Precalculus: Concepts Through Functions, A Unit Circle Approach to Trigonometry (3rd Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0-32193-104-1
ISBN 13: 978-0-32193-104-7

Chapter 13 - A Preview of Calculus: The Limit, Derivative, and Integral of a Function - Section 13.3 One-sided Limits; Continuous Functions - 13.3 Assess Your Understanding - Page 910: 69

Answer

$f(x)=\dfrac{2x+5}{x^2-4}$ is continuous for all real numbers except for $-2$ and $2$

Work Step by Step

Given: $f(x)=\dfrac{2x+5}{x^2-4}$ Re-write as: $\dfrac{2x+5}{x^2-4}=\dfrac{2x+5}{(x+2)(x-2)}$ When the denominator is $0$, then the fraction $\dfrac{2x+5}{x^2-4}=\dfrac{2x+5}{(x+2)(x-2)}$ is undefined. By the zero product rule, we have: $x+2\ne0$ and $x-2\ne0$. So, $x\ne2$ and $x\ne-2$, The fraction function is continuous everywhere, except from where it is undefined. So, $f(x)=\dfrac{2x+5}{x^2-4}$ is continuous for all real numbers except for $-2$ and $2$.
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