Chapter 2: Problem 15
Find the limits. $$\lim _{x \rightarrow 2} \frac{2 x+5}{11-x^{3}}$$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The limit is 3.
Step by step solution
01
Understand the Expression
We need to find the limit of \( \frac{2x+5}{11-x^3} \) as \( x \) approaches 2. This means substituting \( x \) with 2 in the expression to see if it leads to a determinate or indeterminate form.
02
Substitute x with 2
Substitute \( x = 2 \) directly into the expression: \( \frac{2(2) + 5}{11 - (2)^3} \). Simplifying, we get \( \frac{4 + 5}{11 - 8} \). This simplifies further to \( \frac{9}{3} \).
03
Simplify the Result
The fraction \( \frac{9}{3} \) simplifies to 3, as dividing 9 by 3 gives us 3.
04
Determine the Limit
Since substituting \( x = 2 \) into the expression gave a valid numerical result without any division by zero or undefined operations, the limit exists and equals the simplified result from Step 3.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Indeterminate Forms
When calculating the limit of a function, you may encounter expressions that can’t be directly evaluated because they result in indeterminate forms. These forms include \(\frac{0}{0}\), \(\frac{\infty}{\infty}\), and others, which do not provide enough information to determine the actual limit of the function.
- An indeterminate form often signifies that direct substitution into the limit expression won’t work straightforwardly and further simplification is required.
- In our given exercise, substituting \(x = 2\) into \(\frac{2x+5}{11-x^3}\) directly yields a determinate form because it doesn’t lead to division by zero or undefined operations.
Substitution Method
The substitution method is a straightforward technique in finding limits where you directly replace the variable with the given value. This helps check whether the resulting expression is determinate or indeterminate.
- Start by directly substituting the specified value of \(x\) into the expression.
- If simplification leads to a clear numerical value without encountering an indeterminate form, you have found the limit using this method.
Simplifying Fractions
Simplifying fractions is a basic but essential step in mathematical evaluations, especially in limits, to reach the final compact form of the expression.
- After substituting and calculating, you may often end up with a fraction that can be reduced to its simplest form, enhancing clarity and understanding.
- Dividing both the numerator and the denominator by their greatest common divisor is critical.