2.2E: Exercises for Section 2.2
- Page ID
- 48444
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Intuitive Definition of Limits
For exercises 1 - 2, consider the function \(f(x)=\dfrac{x^2−1}{|x−1|}\).
1) [T] Complete the following table for the function. Round your solutions to four decimal places.
\(x\) | \(f(x)\) | \(x\) | \(f(x)\) |
---|---|---|---|
0.9 | a. | 1.1 | e. |
0.99 | b. | 1.01 | f. |
0.999 | c. | 1.001 | g. |
0.9999 | d. | 1.0001 | h. |
2) What do your results in the preceding exercise indicate about the two-sided limit \(\displaystyle \lim_{x→1}f(x)\)? Explain your response.
- Answer:
-
\(\displaystyle \lim_{x \to 1}f(x)\) does not exist because \(\displaystyle \lim_{x \to 1^−}f(x)=−2≠\lim_{x \to 1^+}f(x)=2\).
For exercises 3 - 5, consider the function \(f(x)=(1+x)^{1/x}\).
3) [T] Make a table showing the values of \(f\) for \(x=−0.01,\;−0.001,\;−0.0001,\;−0.00001\) and for \(x=0.01,\;0.001,\;0.0001,\;0.00001\). Round your solutions to five decimal places.
\(x\) | \(f(x)\) | \(x\) | \(f(x)\) |
---|---|---|---|
-0.01 | a. | 0.01 | e. |
-0.001 | b. | 0.001 | f. |
-0.0001 | c. | 0.0001 | g. |
-0.00001 | d. | 0.00001 | h. |
4) What does the table of values in the preceding exercise indicate about the function \(f(x)=(1+x)^{1/x}\)?
- Answer:
- \(\displaystyle \lim_{x \to 0}(1+x)^{1/x}\approx 2.7183\).
5) To which mathematical constant do the values in the preceding exercise appear to be approaching? This is the actual limit here.
In exercises 6 - 8, use the given values to set up a table to evaluate the limits. Round your solutions to eight decimal places.
6) [T] \(\displaystyle \lim_{x \to 0}\frac{\sin 2x}{x};\quad ±0.1,\; ±0.01, \; ±0.001, \;±.0001\)
\(x\) | \(\frac{\sin 2x}{x}\) | \(x\) | \(\frac{\sin 2x}{x}\) |
---|---|---|---|
-0.1 | a. | 0.1 | e. |
-0.01 | b. | 0.01 | f. |
-0.001 | c. | 0.001 | g. |
-0.0001 | d. | 0.0001 | h. |
- Answer:
- a. 1.98669331; b. 1.99986667; c. 1.99999867; d. 1.99999999; e. 1.98669331; f. 1.99986667; g. 1.99999867; h. 1.99999999;
\(\displaystyle \lim_{x \to 0}\frac{\sin 2x}{x}=2\)
7) [T] \(\displaystyle \lim_{x \to 0}\frac{\sin 3x}{x};\quad ±0.1, \; ±0.01, \; ±0.001, \; ±0.0001\)
\(x\) | \(\frac{\sin 3x}{x}\) | \(x\) | \(\frac{\sin 3x}{x}\) |
---|---|---|---|
-0.1 | a. | 0.1 | e. |
-0.01 | b. | 0.01 | f. |
-0.001 | c. | 0.001 | g. |
-0.0001 | d. | 0.0001 | h. |
8) Use the preceding two exercises to conjecture (guess) the value of the following limit: \(\displaystyle \lim_{x \to 0}\frac{\sin ax}{x}\) for \(a\), a positive real value.
- Answer:
- \(\displaystyle \lim_{x \to 0}\frac{\sin ax}{x}=a\)
[T] In exercises 9 - 12, set up a table of values to find the indicated limit. Round to eight digits.
9) \(\displaystyle \lim_{x \to 2}\frac{x^2−4}{x^2+x−6}\)
\(x\) | \(\frac{x^2−4}{x^2+x−6}\) | \(x\) | \(\frac{x^2−4}{x^2+x−6}\) |
---|---|---|---|
1.9 | a. | 2.1 | e. |
1.99 | b. | 2.01 | f. |
1.999 | c. | 2.001 | g. |
1.9999 | d. | 2.0001 | h. |
10) \(\displaystyle \lim_{x \to 1}(1−2x)\)
\(x\) | \(1−2x\) | \(x\) | \(1−2x\) |
---|---|---|---|
0.9 | a. | 1.1 | e. |
0.99 | b. | 1.01 | f. |
0.999 | c. | 1.001 | g. |
0.9999 | d. | 1.0001 | h. |
- Answer:
- a. −0.80000000; b. −0.98000000; c. −0.99800000; d. −0.99980000; e. −1.2000000; f. −1.0200000; g. −1.0020000; h. −1.0002000;
\( \displaystyle \lim_{x \to 1}(1−2x)=−1\)
11) \(\displaystyle \lim_{x \to 0}\frac{5}{1−e^{1/x}}\)
\(x\) | \(\frac{5}{1−e^{1/x}}\) | \(x\) | \(\frac{5}{1−e^{1/x}}\) |
---|---|---|---|
-0.1 | a. | 0.1 | e. |
-0.01 | b. | 0.01 | f. |
-0.001 | c. | 0.001 | g. |
-0.0001 | d. | 0.0001 | h. |
12) \(\displaystyle \lim_{x \to 2}\frac{1−\frac{2}{x}}{x^2−4}\)
\(x\) | \(\frac{1−\frac{2}{x}}{x^2−4}\) | \(x\) | \(\frac{1−\frac{2}{x}}{x^2−4}\) |
---|---|---|---|
1.9 | a. | 2.1 | e. |
1.99 | b. | 2.01 | f. |
1.999 | c. | 2.001 | g. |
1.9999 | d. | 2.0001 | h. |
- Answer:
- a. 0.13495277; b. 0.12594300; c. 0.12509381; d. 0.12500938; e. 0.11614402; f. 0.12406794; g. 0.12490631; h. 0.12499063;
\( \displaystyle ∴\lim_{x \to 2}\frac{1−\frac{2}{x}}{x^2−4}=0.1250=\frac{1}{8}\)
In exercises 13 - 17, use the following graph of the function \(y=f(x)\) to find the values, if possible. Estimate when necessary.
13) \(\displaystyle \lim_{x→1^−}f(x)\)
14) \(\displaystyle \lim_{x→1^+}f(x)\)
- Answer:
- \(2\)
15) \(\displaystyle \lim_{x→1}f(x)\)
16) \(\displaystyle \lim_{x→2}f(x)\)
- Answer:
- \(1\)
17) \(f(1)\)
In exercises 18 - 21, use the graph of the function \(y=f(x)\) shown here to find the values, if possible. Estimate when necessary.
18) \(\displaystyle \lim_{x→0^−}f(x)\)
- Answer:
- \(1\)
19) \(\displaystyle \lim_{x→0^+}f(x)\)
20) \(\displaystyle \lim_{x→0}f(x)\)
- Answer:
- DNE
21) \(\displaystyle \lim_{x→2}f(x)\)
In exercises 22 - 27, use the graph of the function \(y=f(x)\) shown here to find the values, if possible. Estimate when necessary.
22) \(\displaystyle \lim_{x→−2^−}f(x)\)
- Answer:
- \(0\)
23) \(\displaystyle \lim_{x→−2^+}f(x)\)
24) \(\displaystyle \lim_{x→−2}f(x)\)
- Answer:
- DNE
25) \(\displaystyle \lim_{x→2^−}f(x)\)
26) \(\displaystyle \lim_{x→2^+}f(x)\)
- Answer:
- \(2\)
27) \(\displaystyle \lim_{x→2}f(x)\)
In exercises 28 - 30, use the graph of the function \(y=g(x)\) shown here to find the values, if possible. Estimate when necessary.
28) \(\displaystyle \lim_{x→0^−}g(x)\)
- Answer:
- \(3\)
29) \(\displaystyle \lim_{x→0^+}g(x)\)
30) \(\displaystyle \lim_{x→0}g(x)\)
- Answer:
- DNE
In exercises 31 - 33, use the graph of the function \(y=h(x)\) shown here to find the values, if possible. Estimate when necessary.
31) \(\displaystyle \lim_{x→0^−}h(x)\)
32) \(\displaystyle \lim_{x→0^+}h(x)\)
- Answer:
- \(0\)
33) \(\displaystyle \lim_{x→0}h(x)\)
In exercises 34 - 38, use the graph of the function \(y=f(x)\) shown here to find the values, if possible. Estimate when necessary.
34) \(\displaystyle \lim_{x→0^−}f(x)\)
- Answer:
- \(-2\)
35) \(\displaystyle \lim_{x→0^+}f(x)\)
36) \(\displaystyle \lim_{x→0}f(x)\)
- Answer:
- DNE
37) \(\displaystyle \lim_{x→1}f(x)\)
38) \(\displaystyle \lim_{x→2}f(x)\)
- Answer:
- \(0\)
39) A track coach uses a camera with a fast shutter to estimate the position of a runner with respect to time. A table of the values of position of the athlete versus time is given here, where \(x\) is the position in meters of the runner and \(t\) is time in seconds. What is \(\displaystyle \lim_{t→2}\;x(t)\)? What does it mean physically?
\(t(sec)\) | \(x(m)\) |
---|---|
1.75 | 4.5 |
1.95 | 6.1 |
1.99 | 6.42 |
2.01 | 6.58 |
2.05 | 6.9 |
2.25 | 8.5 |
40) Shock waves arise in many physical applications, ranging from supernovas to detonation waves. A graph of the density of a shock wave with respect to distance, \(x\), is shown here. We are mainly interested in the location of the front of the shock, labeled \(X_{SF}\) in the diagram.
a. Evaluate \(\displaystyle \lim_{x→X_{SF}^+}ρ(x)\).
b. Evaluate \(\displaystyle \lim_{x→X_{SF}^−}ρ(x)\).
c. Evaluate \(\displaystyle \lim_{x→X_{SF}}ρ(x)\). Explain the physical meanings behind your answers.
- Answer:
- a. \(ρ_2\) b. \(ρ_1\) c. DNE unless \(ρ_1=ρ_2\). As you approach \(X_{SF}\) from the right, you are in the high-density area of the shock. When you approach from the left, you have not experienced the “shock” yet and are at a lower density.
Contributors and Attributions
Gilbert Strang (MIT) and Edwin “Jed” Herman (Harvey Mudd) with many contributing authors. This content by OpenStax is licensed with a CC-BY-SA-NC 4.0 license. Download for free at http://cnx.org.