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  1. AP Calculus
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How to find lim⁡x→af(x)\lim_{x \to a} f(x)limx→a​f(x) given a graph of f(x)f(x)f(x)?

  1. Locate 'a' on the x-axis. 2. Follow the graph as x approaches 'a' from both sides. 3. Identify the y-value that the graph approaches. 4. That y-value is the limit.
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How to find lim⁡x→af(x)\lim_{x \to a} f(x)limx→a​f(x) given a graph of f(x)f(x)f(x)?

  1. Locate 'a' on the x-axis. 2. Follow the graph as x approaches 'a' from both sides. 3. Identify the y-value that the graph approaches. 4. That y-value is the limit.

How to find lim⁡x→af(x)\lim_{x \to a} f(x)limx→a​f(x) given a table of values?

  1. Look at x-values approaching 'a' from both sides. 2. Observe the corresponding y-values. 3. If y-values approach the same number, that's the limit.

How to evaluate lim⁡x→af(x)g(x)\lim_{x \to a} \frac{f(x)}{g(x)}limx→a​g(x)f(x)​ if direct substitution yields 0/0?

  1. Try to factor and simplify the expression. 2. If simplification doesn't work, consider L'Hôpital's Rule. 3. Take the derivative of the numerator and denominator. 4. Evaluate the limit again.

How to evaluate lim⁡x→af(x)g(x)\lim_{x \to a} \frac{f(x)}{g(x)}limx→a​g(x)f(x)​ if f(x)f(x)f(x) contains a radical?

  1. Multiply the numerator and denominator by the conjugate of the expression containing the radical. 2. Simplify the expression. 3. Evaluate the limit.

How to find lim⁡x→∞P(x)Q(x)\lim_{x \to \infty} \frac{P(x)}{Q(x)}limx→∞​Q(x)P(x)​ where P and Q are polynomials?

  1. Divide both numerator and denominator by the highest power of x in the denominator. 2. Evaluate the limit as x approaches infinity. Terms like 1/x approach 0.

How to determine if a limit exists at a point?

  1. Find the limit from the left. 2. Find the limit from the right. 3. If the left-hand limit equals the right-hand limit, the limit exists and is equal to that value.

How to use the Squeeze Theorem to find a limit?

  1. Find two functions, f(x) and h(x), such that f(x) <= g(x) <= h(x). 2. Find the limits of f(x) and h(x) as x approaches a. 3. If both limits are equal to L, then the limit of g(x) as x approaches a is also L.

How to find the limit of a composite function lim⁡x→af(g(x))\lim_{x \to a} f(g(x))limx→a​f(g(x))?

  1. Find lim⁡x→ag(x)=L\lim_{x \to a} g(x) = Llimx→a​g(x)=L. 2. Find lim⁡x→Lf(x)\lim_{x \to L} f(x)limx→L​f(x). 3. If this limit exists, it is the limit of the composite function.

How to deal with piecewise functions when finding limits?

  1. Determine which piece of the function applies as x approaches the target value. 2. Evaluate the limit using that piece of the function. 3. If the target value is the boundary, check both left and right limits.

How to choose between algebraic manipulation and direct substitution?

  1. First, try direct substitution. 2. If direct substitution results in an indeterminate form, then use algebraic manipulation techniques.

What are the differences between direct substitution and algebraic manipulation for finding limits?

Direct Substitution: Plug in the value directly. | Algebraic Manipulation: Simplify the expression before plugging in the value (factoring, conjugates, etc.).

What are the differences between using a graph and a table to find limits?

Graph: Visual representation of the function's behavior. | Table: Numerical representation of the function's values.

What are the differences between L'Hôpital's Rule and the Squeeze Theorem?

L'Hôpital's Rule: Used for indeterminate forms by taking derivatives. | Squeeze Theorem: Used to find limits by bounding a function between two others.

What are the differences between one-sided limits and two-sided limits?

One-sided limits: Approach from either the left or the right. | Two-sided limits: Approach from both sides, and both must agree for the limit to exist.

What are the differences between a limit existing and a function being continuous at a point?

Limit exists: The function approaches a value. | Continuous: The limit exists, the function is defined, and they are equal.

What are the differences between removable and non-removable discontinuities?

Removable: Can be 'fixed' by redefining the function at a single point. | Non-removable: Cannot be fixed (e.g., jump, asymptote).

What are the differences between finding limits at finite values and finding limits at infinity?

Finite values: Focus on the function's behavior near a specific point. | Infinity: Focus on the function's end behavior as x grows without bound.

What are the differences between using limit laws and algebraic manipulation?

Limit Laws: Apply basic properties of limits (sum, product, etc.). | Algebraic Manipulation: Transform the expression to simplify it before applying limit laws.

What are the differences between indeterminate forms 0/0 and ∞/∞?

0/0: Both numerator and denominator approach zero. | ∞/∞: Both numerator and denominator approach infinity.

What are the differences between using conjugates and factoring when simplifying limits?

Conjugates: Used for expressions with radicals. | Factoring: Used for polynomial expressions.

What does the Squeeze Theorem state?

If f(x)≤g(x)≤h(x)f(x) \le g(x) \le h(x)f(x)≤g(x)≤h(x) for all x near a, and lim⁡x→af(x)=lim⁡x→ah(x)=L\lim_{x \to a} f(x) = \lim_{x \to a} h(x) = Llimx→a​f(x)=limx→a​h(x)=L, then lim⁡x→ag(x)=L\lim_{x \to a} g(x) = Llimx→a​g(x)=L.

What does the Intermediate Value Theorem state?

If f is continuous on [a, b], then for any value N between f(a) and f(b), there exists a c in (a, b) such that f(c) = N.

What does the Extreme Value Theorem state?

If f is continuous on a closed interval [a, b], then f has both a maximum and a minimum value on that interval.

What does L'Hôpital's Rule state?

If lim⁡x→cf(x)=0\lim_{x \to c} f(x) = 0limx→c​f(x)=0 and lim⁡x→cg(x)=0\lim_{x \to c} g(x) = 0limx→c​g(x)=0 (or both approach infinity), and if f′(x)f'(x)f′(x) and g′(x)g'(x)g′(x) exist, then lim⁡x→cf(x)g(x)=lim⁡x→cf′(x)g′(x)\lim_{x \to c} \frac{f(x)}{g(x)} = \lim_{x \to c} \frac{f'(x)}{g'(x)}limx→c​g(x)f(x)​=limx→c​g′(x)f′(x)​.

How can the Squeeze Theorem be used to find limits?

If you can bound a function between two other functions that have the same limit, then the function in the middle must also have the same limit.

How is the Intermediate Value Theorem used?

To show that a continuous function takes on a specific value within a given interval.

How is the Extreme Value Theorem used?

To guarantee the existence of maximum and minimum values for a continuous function on a closed interval.

When can L'Hopital's Rule be applied?

When evaluating limits that result in indeterminate forms such as 0/0 or ∞/∞.

What is the Constant Multiple Rule for Limits?

The limit of a constant times a function is the constant times the limit of the function: lim⁡x→c[k⋅f(x)]=k⋅lim⁡x→cf(x)\lim_{x \to c} [k \cdot f(x)] = k \cdot \lim_{x \to c} f(x)limx→c​[k⋅f(x)]=k⋅limx→c​f(x)

What is the Sum/Difference Rule for Limits?

The limit of a sum (or difference) is the sum (or difference) of the limits: lim⁡x→c[f(x)±g(x)]=lim⁡x→cf(x)±lim⁡x→cg(x)\lim_{x \to c} [f(x) \pm g(x)] = \lim_{x \to c} f(x) \pm \lim_{x \to c} g(x)limx→c​[f(x)±g(x)]=limx→c​f(x)±limx→c​g(x)