Chapter 2: Problem 28
Decide which of the given one-sided or two-sided limits exist as numbers, which as \(\infty\), which as \(-\infty\), and which do not exist. Where the limit is a number, evaluate it. $$ \lim _{x \rightarrow-1^{+}} \frac{x^{2}+5 x+4}{x+1} $$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The limit exists as a number and equals 3.
Step by step solution
01
Understand the problem
We are given the limit \( \lim _{x \rightarrow-1^{+}} \frac{x^{2}+5x+4}{x+1} \). We need to evaluate this one-sided limit as \( x \) approaches \(-1\) from the right side.
02
Identify potential issues
As \( x \to -1^{+} \), the denominator \( x + 1 \to 0 \). This signals a potential vertical asymptote or hole at \( x = -1 \). Our goal is to see if the numerator also approaches 0, which would indicate a removable discontinuity.
03
Factor the numerator
Factor the numerator \( x^2 + 5x + 4 \) into \((x + 1)(x + 4)\). The expression becomes \( \frac{(x + 1)(x + 4)}{x + 1} \).
04
Simplify the expression
Cancel the common factor \((x + 1)\) from the numerator and the denominator, giving us \( x + 4 \). This indicates that the discontinuity at \( x = -1 \) is removable.
05
Evaluate the limit
Now, with the simplified expression \( x + 4 \), substitute \( x = -1 \): \[(x + 4)_{x = -1} = -1 + 4 = 3.\]
06
Determine the existence and value of the limit
Since the expression was simplified to be continuous at \( x = -1 \) after cancellation, the limit exists as a number. The value of the limit as \( x \to -1^{+} \) is 3.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
One-Sided Limits
One-sided limits focus on understanding how a function behaves as a variable approaches a certain point from one side only. In our exercise, we analyzed the limit \( \lim_{x \rightarrow -1^{+}} \frac{x^{2}+5x+4}{x+1} \). The symbol \( -1^{+} \) indicates that we are observing the behavior of the function as \( x \) approaches \(-1\) from the right-hand side. This concept is crucial because the behavior from one side can differ drastically compared to the other.
- One-sided limits are different from two-sided limits because they only consider one direction of approach.
- They help in identifying the existence of vertical asymptotes, where the function diverges to \( \infty \) or \( -\infty \) from one side.
- It is especially useful for functions with discontinuities.
Factorization
Factorization helps in simplifying expressions, making it easier to evaluate limits. In the provided solution, the numerator \( x^2 + 5x + 4 \) was factored into \((x+1)(x+4)\). This step was crucial to understand the limit's behavior further.
- Factorization involves breaking down expressions into products of simpler factors.
- This can help identify common terms in the numerator and denominator that might cancel out, simplifying the expression.
- In this exercise, factorization revealed a removable discontinuity.
Removable Discontinuity
A removable discontinuity is a point where a function is not defined due to a factor that can be canceled out, such as \( x + 1 \) in both the numerator and denominator in our example. After cancellation, the expression becomes \( x+4 \), whose behavior is simple to analyze.
- It occurs where the function seems to "break" but can be "patched" by defining the point with a new value.
- After removing the discontinuity, the function becomes continuous at that point.
- Understanding removable discontinuities is key in evaluating limits where division by zero might initially seem an issue.
Vertical Asymptotes
Vertical asymptotes are lines \( x = a \) where a function tends to \( \pm \infty \) as \( x \) approaches \( a \), often occurring when the denominator of a rational expression approaches zero. In this exercise, analyzing \( x + 1 \to 0 \) upon approaching \( x = -1 \) initially suggested a potential asymptote.
- Vertical asymptotes occur due to division by zero circumstances in rational functions, often indicating non-removable discontinuities.
- On either side of the asymptote, the function will diverge drastically, making one-sided analysis useful.
- Not all points where the denominator is zero become asymptotes; factorization can reveal removable discontinuities instead.