University Calculus: Early Transcendentals (3rd Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321999584
ISBN 13: 978-0-32199-958-0

Chapter 2 - Section 2.5 - Continuity - Exercises - Page 94: 5

Answer

(a) $f(-1)$ exists and equals $0$. (b) $\lim_{x\to-1^+}f(x)$ exists and equals $0$. (c) $\lim_{x\to-1^+}f(x)=f(-1)=0$ (d) $f$ is continuous at $x=-1$ (from the right)

Work Step by Step

(a) As $x=-1$ lies in the domain $[-1,0)$, we would employ the function $f(x)=x^2-1$. So, $f(-1)=(-1)^2-1=1-1=0$ From the graph, we can also see that $f(-1)$ exists and equals $0$. (b) As $x$ approaches $-1$ from the right, we would again employ the function $f(x)=x^2-1$ for the domain $[-1,0)$ So, $\lim_{x\to-1^+}f(x)=\lim_{x\to-1^+}(x^2-1)=(-1)^2-1=1-1=0$ $\lim_{x\to-1^+}f(x)$, thus, exists and equals $0$. (c) From the results in (a) and (b), $\lim_{x\to-1^+}f(x)=f(-1)=0$ (d) Because $\lim_{x\to-1^+}f(x)=f(-1)=0$, according to definition, $f$ is continuous at $x=-1$ (from the right to be exact).
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