Some calculus problems: limits, derivatives, and simplification.

In summary: Now what happens as x approaches infinity of 3/x? What can we call this?What happens as x approaches infinity of 4/x^2? What can we call this?So you see, as x approaches infinity, the whole thing becomes \frac{\sqrt{9+0}}{1+0} = \frac{\sqrt{9}}{1} = 3In summary, the limit of the given function as x approaches infinity is 3.
  • #1
thrive
19
0
I'm going to post the question and the work i have done thus far. I just need to know if I am on the right track with the problems and how I can go about simplifying them to finish them off.

These are from a class homework assignment that will be graded.


lim (sqrt((9x^2)+4))/x+3
x->00

lim (1/2)((9x^2)+4)^(-1/2)(18x) //L'Hopital rule
x->00

from there i got

lim (9x)/(sqrt((9x^2)+4))
x->00

where do i go from here?




lim sqrt(x^2 +6)/4x+7
x->-00

lim ((.5)(x^2 +6)^-1/2 (2x)) / 4
x->-00

where to from here?




lim sinxcosx
x-> (2pi)/3

i got that it equals -.433





for these i need to find the dy/dx

y=(sqrt(6x+3))/((4x-5^3)

i got

y'= (((6x+3)^(-1/2))[(1/2)(4x-5)-12(6x+3)]) / ((4x-5)^4)




y=(sqrt(5x+2))/((3x-1)^5)

i got

y'= (((5x+2)^-.5)[(5/2)(3x-1)-15])/((3x-1)^6)




y= (x^4)cotx

i got

y'= (-x^4)cscx + (4x^3)cotx




y=(3x^2)cscx

i got

y'=(-3x^2)cscxcotx + 6xcscx




some other weird problems:

find f'(3) using the alternate form of a derivative if f(x) is | x-3 |

well...all i know is f'(c)= lim as x -> c is (f(x)-f(c))/x-c

but do i need to break it down into piece-wise stuff to solve this one?



y=sin3x on [0, pi/6]

well...

this is mean value theorem so, i solved for both endpoints and got the dy/dx of the function and set it equal to the slope of the secant line...im suck on the step where i set it equal...so i have:

(3(sqrt(3)))= cos(2x)

i believe i need to use cos double angle theorem or something but I'm not sure how that would work.





any help on these would be GREATLY appreciated, this homework is not due until friday so I'm not last minuting it or anything...been working on a giant packet of this stuff for 3 weeks UGH...its all fun though :D
 
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  • #2
ok i don't want to make any mistakes in interpreting your problem, so first one

[tex]\lim_{x \rightarrow \infty}\frac{\sqrt{9x^2 +4}}{x+3}[/tex]

correct?

1. Rather than using L'Hopital's rule, can you simplify this algebraically?
 
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  • #3
rocophysics said:
ok i don't want to make any mistakes in interpreting your problem, so first one

[tex]\lim_{x \rightarrow \infty}\frac{\sqrt{9x^2 +4}}{x+3}[/tex]

correct?

1. Rather than using L'Hopital's rule, can you simplify this algebraically?

is that is the correct problem...i have no clue how to simplify it algebraically...
 
  • #4
The trick is to divide both the numerator and the denominator by a power of x
Watch this

[tex]\lim_{x\to\infty} \frac{\sqrt{9x^2+4} / x}{(x+3)/x}[/tex]

[tex]\lim_{x\to\infty} \frac{\sqrt{9+\frac{4}{x^2}}}{1+\frac{3}{x}}[/tex]

now can you see what to do?
 
  • #5
Or expand the numerator with Binomial series n=1/2

[tex]\sqrt{9x^2 +4} = 3x + O(x^{1/2})[/tex].
 
  • #6
can i just do something like this
sqrt(9x^2 + 4) -> 3x+2
 
  • #7
edit: i got 3 as the answer
 
  • #8
thrive said:
can i just do something like this
sqrt(9x^2 + 4) -> 3x+2
So you're saying if you take the square root of

[tex]\sqrt{9x^2 +4}[/tex]

You can get

[tex]3x+2[/tex]

Exactly how is that allowed? If it didn't have +4, you could.
 
  • #10
i don't understand how that works. how can he just change stuff inside the radical
 
  • #11
Well first we know that, when we manipulate a problem, we have to do it in a sense that it remains the same problem: multiplication of 1, addition of 0 ... etc.

Example:

[tex]\sqrt{x}[/tex]

Now I'm going to manipulate it by multiplying & dividing by x/x

[tex]\sqrt{x}\times\frac{x}{x}=\sqrt{x}\times\frac{\sqrt{x^2}}{\sqrt{x^2}}[/tex]

Notice: [tex]x=\sqrt{x^2}=x^{2\times\frac{1}{2}}=x[/tex]

Now it has the same exponent of 1/2, I can combine the 2 and write it under one radical

1) [tex]\sqrt{a}\times\sqrt{b}=a^{\frac{1}{2}}\times b^{\frac{1}{2}}=(ab)^{\frac{1}{2}}[/tex]

2) [tex]\frac{\sqrt{a}}{\sqrt{b}}=\frac{a^{\frac{1}{2}}}{b^{\frac{1}{2}}}=(\frac{a}b})^{\frac{1}{2}}[/tex]

So ...

[tex]\sqrt{x}\times\frac{\sqrt{x^2}}{\sqrt{x^2}} \rightarrow \frac{\sqrt{x^3}}{\sqrt{x^2}}[/tex]

No getting my original problem back

[tex]\frac{\sqrt{x^3}}{\sqrt{x^2}} \rightarrow \sqrt{\frac{x^3}{x^2}} \rightarrow \sqrt{x^{3-2}}=\sqrt{x}[/tex]
 
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  • #12
chickendude said:
The trick is to divide both the numerator and the denominator by a power of x
Watch this

[tex]\lim_{x\to\infty} \frac{\sqrt{9x^2+4} / x}{(x+3)/x}[/tex]

[tex]\lim_{x\to\infty} \frac{\sqrt{9+\frac{4}{x^2}}}{1+\frac{3}{x}}[/tex]

now can you see what to do?

Chicken used a clever form of one...

What happens as x approaches infinity of 1/x? What can we call this?
 

FAQ: Some calculus problems: limits, derivatives, and simplification.

What is a limit?

A limit is the value that a function approaches as the input approaches a certain value or as the function approaches a certain point.

How do you find the limit of a function?

To find the limit of a function, you can use algebraic techniques, such as direct substitution or factoring, or you can use graphical methods, such as looking at the behavior of the function near the point of interest.

What is a derivative?

A derivative is a measure of how much a function changes at a given point. It can also be thought of as the slope of the tangent line to the function at that point.

How do you find the derivative of a function?

To find the derivative of a function, you can use the power rule, product rule, quotient rule, or chain rule. You can also use tables of derivatives and known derivative functions to find the derivative of a more complex function.

What is simplification in calculus?

Simplification in calculus involves manipulating algebraic expressions and equations to make them easier to solve or understand. It often involves factoring, cancelling out common terms, or using properties of logarithms and exponents.

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