Chapter 1: Problem 25
Find the limits. $$ \lim _{x \rightarrow 4^{-}} \frac{3-x}{x^{2}-2 x-8} $$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The limit is \(+\infty\).
Step by step solution
01
Identify the expression
The given limit to solve is \( \lim_{x \to 4^{-}} \frac{3-x}{x^2 - 2x - 8} \). Our goal is to simplify this expression and find its limit as \( x \) approaches 4 from the left.
02
Factor the quadratic expression
The denominator \( x^2 - 2x - 8 \) can be factored. We need factors of \( -8 \) that add up to \( -2 \). These factors are \( +2 \) and \( -4 \). Therefore, \( x^2 - 2x - 8 = (x - 4)(x + 2) \).
03
Substitute and simplify
Substitute the factored form into the expression: \( \frac{3-x}{(x-4)(x+2)} \). It doesn't seem to simplify directly, but as \( x \to 4 \), evaluate the behavior of the expression instead.
04
Evaluate the limit approaching from the left
As \( x \to 4^{-} \), \( x - 4 \) approaches 0 from the negative side. The expression becomes undefined, but we can explore its behavior. Approaching from the left, \( 3-x \) approaches \( 3-4 = -1 \). Therefore, the numerator is negative. The denominator approaches \( 0 \times 6 \) which is zero, but \((x-4)\) is negative, so the whole fraction approaches positive infinity.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Limit Evaluation
When evaluating limits, the primary aim is to find a value that a function approaches as the variable gets closer to a specific point. In this exercise, we are asked to find the limit \( \lim_{x \to 4^{-}} \frac{3-x}{x^2 - 2x - 8} \).Limit evaluation involves a few critical steps:
- First, identify any indeterminate forms that occur when substituting the limit point into the function.
- Second, simplify expressions algebraically to help resolve these forms.
- Finally, analyze the behavior of the function from either side of the limit point. Here, as \( x \) approaches 4 from the left, understanding whether the function increases or decreases is crucial.
Quadratic Factorization
Quadratic factorization is a handy technique used to simplify expressions, especially when dealing with rational functions. Often, a quadratic can be factored into a product of two binomials. In the denominator of our function,\( x^2 - 2x - 8 \) needs to be factored.Factorizing quads follows these simple steps:
- Identify the quadratic in standard form: \( ax^2 + bx + c \).
- Look for two numbers that multiply to \( ac \) (product of the first and last coefficients) and add to \( b \) (middle coefficient).
- These numbers in our case are \(+2\) and \(-4\), allowing us to rewrite the quadratic as \( (x - 4)(x + 2) \).
Infinite Limits
Infinite limits typically occur when a function's value grows without bound as the input approaches a certain point. In our scenario, as \( x \to 4^{-} \), the function \( \frac{3-x}{(x-4)(x+2)} \) approaches positive infinity.Here’s how infinite limits can be comprehended:
- As \( x \) nears 4 from the left (just below 4), \( x-4 \) becomes a small negative number causing division by nearly zero.
- The numerator \( 3-x \) evaluates to \(-1\), indicating a negative top.
- The denominator \((x-4)\) emphasizes the small negative, driving the fraction's magnitude to grow positively larger.