Classify the discontinuity at x = 2
Consider the function .
The function is discontinuous at . Determine whether this discontinuity is removable, a jump discontinuity, or an infinite discontinuity. Justify your classification by factoring the numerator and denominator and examining what happens to near .
Hint
Factor both the numerator and denominator completely, then see if a common factor cancels. If a factor cancels, check whether the limit as exists and is finite, even though itself is undefined.
Step-by-step solution
Factor both the numerator and denominator: and . So . Since makes both factors zero, is undefined (0/0 form), but the factor cancels for .
For , , so . This limit exists and is finite, but is undefined, so the second and third conditions of continuity fail while the limit itself exists. This means the graph has a hole at that could be patched by defining .
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