Determining Limits Using Algebraic Manipulation - AP Calculus AB

  1. Evaluate x2−1x−1\frac{x^2 - 1}{x - 1} as xx approaches 1.
    2. Factor: (x−1)(x+1)x−1=x+1\frac{(x-1)(x+1)}{x-1} = x+1, then substitute x=1x = 1.
  2. State the limit of f(x)=x2−9x−3f(x) = \frac{x^2 - 9}{x - 3} as xx approaches 3.
    6. Factor: (x−3)(x+3)x−3=x+3\frac{(x-3)(x+3)}{x-3} = x+3, then substitute x=3x = 3.
  3. Find the limit of f(x)=x2−4x+4f(x) = x^2 - 4x + 4 as xx approaches 2.
    0. Direct substitution: 22−4(2)+4=02^2 - 4(2) + 4 = 0.
  4. Evaluate the limit of f(x)=x2−1x−1f(x) = \frac{x^2 - 1}{x - 1} as xx approaches 1.
    2. Factor: (x−1)(x+1)x−1=x+1\frac{(x-1)(x+1)}{x-1} = x+1, then substitute x=1x = 1.
  5. Evaluate x2−4x−2\frac{x^2 - 4}{x - 2} as xx approaches 2.
    4. Factor: (x−2)(x+2)x−2=x+2\frac{(x-2)(x+2)}{x-2} = x+2, then substitute x=2x = 2.
  6. What is the limit of x2−9x−3\frac{x^2 - 9}{x - 3} as xx approaches 3?
    6. Factor: (x−3)(x+3)x−3=x+3\frac{(x-3)(x+3)}{x-3} = x+3, then substitute x=3x = 3.
  7. What is the limit of f(x)=x2f(x) = x^2 as xx approaches 3?
    9. Direct substitution: 32=93^2 = 9.
  8. Determine the limit of x2−4x+4x^2 - 4x + 4 as xx approaches 4.
    4. Direct substitution: 42−4(4)+4=44^2 - 4(4) + 4 = 4.
  9. Evaluate 2x2−8x−2\frac{2x^2 - 8}{x - 2} as xx approaches 2.
    8. Factor: 2(x−2)(x+2)x−2=2(x+2)\frac{2(x-2)(x+2)}{x-2} = 2(x+2), then substitute x=2x = 2.
  10. Determine the limit of f(x)=x2−1x2+1f(x) = \frac{x^2 - 1}{x^2 + 1} as xx approaches infinity.
    1. Divide by highest power: 1−1x21+1x2→1\frac{1 - \frac{1}{x^2}}{1 + \frac{1}{x^2}} \to 1.
  11. What is the limit of h(x)=x2+x−6x−2h(x) = \frac{x^2 + x - 6}{x - 2} as xx approaches 2?
    5. Factor: (x+3)(x−2)x−2=x+3\frac{(x+3)(x-2)}{x-2} = x+3, then substitute x=2x = 2.
  12. Find the limit of f(x)=x3f(x) = x^3 as xx approaches 2.
    8. Direct substitution: 23=82^3 = 8.
  13. What is the limit of x3−8x−2\frac{x^3 - 8}{x - 2} as xx approaches 2?
    12. Factor: (x−2)(x2+2x+4)x−2=x2+2x+4\frac{(x-2)(x^2+2x+4)}{x-2} = x^2+2x+4, then substitute x=2x = 2.
  14. Evaluate the limit of x2−9x−3\frac{x^2 - 9}{x - 3} as xx approaches 3.
    6. Factor: (x−3)(x+3)x−3=x+3\frac{(x-3)(x+3)}{x-3} = x+3, then substitute x=3x = 3.
  15. Find the limit of f(x)=x2−1x2+1f(x) = \frac{x^2 - 1}{x^2 + 1} as xx approaches infinity.
    1. Divide by highest power: 1−1x21+1x2→1\frac{1 - \frac{1}{x^2}}{1 + \frac{1}{x^2}} \to 1.
  16. Find the limit of x2−25x−5\frac{x^2 - 25}{x - 5} as xx approaches 5.
    10. Factor: (x−5)(x+5)x−5=x+5\frac{(x-5)(x+5)}{x-5} = x+5, then substitute x=5x = 5.
  17. Determine the limit of f(x)=1xf(x) = \frac{1}{x} as xx approaches infinity.
    0. As x→∞x \to \infty, 1x→0\frac{1}{x} \to 0.
  18. State the limit of f(x)=x2+2x+1x+1f(x) = \frac{x^2 + 2x + 1}{x + 1} as xx approaches -1.
    0. Factor: (x+1)2x+1=x+1\frac{(x+1)^2}{x+1} = x+1, then substitute x=−1x = -1.
  19. State the limit of f(x)=1xf(x) = \frac{1}{x} as xx approaches negative infinity.
    0. As x→−∞x \to -\infty, 1x→0\frac{1}{x} \to 0.
  20. Evaluate x2−25x−5\frac{x^2 - 25}{x - 5} as xx approaches 5.
    10. Factor: (x−5)(x+5)x−5=x+5\frac{(x-5)(x+5)}{x-5} = x+5, then substitute x=5x = 5.
  21. What is the limit of f(x)=x2−16x−4f(x) = \frac{x^2 - 16}{x - 4} as xx approaches 4?
    8. Factor: (x−4)(x+4)x−4=x+4\frac{(x-4)(x+4)}{x-4} = x+4, then substitute x=4x = 4.
  22. Determine the limit of f(x)=x2−1x2+1f(x) = \frac{x^2 - 1}{x^2 + 1} as xx approaches ∞\infty.
    1. Divide by highest power: 1−1x21+1x2→1\frac{1 - \frac{1}{x^2}}{1 + \frac{1}{x^2}} \to 1.
  23. What is the limit of g(x)=1xg(x) = \frac{1}{x} as xx approaches 0?
    Does not exist. Function undefined at x=0x = 0; left and right limits differ.
  24. Find the limit of f(x)=x3f(x) = x^3 as xx approaches -2.
    -8. Direct substitution: (−2)3=−8(-2)^3 = -8.
  25. What is the limit of f(x)=x3f(x) = x^3 as xx approaches -1?
    -1. Direct substitution: (−1)3=−1(-1)^3 = -1.
  26. Evaluate x2−4x+4x−2\frac{x^2 - 4x + 4}{x - 2} as xx approaches 2.
    0. Factor: (x−2)2x−2=x−2\frac{(x-2)^2}{x-2} = x-2, then substitute x=2x = 2.
  27. Find the limit of x2−4x+4x−2\frac{x^2 - 4x + 4}{x - 2} as xx approaches 2.
    0. Factor: (x−2)2x−2=x−2\frac{(x-2)^2}{x-2} = x-2, then substitute x=2x = 2.
  28. Determine the limit of f(x)=x2−1x−1f(x) = \frac{x^2 - 1}{x - 1} as xx approaches 1.
    2. Factor: (x−1)(x+1)x−1=x+1\frac{(x-1)(x+1)}{x-1} = x+1, then substitute x=1x = 1.
  29. Evaluate the limit of x2−4x−2\frac{x^2 - 4}{x - 2} as xx approaches 2.
    4. Factor: (x−2)(x+2)x−2=x+2\frac{(x-2)(x+2)}{x-2} = x+2, then substitute x=2x = 2.
  30. What is the limit of f(x)=x3f(x) = x^3 as xx approaches 3?
    27. Direct substitution: 33=273^3 = 27.
  31. What is the limit of f(x)=2x−6x−3f(x) = \frac{2x - 6}{x - 3} as xx approaches 3?
    2. Factor: 2(x−3)x−3=2\frac{2(x-3)}{x-3} = 2, then substitute x=3x = 3.
  32. What is the limit of f(x)=x2−1x2+1f(x) = \frac{x^2 - 1}{x^2 + 1} as xx approaches infinity?
    1. Divide by highest power: 1−1x21+1x2→1\frac{1 - \frac{1}{x^2}}{1 + \frac{1}{x^2}} \to 1.
  33. Evaluate the limit of x2−25x−5\frac{x^2 - 25}{x - 5} as xx approaches 5.
    10. Factor: (x−5)(x+5)x−5=x+5\frac{(x-5)(x+5)}{x-5} = x+5, then substitute x=5x = 5.
  34. What is the limit of f(x)=x2−9x−3f(x) = \frac{x^2 - 9}{x - 3} as xx approaches 3?
    6. Factor: (x−3)(x+3)x−3=x+3\frac{(x-3)(x+3)}{x-3} = x+3, then substitute x=3x = 3.
  35. Evaluate the limit of x2−4x+4x−2\frac{x^2 - 4x + 4}{x - 2} as xx approaches 2.
    0. Factor: (x−2)2x−2=x−2\frac{(x-2)^2}{x-2} = x-2, then substitute x=2x = 2.

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