Math Problem Statement

lim (x -> 2) (x^2 - 4x + 4) / (x - 2)

Solution

The given limit problem is:

limx2x24x+4x2.\lim_{{x \to 2}} \frac{{x^2 - 4x + 4}}{{x - 2}}.

Step-by-step Solution:

  1. Simplify the expression:
    First, factor the numerator: x24x+4=(x2)(x2)=(x2)2.x^2 - 4x + 4 = (x - 2)(x - 2) = (x - 2)^2. Thus, the expression becomes: (x2)2x2.\frac{{(x - 2)^2}}{{x - 2}}.

  2. Cancel the common term:
    Since x2x - 2 appears in both the numerator and denominator, we can cancel out one of the x2x - 2 terms (as long as x2x \neq 2): (x2)2x2=x2.\frac{{(x - 2)^2}}{{x - 2}} = x - 2.

  3. Substitute the limit:
    Now, take the limit as x2x \to 2: limx2(x2)=22=0.\lim_{{x \to 2}} (x - 2) = 2 - 2 = 0.

Final Answer:

limx2x24x+4x2=0.\lim_{{x \to 2}} \frac{{x^2 - 4x + 4}}{{x - 2}} = 0.

Would you like more details on this solution or any other clarifications?

Related Questions:

  1. What happens when we try direct substitution in the original limit problem?
  2. Can L'Hopital's Rule be applied to this limit, and how would it work?
  3. How does factoring help simplify rational expressions?
  4. What are some common indeterminate forms in limits?
  5. How can we apply limits to real-world problems?

Tip:

Always check for indeterminate forms (like 00\frac{0}{0}) before deciding how to simplify a limit expression.

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Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Limits
Algebraic Simplification
Factoring

Formulas

Factorization of quadratic expressions
Limit evaluation

Theorems

Factoring theorem
Limit properties
Indeterminate form handling

Suitable Grade Level

Grades 10-12