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Ch. 2 - Limits
Briggs - Calculus: Early Transcendentals 3rd Edition
Briggs3rd EditionCalculus: Early TranscendentalsISBN: 9780136847243Not the one you use?Change textbook
All textbooksBriggs 3rd EditionCh. 2 - LimitsProblem 73c
Chapter 2, Problem 73c

Let f(x) = {x^2+1 / if x<−1
√x+1 if x≥−1.


Compute the following limits or state that they do not exist.
limx→−1 f(x)

Verified step by step guidance
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Identify the piecewise function f(x) and the point of interest, which is x = -1. The function is defined as f(x) = x^2 + 1 for x < -1 and f(x) = \(\sqrt{x}\) + 1 for x \(\geq\) -1.
To find the limit as x approaches -1, consider the left-hand limit (as x approaches -1 from the left) and the right-hand limit (as x approaches -1 from the right) separately.
Calculate the left-hand limit: lim_{x \(\to\) -1^-} f(x) = lim_{x \(\to\) -1^-} (x^2 + 1). Substitute x = -1 into the expression x^2 + 1 to find the left-hand limit.
Calculate the right-hand limit: lim_{x \(\to\) -1^+} f(x) = lim_{x \(\to\) -1^+} (\(\sqrt{x}\) + 1). Substitute x = -1 into the expression \(\sqrt{x}\) + 1 to find the right-hand limit.
Compare the left-hand and right-hand limits. If they are equal, the limit exists and is equal to this common value. If they are not equal, the limit does not exist.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Piecewise Functions

A piecewise function is defined by different expressions based on the input value. In this case, f(x) has two distinct formulas: one for x < -1 and another for x ≥ -1. Understanding how to evaluate piecewise functions is crucial for determining limits at points where the function's definition changes.
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Piecewise Functions

Limits

A limit describes the behavior of a function as the input approaches a certain value. To compute the limit of f(x) as x approaches -1, we need to evaluate the function from both sides of -1, using the appropriate piece of the function for each side. This helps us determine if the limit exists and what its value is.
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One-Sided Limits

Left-Hand and Right-Hand Limits

Left-hand and right-hand limits refer to the values that a function approaches as the input approaches a specific point from the left or right, respectively. For the limit of f(x) as x approaches -1, we must calculate the left-hand limit (using x < -1) and the right-hand limit (using x ≥ -1) to see if they are equal, which would indicate the overall limit exists.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

Find the vertical asymptotes. For each vertical asymptote x = a, analyze lim x→a- f(x) and lim x→a+ f(x).

f(x) = x2(4x2 − √(16x4 + 1))

Textbook Question

Analyze lim x→∞ f(x) and lim x→−∞ f(x), and then identify any horizontal asymptotes.

f(x) = (x4 − 1)/(x^2−1)

Textbook Question

Evaluate lim x→2^+ √x−2.

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Textbook Question

Analyze lim x→∞ f(x) and lim x→−∞ f(x), and then identify any horizontal asymptotes.

f(x) = (3x4 + 3x3 − 36x2) / (x4 − 25x2 + 144)

Textbook Question

Analyze lim x→∞ f(x) and lim x→−∞ f(x), and then identify any horizontal asymptotes.

f(x) = (√(16x4 + 64x2) + x2) / (2x2 − 4) 

Textbook Question

Find the vertical asymptotes. For each vertical asymptote x = a, analyze lim x→a- f(x) and lim x→a+ f(x).

f(x) = (3x4 + 3x3 − 36x2) / (x4 − 25x2 + 144)