Calculus: Early Transcendentals 8th Edition

Published by Cengage Learning
ISBN 10: 1285741552
ISBN 13: 978-1-28574-155-0

Chapter 2 - Section 2.5 - Continuity - 2.5 Exercises - Page 125: 41

Answer

f(x) is continuous on (-$\infty$,-1)U(-1,$\infty$), meaning it is discontinuous at x=-1. It is continuous from the right at x=-1.

Work Step by Step

1. Check Continuity of $x^{2}$: Polynomials are continuous everywhere, so our function is continuous on (-$\infty$,-1) 2. Check Continuity of x: Continuous everywhere, so our function is continuous on (-1,1) 3. Check Continuity of $\frac{1}{x}$: Rational functions are continuous where they are defined. This is undefined at 0. However, we are only looking at the interval (1,$\infty$) which it is continuous on. So far, we know our function is continuous on (-$\infty$,-1)U(-1,1)U(1,$\infty$). 4. Check for continuity at x=-1 $lim_{x->-1}$f(x) does not exist because $lim_{x->-1^{-}}$f(x)$\ne$$lim_{x->-1^{+}}$f(x) 1$\ne$-1 It is discontinuous here. However, $lim_{x->-1^{+}}$f(x)=f(-1)=-1 so it is continuous from the right. 5. Check for continuity at x=1 $lim_{x->1^{-}}$f(x)=$lim_{x->1^{+}}$f(x)=f(1) 1=1=1 So f(x) is continuous at 1. 6. Putting it all together: f(x) is continuous on (-$\infty$,-1)U(-1,$\infty$), meaning it is discontinuous at x=-1. It is continuous from the right at x=-1.
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