Table of contents
- 0. Functions7h 52m
- Introduction to Functions16m
- Piecewise Functions10m
- Properties of Functions9m
- Common Functions1h 8m
- Transformations5m
- Combining Functions27m
- Exponent rules32m
- Exponential Functions28m
- Logarithmic Functions24m
- Properties of Logarithms34m
- Exponential & Logarithmic Equations35m
- Introduction to Trigonometric Functions38m
- Graphs of Trigonometric Functions44m
- Trigonometric Identities47m
- Inverse Trigonometric Functions48m
- 1. Limits and Continuity2h 2m
- 2. Intro to Derivatives1h 33m
- 3. Techniques of Differentiation3h 18m
- 4. Applications of Derivatives2h 38m
- 5. Graphical Applications of Derivatives6h 2m
- 6. Derivatives of Inverse, Exponential, & Logarithmic Functions2h 37m
- 7. Antiderivatives & Indefinite Integrals1h 26m
1. Limits and Continuity
Introduction to Limits
Problem 7a
Textbook Question
Let f(x)=x−2x2−4 . <IMAGE>
Calculate f(x) for each value of x in the following table.
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1
First, let's simplify the function \( f(x) = \frac{x^2 - 4}{x - 2} \). Notice that the numerator \( x^2 - 4 \) can be factored as a difference of squares: \( (x - 2)(x + 2) \).
Rewrite the function using the factored form: \( f(x) = \frac{(x - 2)(x + 2)}{x - 2} \).
Observe that the \( x - 2 \) terms in the numerator and the denominator can be canceled out, but only for \( x \neq 2 \) to avoid division by zero. Thus, \( f(x) = x + 2 \) for \( x \neq 2 \).
Now, for each value of \( x \) in the table, substitute \( x \) into the simplified function \( f(x) = x + 2 \) to find the corresponding value of \( f(x) \).
Remember to handle the case where \( x = 2 \) separately, as the original function is undefined at this point due to division by zero. Consider the limit as \( x \) approaches 2 if needed.
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