Chapter 13: Problem 12
Find the limit. $$\lim _{r \rightarrow \infty} \frac{4 r^{3}-r^{2}}{(r+1)^{3}}$$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The limit is 4.
Step by step solution
01
Understanding the Problem
We are tasked to find the limit as \( r \) approaches infinity of the expression \( \frac{4r^{3} - r^{2}}{(r+1)^3} \). The strategy is typically to simplify the expression to see its behavior at large \( r \).
02
Simplifying the Expression
First, expand the denominator. \( (r+1)^{3} = r^{3} + 3r^{2} + 3r + 1 \). Our expression becomes: \( \frac{4r^{3} - r^{2}}{r^{3} + 3r^{2} + 3r + 1} \).
03
Finding the Dominant Terms
Identify the dominant terms in the numerator and the denominator. In the numerator, \( 4r^3 \) dominates \( -r^2 \), and in the denominator, \( r^3 \) is the dominant term.
04
Simplifying the Limit Expression
Since \( r^3 \) is the dominant term in both the numerator and the denominator, divide each term by \( r^3 \) to simplify the expression: \( \lim _{r \rightarrow \infty} \frac{4 - \frac{1}{r}}{1 + \frac{3}{r} + \frac{3}{r^2} + \frac{1}{r^3}} \).
05
Evaluating the Limit
As \( r \) approaches infinity, terms involving \( \frac{1}{r} \), \( \frac{1}{r^2} \), and \( \frac{1}{r^3} \) approach zero. Thus, the expression simplifies to \( \frac{4 - 0}{1 + 0 + 0 + 0} = 4 \).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Dominant Terms
In calculus, when working with limits, identifying dominant terms is a crucial step. These are the terms that have the greatest impact on the expression as the variable, in this case, \( r \), approaches infinity.
- Dominant terms help us focus on the parts of the expression that truly affect the limit's behavior.
- For polynomial expressions like \( 4r^3 - r^2 \), the term with the highest degree, here \( 4r^3 \), will dominate.
- Similarly, in the denominator \((r+1)^3\), expanding gives \( r^3 + 3r^2 + 3r + 1 \), where \( r^3 \) is the dominant term.
Simplifying Expressions
Simplifying expressions before evaluating a limit can make the process significantly easier. You'll want to break down complex expressions into simpler forms.
- Begin by expanding any parts of the expression that are not in a simple polynomial form, such as \((r+1)^3\), which expands to \( r^3 + 3r^2 + 3r + 1 \).
- Once expanded, compare the degree of terms across the numerator and the denominator to determine what can be simplified.
- Identify common factors and divide them out. In our case, dividing all terms by \( r^3 \) works well since it’s the dominant term.
Limit Evaluation
The final step is to evaluate the limit, especially when approaching infinity. After simplifying the expression, this step becomes straightforward.
- Consider the expression \( \lim_{r \to \infty} \frac{4 - \frac{1}{r}}{1 + \frac{3}{r} + \frac{3}{r^2} + \frac{1}{r^3}} \).
- As \( r \to \infty \), terms like \( \frac{1}{r} \), \( \frac{1}{r^2} \), and \( \frac{1}{r^3} \) approach zero because a very large denominator makes the fraction very small.
- This simplifies our expression to \( \frac{4 - 0}{1 + 0 + 0 + 0} = 4 \).