Evaluate the limit by change of variable

In summary, the person tried to solve a limit equation but was still confused. They asked for help and the expert provided a summary of the content.
  • #1
p.ella
41
0
Hey everyone :) Got stuckon a calc question and needed some help, my test is coming up :S Please & thankyouu! Here's the question:

Evauate the limit by change of variable:

lim (x-->4) [(x^1/2)-2] / [(x^1/3)-8]

The answer in the back of the book is 1/12. It MAY be wrong though.

Here's my attempt:

let u= x^1/3
u^3= x
as x-->4 u^3--->4 u--->4^1/3

lim (u--->4^1/3) [(u^3/2)-2] / u-8

That's as far as I could get. Any help asap would be much much MUCH appreciated! cheers yall!
 
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  • #2




Go to the 7min mark
 
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  • #3


Mdhiggenz said:


Go to the 7min mark


Tried watching but still a bit confused :S how do you know which exponents to raise the new variabe to? (In the video)
 
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  • #4


Have you learned the properties of limits yet? One of them is that the limit of a fraction is the limit of the numerator over the limit of the denominator. In fact, you could have solved it right from the beginning without doing any substitution.
 
  • #5


Karnage1993 said:
Have you learned the properties of limits yet? One of them is that the limit of a fraction is the limit of the numerator over the limit of the denominator. In fact, you could have solved it right from the beginning without doing any substitution.

Yes I have learned the properties but wasn't sure how to use them in this particular question. Could you maybe show how they work with this problem? Even if it's just the first few steps? Thankyou :) If not I totally understand :)
 
  • #6
Just do exactly what I said. Take the limit of the numerator as ##x \to 4## and the denominator as ##x \to 4##. Remember that whenever you have a limit tending to 0 over something that's not 0, the limit evaluates to 0. (Well, in this case at least.)
 
  • #7
Karnage1993 said:
Just do exactly what I said. Take the limit of the numerator as ##x \to 4## and the denominator as ##x \to 4##. Remember that whenever you have a limit tending to 0 over something that's not 0, the limit evaluates to 0. (Well, in this case at least.)

I shall try and let you know what I get! Thanlyou for the help :)
 

FAQ: Evaluate the limit by change of variable

What is the concept of "change of variable" in evaluating limits?

"Change of variable" in evaluating limits refers to the method of substituting a new variable in place of the original variable in a limit expression. This can often simplify the expression and make it easier to evaluate the limit.

How do I know when to use "change of variable" to evaluate a limit?

This method is typically used when the original limit expression involves a variable raised to a power, or when there are multiple variables present. If the expression can be simplified by substituting a new variable, then "change of variable" can be used to evaluate the limit.

What are the steps for using "change of variable" to evaluate a limit?

The first step is to identify the new variable to substitute in the expression. This variable should be chosen so that it simplifies the expression. Next, the new variable should be substituted in the limit expression, and the limit is evaluated as if it were a single variable limit. Finally, the original variable is substituted back into the expression to obtain the final result.

Can "change of variable" be used to evaluate any type of limit?

No, this method is most effective for evaluating limits involving polynomials or rational functions. It may not be useful for evaluating limits involving trigonometric functions or exponential functions.

Are there any common mistakes to avoid when using "change of variable" to evaluate a limit?

One common mistake is choosing a new variable that does not simplify the expression, resulting in a more complicated limit. Another mistake is forgetting to substitute the original variable back into the expression after evaluating the limit with the new variable. It is important to carefully choose the new variable and to double check the final result to avoid these mistakes.

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