Evaluate the limit by change of variable

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around evaluating a limit using a change of variable in calculus. The original poster presents a limit problem involving the expression lim (x-->4) [(x^1/2)-2] / [(x^1/3)-8] and expresses uncertainty about the correctness of the answer provided in their textbook.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to use a substitution method by letting u = x^1/3 and expresses confusion about how to proceed with the limit after the substitution. Other participants question the necessity of substitution and suggest evaluating the limit directly.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing different perspectives on how to approach the limit. Some guidance has been offered regarding the properties of limits, but there is no explicit consensus on the best method to use. The original poster indicates they will try the suggestions provided.

Contextual Notes

There is a mention of the original poster's upcoming test, which may add pressure to understand the problem. The discussion also highlights a potential misunderstanding of limit properties, as the original poster seeks clarification on their application in this context.

p.ella
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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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Go to the 7min mark
 
Last edited by a moderator:


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)
 
Last edited by a moderator:


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.
 


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 :)
 
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.)
 
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 :)
 

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