lim_(x rarr 4) (3 - sqrt(5 + x))/(1- sqrt(5 - x)) = ?

2 Answers
Mar 8, 2018

The limit is -1/3

Explanation:

It is similar to both

lim_(xrarr4)(3-sqrt(5+x))/(x-4) and to lim_(xrarr4)(x-4)/(1-sqrt(5-x))

but both in one expression.

So multiply (3-sqrt(5+x))/(1-sqrt(5-x)) by

((3+sqrt(5+x)))/((3+sqrt(5+x))) * ((1+sqrt(5-x)))/((1+sqrt(5-x))) to get:

lim_(xrarr4)((9-(5+x))(1+sqrt(5-x)))/((3+sqrt(5+x))(1-(5-x))

= lim_(xrarr4)((4-x)(1+sqrt(5-x)))/((3+sqrt(5+x))(-(4-x))

= lim_(xrarr4)(-(1+sqrt(5-x)))/(3+sqrt(5+x))

= (-(1+sqrt1))/(3+sqrt9) = -2/6 = -1/3

Mar 8, 2018

The limit should approach -1/3, I screwed up the original answer.

Explanation:

lim_(x rarr 4) (3-sqrt(5+x))/(1-sqrt(5-x))

first multiply the top and bottom by the conjugate of the numerator and the conjugate of the denominator

(3-sqrt(5+x))/(1-sqrt(5-x))*

(3+sqrt(5+x))/(3+sqrt(5+x))*(1+sqrt(5-x))/(1+sqrt(5-x))

= (4-x)/(-(4-x))*(1+sqrt(5-x))/(3+sqrt(5+x))

=-(1+sqrt(5-x))/(3+sqrt(5+x))

plug in the limit value to get your answer:

=-(1+sqrt(5-4))/(3+sqrt(5+4))
=-(1+1)/(3+3) = -2/6 = -1/3

Tony B