Calculus with Applications (10th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321749006
ISBN 13: 978-0-32174-900-0

Chapter 3 - The Derivative - Chapter Review - Review Exercises - Page 189: 38

Answer

$$ f(x)=\frac{7-3x}{(1-x)(3+x)} $$ $ x$-values where the given function is discontinuous. are $$x=1 , \quad x=-3 $$ and $$f(0), \quad f(-3)$$ do not exist, also $$ \lim _{x \rightarrow -3} f(x) ,\quad \lim _{x \rightarrow 1} f(x) $$ are not exist

Work Step by Step

$$ f(x)=\frac{7-3x}{(1-x)(3+x)} $$ This rational function is discontinuous wherever the denominator is zero. There is a discontinuity when $x=1 $ and $x=-3 $ . so the given function is discontinuous at $x=1 $ and $x=-3 $, therefore $f(1), f(-3)$ do not exist. We investigate $ \lim _{x \rightarrow 1} f(x) $ at $x=1$ first. From the left, where $x$-values are less than $1$, $$ \lim _{x \rightarrow 1^{-}} f(x)=\lim _{x \rightarrow 1^{-}}\left(\frac{7-3x}{(1-x)(3+x)} \right)=\infty $$ From the right, where $x$-values are greater than 1, $$ \lim _{x \rightarrow 1^{+}} f(x)=\lim _{x \rightarrow 1^{+}}\left(\frac{7-3x}{(1-x)(3+x)} \right)=-\infty $$ so, $ \lim _{x \rightarrow 1} f(x) $ does not exist since $$ \lim _{x \rightarrow 1^{+}} f(x) \ne \lim _{x \rightarrow 1^{-}}f(x) $$ Now, we investigate $ \lim _{x \rightarrow -3} f(x) $ at $x=-3$ first. From the left, where $x$-values are less than $-3$, $$ \lim _{x \rightarrow -3^{-}} f(x)=\lim _{x \rightarrow -3^{-}}\left(\frac{7-3x}{(1-x)(3+x)} \right)=-\infty $$ From the right, where $x$-values are greater than $ -3$, $$ \lim _{x \rightarrow -3^{+}} f(x)=\lim _{x \rightarrow -3^{+}}\left(\frac{7-3x}{(1-x)(3+x)} \right)=\infty $$ so, $ \lim _{x \rightarrow -3} f(x) $ does not exist since $$ \lim _{x \rightarrow -3^{+}} f(x) \ne \lim _{x \rightarrow -3^{-}}f(x) $$ Hence, $ x$-values where the function is discontinuous. are $x=1$ and $x=-3 $ . $f(1), f(-3)$ do not exist, also $ \lim _{x \rightarrow -3} f(x) $, $ \lim _{x \rightarrow 1} f(x) $ do not exist.
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