How do you evaluate the limit #(x^2-25)/(x^2-4x-5)# as x approaches 0?

1 Answer
Noah G
Sep 18, 2016

Factor both the numerator and the denominator to see what, if anything you can eliminate.

#=>lim_(x->0)((x + 5)(x- 5))/((x - 5)(x + 1))#

#=>lim_(x->0)(x+ 5)/(x + 1)#

#=>5/1#

#=> 5#

We could have also just substituted the given value into the expression, except it's important to learn how to do the above method when substituting isn't possible.

Hopefully this helps!

Related questions
See all questions in Determining Limits Algebraically
Impact of this question
3047 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License