How do you find the limit lim_(x->-4)((1/4)+(1/x))/(4+x) ?

1 Answer
Aug 18, 2014

This is a type of problem where the function inside the limit just needs to be simplified until the answer is apparent.

We will simplify the numerator by multiplying the first term by x/x, and the second term by 4/4:

= lim_(x->-4) ((x/(4x)) + (4/(4x)))/(x+4)

Now, we can combine the terms:

= lim_(x->-4) ((x+4)/(4x))/(x+4)

Simplifying gives us:

= lim_(x->-4) (x+4)/(4x(x+4))

The x+4 term will cancel, leaving us with:

= lim_(x->-4) 1/(4x)

The solution is now easily found by substituting x = -4:

= 1/(4*(-4)) = -1/16