12x−36

#1) Guess, if it exists, the value of lim using the following charts.
x→3 x2 −9
Use 5 decimals in the charts.

x 3.5 3.1 3.01 3.001 3.0001

12x − 36
x2 − 9

x 2.5 2.9 2.99 2.999 2.9999

12x − 36
x2 − 9

Here’s a graph of this function:

 |6−5x+x2 | |6−5x+x2 |
#2) Guess, if they exist, the values of a) lim+ , b) lim− and
x→2 x−2 x→2 x−2
|6−5x+x2 |
c) lim using the following charts
x→2 x−2

Use a maximum of 4 decimals in the charts

Remember that the symbol | | refers to the absolute value

x 2.5 2.1 2.01 2.001 2.0001

|6 − 5x + x 2 |
x−2

x 1.5 1.9 1.99 1.999 1.9999

|6 − 5x + x 2 |
x−2

Here’s a graph of this function:

|6−5x+x2 |
d) Name two reasons why you can’t just compute f(2) to find lim
x→2 x−2
#3) Guess, if they exist, the values of a) lim+ f(x), b) lim− f(x) and c) lim f(x) using
x→2 x→2 x→2
the following charts given that f(x) is a piecewise function defined by:

x+1 if x < 2
f(x) ={ 4 if x = 2
5−x if x > 2
Use a maximum of 4 decimals in the charts.

x 2.5 2.1 2.01 2.001 2.0001

f(x)

x 1.5 1.9 1.99 1.999 1.9999

f(x)

Here’s a graph of this piecewise function:

d) What is the value of f(2) ?

e) Does your answer in #3c contradict your answer in #3d ? Explain why or why not
Answers
#1)

x 3.5 3.1 3.01 3.001 3.0001

12x − 36 1.84615 1.96721 1.99667 1.99967 1.99997
x2 − 9

x 2.5 2.9 2.99 2.999 2.9999

12x − 36 2.18182 2.03390 2.00334 2.00033 2.0003
x2 − 9

12x−36
From the first row we guess that lim+ =𝟐
x→3 x2 −9
12x−36
From the second row we guess that lim− =𝟐
x→3 x2 −9
12x−36
Since the left and right limits are the same, we conclude that lim =𝟐
x→3 x2 −9
This can also be seen by looking at the graph of this function!

#2)

x 2.5 2.1 2.01 2.001 2.0001

|6 − 5x + x 2 | .5 .9 .99 .999 .9999
x−2

x 1.5 1.9 1.99 1.999 1.9999

|6 − 5x + x 2 | -1.5 -1.1 -1.01 -1.001 -1.0001
x−2

|6−5x+x2 |
a) From the first row we guess that lim+ =1
x→2 x−2
|6−5x+x2 |
b) From the second row we guess that lim− = -1
x→2 x−2
|6−5x+x2 | |6−5x+x2 |
c) Since lim− = -1 ≠ 1 = lim+ , the left and right limits are NOT the
x→2 x−2 x→2 x−2
|6−5x+x2 |
same, therefore lim does not exist
x→2 x−2
This can also be seen by looking at the graph of this function!

|6−5∙2+22 | 0
d) First: f(2) is not defined since = is not defined
2−2 0
Second: the value, if any, of f(2) is irrelevant in the computation of the limit at 2. In
effect, you can note that in the charts the exact value of 2 never appears.
#3)

x 2.5 2.1 2.01 2.001 2.0001

f(x) 2.5 2.9 2.99 2.999 2.9999

x 1.5 1.9 1.99 1.999 1.9999

f(x) 2.5 2.9 2.99 2.999 2.9999

a) From the first row we guess that lim+ f(x) = 3

x→2
b) From the second row we guess that lim− f(x) = 3
x→2
c) Since the left and right limits are the same, we conclude that lim f(x) = 𝟑
x→2
This can also be seen by looking at the graph of this function!

d) f(2)=4
e) No, there are no contradictions. The value, if any, of f(2) is irrelevant in the
computation of the limit at 2. Therefore, it is possible that f(2) and the limit at 2 are not
the same.