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: 48

Answer

$a=-\displaystyle \frac{3}{2},\quad b=-\frac{3}{2}$

Work Step by Step

The piecewise defined functions (polynomials) are continuous on their intervals. For f to be continuous at $x=0$ and at $x=2$, the one sided limits at these values of x should be equal. At $x=0,$ $\displaystyle \lim_{x\rightarrow 0^{-}} f(x)=\displaystyle \lim_{x\rightarrow 0^{-}}(ax+2b)=2b$ $\displaystyle \lim_{x\rightarrow 0^{+}} f(x)=\displaystyle \lim_{x\rightarrow 0^{+}}(x^{2}+3a-b)=3a-b$ For the limit to exist, we must have $2b=3a-b$ or, $3a-3b=0$ or, $\fbox{$a=b$}$ At $x=2,$ $\displaystyle \lim_{x\rightarrow 2^{-}} f(x)=\displaystyle \lim_{x\rightarrow 2^{-}}(x^{2}+3a-b)=3a-b+4$ $\displaystyle \lim_{x\rightarrow 2^{+}} f(x)=\displaystyle \lim_{x\rightarrow 2^{+}}(3x-5)=1$ For the limit to exist, we must have $3a-b+4=1$ $\fbox{$3a-b=-3$}$ Combining the two equations we obtained, $3a-a=-3 \ \ \displaystyle \Rightarrow \ \ 2a=-3 \ \ \Rightarrow \ \ a=-\frac{3}{2}$ Back-substituting, $b=-\displaystyle \frac{3}{2}$
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