Estimating a finite limit from a table of values
Consider the function . We want to understand how behaves as gets close to , even though is not defined at itself.
The table below shows values of for values of approaching from both sides.
Based on the table and the graph, what value does appear to be approaching as ? That is, what is ?
Hint
Look at how the values of change as gets closer to from the left and from the right. You don't need to know the value of (it's actually undefined there) — just track the trend of nearby values.
Step-by-step solution
As approaches from the left (negative values getting closer to ) and from the right (positive values getting closer to ), the table shows getting closer and closer to , with the values shrinking toward from both directions.
The graph confirms this: the curve dips down and appears to pass through the height right around , even though there's no actual point plotted at since is undefined there. Since both the left-hand and right-hand trends agree on the same value, we conclude the two-sided limit exists and equals that common value.
Therefore .
Value of g at zero versus the limit
Is the function actually defined at the point ? Answer yes or no.
Hint
Step-by-step solution
No. The function is undefined at , since that would require dividing by zero. The table and graph only show values for near zero, never at zero itself. Despite this, the limit as approaches zero still exists and equals one, since limits depend only on nearby behavior, not on the value at the point itself.
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