Continuous functions

**marijakopljar** · December 31st 2012, 09:25 AM

JoinedAug 2012FromMariborPosts19Re: Limit Problem

Dear All!
Please, could anyone help me with this:
Find number a is element of R so that the function f(x)=a; x<=0
( x^1/2-1)/(x^1/3-1); x>0

is continuous in R?

R: a=3/2

p.s. how to get latex here? I tried to write by tags, but it just showed the source, what I wrote, and not the nice latex text!

**emakarov** · December 31st 2012, 09:45 AM

Find the limit $a=\lim_{x\to0}\frac{\sqrt{x}-1}{\sqrt[3]{x}-1}$ .

Click "Reply With Quote" to see the LaTeX code and tags.

**HallsofIvy** · December 31st 2012, 10:20 AM

I am confused by the problem. Whatever, a is, this function will NOT be continuous at x= 1 because f(1) is not defined.

**emakarov** · December 31st 2012, 10:34 AM

Judging by the supposed answer a = 3/2, maybe f should be given by

$f(x)=\begin{cases}a&x\le1\\(\sqrt{x}-1)/(\sqrt[3]{x}-1)&x>1\end{cases}$

and not

$f(x)=\begin{cases}a&x\le0\\(\sqrt{x}-1)/(\sqrt[3]{x}-1)&x>0\end{cases}$

because $\lim_{x\to1}\frac{\sqrt{x}-1}{\sqrt[3]{x}-1}=\frac{3}{2}$ .

**marijakopljar** · December 31st 2012, 08:56 PM

Hello!
Please, why is lim (x to 1) from the same function 3/2?

If we have 0^(1/2)=0
0^(1/3)=0 so we should have: -1/-1=1, ok,

but if we have lim(x to 1) then we should have:
1^(1/3) =1
1^(1/2)=1, isnt't it?
so how do we get 3/2 from this?
p.s. stil unclear how I can write in latex my questions, not only to quote what others wrote-also this unclear, do I have problem s with my pc?

Happy New Year and many thanks!

**Plato** · January 1st 2013, 03:55 AM

Originally Posted by marijakopljar

Please, why is lim (x to 1) from the same function 3/2?
If we have 0^(1/2)=0

p.s. stil unclear how I can write in latex my questions, not only to quote what others wrote-also this unclear, do I have problem s with my pc?

Do you understand this equality:
$\frac{{\sqrt x - 1}}{{\sqrt[3]{x} - 1}} = \frac{{\sqrt[3]{{x^2 }} + \sqrt[3]{x} + 1}}{{\sqrt x + 1}}~?$

As for LaTex here is the code for the above.

[tex] \frac{{\sqrt x - 1}}{{\sqrt[3]{x} - 1}} = \frac{{\sqrt[3]{{x^2 }} + \sqrt[3]{x} + 1}}{{\sqrt x + 1}}~?[/tex] Click on the “go advanced” tab. On the toolbar you will see $\boxed{\Sigma}$ clicking on that give the LaTeX wraps, [tex] [/tex]. The code goes between them.

It definitely not your PC. You just have to learn the coding.

Also if you would not use the fonts and color, it makes your posts easier to read.

**marijakopljar** · January 1st 2013, 05:38 AM

Thank You, Plato!

I dont understand this equation.
How do we get it?

**marijakopljar** · January 1st 2013, 05:50 AM

$\frac{\sqrt{x}-1}{\sqrt[3]{x}-1}$

**Plato** · January 1st 2013, 06:08 AM

Originally Posted by marijakopljar

Thank You, Plato!

I dont understand this equation.
How do we get it?

$\left(\frac{{\sqrt x - 1}}{{\sqrt[3]{x} - 1}}\right)\frac{{\left( {\sqrt x + 1} \right)\left( {\sqrt[3]{{x^2 }} + \sqrt[3]{x} + 1} \right)}}{{\left( {\sqrt[3]{{x^2 }} + \sqrt[3]{x} + 1} \right)\left( {\sqrt x + 1} \right)}}$

**marijakopljar** · January 1st 2013, 08:25 AM

...

**marijakopljar** · January 1st 2013, 08:28 AM

I must appologise...completely new here..still unclear...except that we multiply with 1...how do we get the expression:

$\sqrt[3]{x^2}+\sqrt[3]{x}+1$ ???

**Plato** · January 1st 2013, 08:46 AM

Originally Posted by marijakopljar

I must appologise...completely new here..still unclear...except that we multiply with 1...how do we get the expression:

$\sqrt[3]{x^2}+\sqrt[3]{x}+1$ ???

Do you understand that $(a^3-b^3)=(a-b)(a^2+ab+b^2)~?$

If not, then you need to review basic algebra.

Other wise, if you do then apply it to this problem:
$(x-1)=(\sqrt[3]{x}-1)(\sqrt[3]{x^2}+\sqrt[3]{x}+1)$

**marijakopljar** · January 10th 2013, 07:05 AM

Hello, Plato!
Is $(x^{\frac{1}{3}})^2$ not $(x^{\frac{1}{3}})(x^{\frac{1}{3}})=x^{\frac{1}{9}}$ ???
Thank You!

**Plato** · January 10th 2013, 07:14 AM

Originally Posted by marijakopljar

Hello, Plato!
Is $(x^{\frac{1}{3}})^2$ not $(x^{\frac{1}{3}})(x^{\frac{1}{3}})=x^{\frac{1}{9}}$ ???
Thank You!

NO indeed.

$(x^{\frac{1}{3}})(x^{\frac{1}{3}})=x^{\frac{2}{3}}$

We add exponents.

**marijakopljar** · January 10th 2013, 07:19 AM

Many thanks, clear now!
What if the result 3/2 is wrong?
What would be a then?
p.s. how to find:

$\lim_{x\to\0}\frac{\sqrt{x}-1}{\sqrt[3]{x}-1}$

Would it not be 1???Thank You, Plato!

Thread: Continuous functions

LinkBack

Thread Tools

Display

Continuous functions

Re: Continuous functions

Re: Continuous functions

Re: Continuous functions

Re: Continuous functions

Re: Continuous functions

Re: Continuous functions

Re: Continuous functions

Re: Continuous functions

Re: Continuous functions

Re: Continuous functions

Re: Continuous functions

Re: Continuous functions

Re: Continuous functions

Re: Continuous functions

Similar Math Help Forum Discussions

Brief limit questions.

Limit Questions

New Limit questions

Limit Law Questions

limit questions

Search Tags