Math Problem Statement

find this

Find the limit: lim (x -> 0.5^-) (2x - 1) / (2x^3 - x^2).

Solution

We are tasked with finding the following limit from the image you provided:

limx0.52x12x3x2\lim_{{x \to 0.5^-}} \frac{{2x - 1}}{{2x^3 - x^2}}

Step-by-step Solution:

  1. Substitute x=0.5x = 0.5 directly into the expression to check if it results in an indeterminate form:

    Numerator: 2(0.5)1=11=0\text{Numerator: } 2(0.5) - 1 = 1 - 1 = 0 Denominator: 2(0.5)3(0.5)2=2(0.125)0.25=0.250.25=0\text{Denominator: } 2(0.5)^3 - (0.5)^2 = 2(0.125) - 0.25 = 0.25 - 0.25 = 0

    Since both the numerator and denominator result in 0, we have an indeterminate form 00\frac{0}{0}. Thus, we need to simplify the expression further by factoring or using another method.

  2. Factor the expression:

    Let's try to factor the denominator 2x3x22x^3 - x^2. First, we can factor out x2x^2:

    2x3x2=x2(2x1)2x^3 - x^2 = x^2(2x - 1)

  3. Rewrite the original limit expression:

    Now we rewrite the limit with the factored denominator:

    limx0.52x1x2(2x1)\lim_{{x \to 0.5^-}} \frac{{2x - 1}}{{x^2(2x - 1)}}

  4. Cancel out common factors:

    Notice that 2x12x - 1 is common in both the numerator and the denominator, so we can cancel it out:

    limx0.51x2\lim_{{x \to 0.5^-}} \frac{1}{x^2}

  5. Evaluate the simplified limit:

    Now, evaluate limx0.51x2\lim_{{x \to 0.5^-}} \frac{1}{x^2}:

    1(0.5)2=10.25=4\frac{1}{(0.5)^2} = \frac{1}{0.25} = 4

Thus, the value of the limit is:

4\boxed{4}

Would you like more details or explanations on any part of this solution?


Here are 5 related questions to expand your understanding:

  1. How would you approach the limit if x0.5+x \to 0.5^+ (from the right)?
  2. What are common techniques to deal with indeterminate forms in limits?
  3. How would you find the limit if the denominator did not factor as easily?
  4. Can you apply L'Hôpital's Rule to this problem instead of factoring?
  5. What is the significance of factoring in simplifying limits?

Tip: When you encounter an indeterminate form 00\frac{0}{0}, it's a sign to apply techniques like factoring, L'Hôpital's Rule, or algebraic simplification to resolve the limit.

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Limits
Factoring
Indeterminate Forms
Simplifying Rational Functions

Formulas

Factoring: 2x^3 - x^2 = x^2(2x - 1)
Limit of Rational Functions
Indeterminate Form (0/0)

Theorems

L'Hôpital's Rule
Factoring for Simplifying Limits

Suitable Grade Level

Undergraduate - First Year Calculus