Friday, February 18, 2011

Evaluating Limits




There are two ways to evaulate limits.






1.) Dividing Out Technique:


Factor the numerator and denominator. Then divide out the common factors. Finally solve by direct subtitution.






Ex.



















2.) Rationalizing Technique:


Multiply by the conjugate of the numerator to rationalize the limit. This allows the fraction to be written in a simpler way so that direct substitution can take place.



Ex.


How to solve limits like a pro:

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

12.1 Continued

Properties of Limits

There are 4 properties:

Lim b = b
x→ c

Lim x = c
x→ c


Lim xn = cn

x
→ c







Ex:
(1st property)
Lim 5 = 5
x
→2


(2nd property)
Lim x = 2
x
→3

(3rd property)
Lim
x2 = 9
x→3

(4th property)

Lim (cubed root x) = 2
x→8

Operations with Limits

Lim f(x) = L
x
→c

and

Lim g(x) = K
x→c

Scalar Multiple:
Lim [bf(x)]= bL
x→c

Sum or difference:
Lim [f(x)
± g(x)] = L ± K

x
→c

Product:
Lim [f(x)g(x0] = LK

x
→c

Quotient:
Lim [f(x)/g(x)] = L/K
x
→c
****with this one K can not be 0

Power:
Lim
[F(x)]n = Ln
x→c



Continuity

Function is continuous if:
Lim f(x) = f(a)
x→a

For extra help with continuity
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlorAjS0xWE&feature=related








Introduction to Limits

Formula for limits:


f(x) becomes closer to L as x moves towards a from the left or right.
The limit of f(x) as x approaches a is L.

Example:

lim_(x->2) (3-x) = 1



 
As x approaches 2, f(x) is 1. The limit is 1.  


The limit does not exist when...

1. f(x) approaches a different number from the right side of c than from the left side of c.
     - You can see below that the limit does not exist at 0 because there is a jump in the graph.












2. When the graph tends to infinity.
    - As x aproaches 3 f(x) aproaches ∞, therefore the limit does not exist.
 

3. If f(x) oscillates between two values as x aproaches c.  

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Binomial Theorem

Binomial= a polygon that has two terms.

Expanding a Binomial:
(x + y)¹ = 1x + 1y
(x + y)² = 1x² + 2xy + 1
(x + y)³ = 1x³ + 3x²y + 3xy² +1
(x + y)⁴ = 1x⁴ + 4x³y + 6x²y² + 4xy³ + 1y⁴

In each expansion there is (n + 1) terms
n= 2 → (2+1) = 3 terms
n= 3 → (3+1) = 4 terms

The power of each term adds up to the power each binomial is added to (n).
For, (x + y) = 1x + 4x³y¹ + 6x²y² + 4x¹y³ + 1y
Powers: (4) (4) (3+1= 4) (2+2=4) (1+3=4) (4)
where n = 4, the sum of powers are 4.


Coefficients of the expansion correspond to the Pascal's Triangle


*During expansion, the x and y have symmetric roles. As the powers of "x" decrease by 1, the powers of "y" increase by 1.
(x + y)⁴ = x(y) + 4x³y¹ + 6x²y² + 4x¹y³ + (x)y


To find the coefficents you can also use the formula:
nCk =


The 2 values next to each others' sum is equal to the number directly below the values. This is the case for all the numbers on Pascal's triangle.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Geometric Sequences and Series

A Geometric Sequence is the ratios of consecutive terms that are the same.


the number r is the common ratios of the sequence.

The difference between an Arithmaic Sequence and Geometric Sequence
Arithmatic Geometric





Geometric





The sequence whose nth term is 2^n is geometric. For this seqence, the common ratio between consecutive terms is 2.

2,4,8,16...2^n...

4/2= 2


The sum of Geometric Sequences


if r is less that absolute value 1 then the equation is s=a1/1-r

Need more help, follow the link









soft



lv

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Arithmetic Sequences and Partial Sums

Definition of an Arithmetic Sequence - a sequence whose consecutive terms have a common difference





The common difference (d) is the difference between two consecutive numbers in the sequence.


Example:


4, 8, 11, 14, 17,...

d=3


You can find the nth term of an Arithmetic Sequence by using the equation...
an = dn + c
where c = a1 -d
The equation can also be written as an = d(n-1) + a1
Example:
2, 6, 10, 14, 18
d=4
c=2
an = 4n - 2
The equation for the Sum of a Finite Arithmetic Sequence...

Sn = (n/2)(a1 + an)

You can use this equation to add up the numbers in a Arithmetic Sequence.

Example:

Sn = 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 + 8 +.....+ 98 + 99 + 100

= (100/2)(1 + 100)
= 50(101)
=5050

You can find a Partial Sum of an Arithmetic Sequence by using the equation for the Sum of a Finite Arithmetic Sequence.

Example:

5, 16, 27, 38, 49,....
Find the 150th term

an = dn + c
a150 = 11(150) - 6
a150 = 1644

S150 = (150/2)(5 + 1644)
S150 = 75(1649)
S150 = 123,675