Chapter 3: Applications of Differentiation
Section 3.9: Indeterminate Forms and L'Hôpital's Rule
Example 3.9.3
Evaluate limx→1x2−1x−1, then detail an applicable strategy taken from Table 3.9.1.
Solution
Evaluation of the Limit
Control-drag limx→1… Context Panel: Evaluate and Display Inline
limx→1x2−1x−1 = 2
Annotated Stepwise Solution
The Context Panel provides access to the options All Solutions, Next Step, and Limit Rules, as per the figure to the right.
While the Context Panel lists both a "difference" and a "sum" rule, Maple treats a difference as if it were a sum, thereby making no essential distinction between the two rules. Thus, where Table 1.3.1 distinguishes between a Sum and a Difference rule, Maple considers both to be the single Sum rule.
In addition, the Student Calculus1 package contains a ShowSolution command that can be applied to the inert form of the limit operator. The limit operator can be converted to the inert form through the Context Panel by selecting the options 2-D Math≻Convert To≻Inert Form.
Annotated stepwise solution via the Context Panel
Tools≻Load Package: Student Calculus 1
Loading Student:-Calculus1
Control-drag limx→1…
Context Panel: Student Calculus1≻All Solution Steps
limx→1x2−1x−1→show solution stepsLimit Stepslimx→1x2−1x−1▫1. Factor◦Factor a polynomial or rational functionx2−1x−1=x+1This gives:limx→1x+1▫2. Apply the sum rule◦Recall the definition of the sum rulelimx→afx+gx=limx→afx+limx→agxfx=xgx=1This gives:limx→1x+limx→11▫3. Apply the constant rule to the term limx→11◦Recall the definition of the constant ruleLimitC,x=C◦This meanslimx→11=1We can now rewrite the limit as:limx→1x+1▫4. Apply the identity rule◦Recall the definition of the identity rulelimx→ax=aThis gives:2
The algebraic approach in this solution is consistent with the techniques developed in Chapter 1.
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