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 2.6 - Limits Involving Infinity; Asymptotes of Graphs - Exercises 2.6 - Page 98: 53

Answer

$ a.\quad+\infty$ $ b.\quad-\infty$ $ c.\quad-\infty$ $ d.\quad+\infty$

Work Step by Step

$a.$ When $x\rightarrow 2^{+}$, it is a positive number slightly greater than 2. Its square is a number slightly more than 4. The denominator is then slightly more than 0, which leads to $\displaystyle \lim_{x\rightarrow 2^{+}} (\displaystyle \frac{1}{x^{2}-4})=+\infty$ $b.$ When $x\rightarrow 2^{-}$, it is a positive number slightly smaller than 2. Its square is a number slightly less than 4. The denominator is then slightly less than 0, which leads to $\displaystyle \lim_{x\rightarrow 2^{-}} (\displaystyle \frac{1}{x^{2}-4})=-\infty$ $c.$ When $x\rightarrow-2^{+}$, it is a negative number whose absolute value is slightly smaller than 2. Its square is a number slightly less than 4. The denominator is then slightly less than 0, which leads to $\displaystyle \lim_{x\rightarrow-2^{+}} (\displaystyle \frac{1}{x^{2}-4})=-\infty$ $d.$ When $x\rightarrow-2^{-}$, it is a negative number whose absolute value is slightly greater than 2. Its square is a number slightly more than 4. The denominator is then slightly more than 0, which leads to $\displaystyle \lim_{x\rightarrow-2^{-}} (\displaystyle \frac{1}{x^{2}-4})=+\infty$
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