very small. Thus, \[\lim_{x \to 0} \frac{3}{x^2} = \infty\]
03
Determine if Limit Exists
A limit can be defined only if the expression approaches a particular finite value. Since the limit as \( x \to 0 \) for \( \frac{3}{x^2} \) becomes \( \infty \), the limit does not exist in the context of finite numbers.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Limit Evaluation
Limit evaluation in calculus is the process of finding the value that a function approaches as the input approaches a certain point. This is a critical tool in calculus for understanding the behavior of functions. For the example given, \[\lim _{x \rightarrow 0} \frac{3 x^{2}}{x^{4}}\], we begin by simplifying the expression.
- Simplification makes it easier to evaluate limits.
- Factor out common terms if possible, in this case, \(x^2\) from the numerator and denominator.
- Simplify to get \(\frac{3}{x^2}\).
Indeterminate Forms
An indeterminate form occurs in calculus when substituting the limiting value directly into a function yields a situation where the limit cannot be easily determined. Common forms include \(\frac{0}{0}\), \(\frac{\infty}{\infty}\), and \(\infty - \infty\).In this problem, the indeterminate form arises because as \(x\) approaches 0, \(\frac{3}{x^2}\) becomes undefined due to division by zero. Here’s what you should know:
- It is essential to recognize indeterminate forms to apply strategies to resolve them.
- Simplifying expressions can often turn an indeterminate form into one that is resolvable.
- The arithmetic simplification in this exercise results in the expression becoming \(\frac{3}{x^2}\), which approaches infinity, leading to the conclusion that the limit does not exist (in the finite sense).
Asymptotic Behavior
Asymptotic behavior describes how a function behaves as the input approaches a particular value, often tending toward infinity or a point of discontinuity. In the expression \(\frac{3}{x^2}\), as \(x\) approaches 0, the function tends toward infinity.
- Asymptotes are lines that a graph of a function approaches but never touches.
- Vertical asymptotes occur in fractions when the denominator approaches zero, often leading to infinity.
- In our expression, as \(x\) gets closer to zero, \(x^2\) gets smaller and smaller, making \(\frac{3}{x^2}\) grow indefinitely.