Evaluating Limits using L'Hospital (2)

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around evaluating the limit of a rational function as x approaches 1, specifically using L'Hôpital's Rule. Participants explore different approaches to finding the limit and share their results.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant initially claims the limit is 0 without showing work.
  • Another participant challenges this claim, stating they applied L'Hôpital's Rule three times to arrive at a different value.
  • A subsequent post indicates a mistake in the derivative calculation of the denominator, suggesting a limit of -1/4.
  • A different participant disagrees with the -1/4 result, indicating they verified their own result using a computer algebra system (CAS).
  • One participant expresses frustration over a calculation error, ultimately arriving at a limit of 1/2 and questions if this is correct.
  • The same participant repeats the expression of frustration and confirms the limit of 1/2, which is acknowledged as correct by another participant.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There is no consensus on the limit value until the final confirmation of 1/2, but earlier claims and calculations remain contested.

Contextual Notes

Participants' calculations depend on their application of L'Hôpital's Rule and the correctness of their derivatives, which are not fully detailed in the discussion.

shamieh
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lim x--> 1
$$
\frac{x^4 - 3x^3 + 3x^2 - x}{x^4 - 2x^3 + 2x - 1}$$I got $$\frac{0}{6} = 0$$
 
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That's incorrect. Since you showed no work, I can't tell you where you went wrong. I will tell you I applied L'Hôpital's Rule 3 times to get the value of the limit.
 
re did the problem, didn;t take the deriv properly in the denom. Did you get $$\frac{-1}{4}$$
 
No, that's no what I got either (and I verified my result using a CAS). If you show your work, I can address where you are going wrong. :D
 
wow I'm a idiot. I put 24 - 12 = 24... -_-... I got $$\frac{1}{2}$$ .. correct?
 
shamieh said:
wow I'm a idiot. I put 24 - 12 = 24... -_-... I got $$\frac{1}{2}$$ .. correct?

Yes, that's correct.
 

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