CALCULUS Limits (III)

x3 + 1
1. Compute the following limit: lim
x→−1 x2 − 1

x3 − 8
2. Compute the following limit: lim
x→2 x2 − 4

x3 − 64
3. Compute the following limit: lim
x→4 x2 − 16

x3 + 64
4. Compute the following limit: lim
x→−4 x2 − 16

x3 + 27
5. Compute the following limit: lim
x→−3 x2 − 9

x3 − 1
6. Compute the following limit: lim
x→1 x2 − 1

x3 + 8
7. Compute the following limit: lim
x→−2 x2 − 4

x3 + 125
8. Compute the following limit: lim
x→−5 x2 − 25

x3 − 27
9. Compute the following limit: lim
x→3 x2 − 9

x3 − 125
10. Compute the following limit: lim
x→5 x2 − 25

2 10. 2 9. 2 8. 7. −3 2 6. 2 5. 4. −6 3. 6 2. 3 2 1. Answers:
15 9 −15 3 −9 −3

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CALCULUS Limits (III)
Solutions:

x3 + 1
1. lim I Use: (a + b)3 = (a + b)(a2 − ab + b2 ) or (a − b)3 = (a − b)(a2 + ab + b2 )
x→−1 x2 − 1

(x + 1)(x2 − x + 1)
= lim I Simplify the common factor:
x→−1 (x + 1)(x − 1)
x2 − x + 1
= lim I Use substitution to compute the limit:
x→−1 x−1
1 − 1(−1) + 1
= I Simplify:
−1 − 1
−3
=
2

x3 − 8
2. lim I Use: (a + b)3 = (a + b)(a2 − ab + b2 ) or (a − b)3 = (a − b)(a2 + ab + b2 )
x→2 x2 − 4

(x − 2)(x2 + 2x + 4)
= lim I Simplify the common factor:
x→2 (x − 2)(x + 2)
x2 + 2x + 4
= lim I Use substitution to compute the limit:
x→2 x+2
4 + 2(2) + 4
= I Simplify:
2+2
=3

x3 − 64
3. lim I Use: (a + b)3 = (a + b)(a2 − ab + b2 ) or (a − b)3 = (a − b)(a2 + ab + b2 )
x→4 x2 − 16

(x − 4)(x2 + 4x + 16)
= lim I Simplify the common factor:
x→4 (x − 4)(x + 4)
x2 + 4x + 16
= lim I Use substitution to compute the limit:
x→4 x+4
16 + 4(4) + 16
= I Simplify:
4+4
=6

x3 + 64
4. lim I Use: (a + b)3 = (a + b)(a2 − ab + b2 ) or (a − b)3 = (a − b)(a2 + ab + b2 )
x→−4 x2 − 16

(x + 4)(x2 − 4x + 16)
= lim I Simplify the common factor:
x→−4 (x + 4)(x − 4)
x2 − 4x + 16
= lim I Use substitution to compute the limit:
x→−4 x−4
16 − 4(−4) + 16
= I Simplify:
−4 − 4
= −6

x3 + 27
5. lim I Use: (a + b)3 = (a + b)(a2 − ab + b2 ) or (a − b)3 = (a − b)(a2 + ab + b2 )
x→−3 x2 − 9

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CALCULUS Limits (III)
2
(x + 3)(x − 3x + 9)
= lim I Simplify the common factor:
x→−3 (x + 3)(x − 3)
x2 − 3x + 9
= lim I Use substitution to compute the limit:
x→−3 x−3
9 − 3(−3) + 9
= I Simplify:
−3 − 3
−9
=
2

x3 − 1
6. lim I Use: (a + b)3 = (a + b)(a2 − ab + b2 ) or (a − b)3 = (a − b)(a2 + ab + b2 )
x→1 x2 − 1

(x − 1)(x2 + x + 1)
= lim I Simplify the common factor:
x→1 (x − 1)(x + 1)
x2 + x + 1
= lim I Use substitution to compute the limit:
x→1 x+1
1 + 1(1) + 1
= I Simplify:
1+1
3
=
2

x3 + 8
7. lim I Use: (a + b)3 = (a + b)(a2 − ab + b2 ) or (a − b)3 = (a − b)(a2 + ab + b2 )
x→−2 x2 − 4

(x + 2)(x2 − 2x + 4)
= lim I Simplify the common factor:
x→−2 (x + 2)(x − 2)
x2 − 2x + 4
= lim I Use substitution to compute the limit:
x→−2 x−2
4 − 2(−2) + 4
= I Simplify:
−2 − 2
= −3

x3 + 125
8. lim I Use: (a + b)3 = (a + b)(a2 − ab + b2 ) or (a − b)3 = (a − b)(a2 + ab + b2 )
x→−5 x2 − 25

(x + 5)(x2 − 5x + 25)
= lim I Simplify the common factor:
x→−5 (x + 5)(x − 5)
x2 − 5x + 25
= lim I Use substitution to compute the limit:
x→−5 x−5
25 − 5(−5) + 25
= I Simplify:
−5 − 5
−15
=
2

x3 − 27
9. lim I Use: (a + b)3 = (a + b)(a2 − ab + b2 ) or (a − b)3 = (a − b)(a2 + ab + b2 )
x→3 x2 − 9

(x − 3)(x2 + 3x + 9)
= lim I Simplify the common factor:
x→3 (x − 3)(x + 3)
x2 + 3x + 9
= lim I Use substitution to compute the limit:
x→3 x+3

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CALCULUS Limits (III)
9 + 3(3) + 9
= I Simplify:
3+3
9
=
2

x3 − 125
10. lim I Use: (a + b)3 = (a + b)(a2 − ab + b2 ) or (a − b)3 = (a − b)(a2 + ab + b2 )
x→5 x2 − 25

(x − 5)(x2 + 5x + 25)
= lim I Simplify the common factor:
x→5 (x − 5)(x + 5)
x2 + 5x + 25
= lim I Use substitution to compute the limit:
x→5 x+5
25 + 5(5) + 25
= I Simplify:
5+5
15
=
2

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