Thomas' Calculus 13th Edition

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0-32187-896-5
ISBN 13: 978-0-32187-896-0

Chapter 2: Limits and Continuity - Section 2.5 - Continuity - Exercises 2.5 - Page 85: 46

Answer

$b=0$ or $b=-2$

Work Step by Step

The piecewise defined functions are continuous on their intervals because they are polynomials. The only problem that could arise is at $x=0$. Find the one-sided limits at $x=0$ and set them to be equal, in which case there will exist a limit and $g$ will be continuous at $x=0$: $\displaystyle \lim_{x\rightarrow 0^{-}} g(x)=\displaystyle \lim_{x\rightarrow 0^{-}}\frac{x-b}{b+1}=-\frac{b}{b+1}$ $\displaystyle \lim_{x\rightarrow 0^{+}} g(x)=\displaystyle \lim_{x\rightarrow-2^{+}}(x^{2}+b)=b$ Set the one-sided limits to be equal $-\displaystyle \frac{b}{b+1}=b,\qquad (b\neq-1)$ ... multiply with $(b+1)$ $-b=b^{2}+b$ $0=b^{2}+2b$ $0=b(b+2)$ $b=0$ or $b=-2$
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