Using Tables to Determine Limits

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nycmathguy
Homework Statement
Use tables to determine a limit.
Relevant Equations
Linear Equation
:: Tables and Limits

Complete a table for f(x) = x + 3 as x→2 from the right and left.

As x tends to 2 from the left side, the given values for x are: 1.9, 1.99, 1.999.

As x tends to 2 from the right side, the given values for x are: 2.001, 2.01, 2.1.

Let me see if I can do this.

I think this question is just an evaluation exercise. I got to plug all the given x-values to evaluate f(x) as x tends to 2.

Each value of x from the left and right gets closer and closer to 2 but f(x) never reaches 2. By this I mean f(x) gets extremely close to 2 but never becomes 2. Is this not the basic limit idea as taught in first semester calculus?

Moving on. This reply is going to drag. How do you think I feel using my cell phone to type all this work?

Our function f(x) = x + 3 is a line.

As x tends to 2 from the left side, the given values for x are: 1.9, 1.99, 1.999.

f(x) = x + 3

f(1.9) = 1.9 + 3 = 4.9

f(1.99) = 1.99 + 3 = 4.99

f(1.999) = 1.999 + 3 = 4.999

Rounding to the units place, I get 5.
The limit is 5.

Yes?

As x tends to 2 from the right side, the given values for x are: 2.001, 2.01, 2.1.

f(x) = x + 3

f(2.001) = 2.001 + 3 = 5.001

f(2.01) = 2.01 + 3 = 5.01

f(2.1) = 2.1 + 3 = 5.1

Rounding to the units place, I get 5.

I conclude the limit is 5.

All of this tells me that the LHL = RHS = 5.

The limit of f(x) as x-->2 is 5.

You say?

Now to make a table.

For the table as x-->2 from the left side:

x: 1.9... . .1.99...1.999
f(x): 4.9. 4.99. 4.999

For the table as x-->2 from the right side:

x: 2.001...2.01...2.1
f(x): 5.001...5.01...5.1

Trust me, I don't plan to do another "complete a table" problem for a very long time. Is any of this right?
 
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nycmathguy said:
Homework Statement:: Use tables to determine a limit.
Relevant Equations:: Linear Equation

f(2.001) = 2.001 + 3 = 5.001

f(2.01) = 2.01 + 3 = 5.01

f(2.1) = 2.1 + 3 = 5.1

It would be to rearrange inverse order

f(2.1) = 2.1 + 3 = 5.1

f(2.01) = 2.01 + 3 = 5.01

f(2.001) = 2.001 + 3 = 5.001

f(2.0001)= ...
 
anuttarasammyak said:
It would be to rearrange inverse order

f(2.1) = 2.1 + 3 = 5.1

f(2.01) = 2.01 + 3 = 5.01

f(2.001) = 2.001 + 3 = 5.001

f(2.0001)= ...

Thank you for the correction. Everything else is ok. Right?
 
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