Chapter 2: Problem 57
Find the limits in Exercises \(53-58 .\) \begin{equation} \lim \frac{x^{2}-3 x+2}{x^{3}-2 x^{2}} \end{equation} \begin{equation} \begin{array}{ll}{\text { a. }} & {x \rightarrow 0^{+}} \quad {\text { b. } x \rightarrow 2^{+}} \\ {\text { c. }} & {x \rightarrow 2^{-}} \quad {\text { d. } x \rightarrow 2} \\ {\text { e. }} & {\text { What, if anything, can be said about the limit as } x \rightarrow 0 ?}\end{array} \end{equation}
Short Answer
Step by step solution
Simplify the given expression
Find the limit as \( x \rightarrow 0^{+} \)
Determine the limit as \( x \rightarrow 2^{+} \)
Determine the limit as \( x \rightarrow 2^{-} \)
Evaluate the limit as \( x \rightarrow 2 \)
Analyze the limit as \( x \rightarrow 0 \) (encompass cases around zero)
Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!
-
Full Textbook Solutions
Get detailed explanations and key concepts
-
Unlimited Al creation
Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...
-
Ads-free access
To over 500 millions flashcards
-
Money-back guarantee
We refund you if you fail your exam.
Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with 91Ó°ÊÓ!
Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Rational Functions
- Numerator: determines zeros or roots of the function where the output is zero.
- Denominator: indicates potential asymptotic behavior, especially since division by zero is undefined.
Factorization in Calculus
- The expression \( \frac{x^2 - 3x + 2}{x^3 - 2x^2} \) can be factorized to \( \frac{(x-1)(x-2)}{x^2(x-2)} \).
- Cancellation possible only if the common factor isn’t zero. We get \( \frac{x-1}{x^2} \) when \( x eq 2 \).
One-Sided Limits
For example, evaluating the limit of the function as \( x \to 0^+ \), we see:
- Numerator tends towards \(-1\)
- Denominator tends towards a small positive value, creating a result tending towards \(-\infty\)
Continuity and Discontinuity
- At \( x = 2 \) in the function \( \frac{x-1}{x^2} \), there’s discontinuity because the limit from each side differs: \(+\infty\) from the right and \(-\infty\) from the left.
- When the left and right limits agree, the function is considered continuous at that point.
Infinite Limits
- Positive or negative infinite limits reveal asymptotic tends in functions.
- Data around these infinity points can help us outline the general flow of graphs and rational functions.