Q.x→2lim[x−2x−3−2−3]
Concept understanding — Standard Limit of (xⁿ − aⁿ)/(x − a)
This is the single most reused formula in the chapter: for a natural number n and a positive constant a, the limit as x tends to a of (x to the n minus a to the n) divided by (x minus a) equals n times a to the (n minus 1). It is proved by factoring the numerator using the identity for a difference of n-th powers, which always contains (x minus a) as a factor, cancelling that shared factor, and then substituting x equals a into what remains — a sum of n identical terms, each equal to a to the (n minus 1), giving n times a to the (n minus 1) overall. The same formula extends beyond positive whole numbers: for a negative integer exponent it becomes minus m times a to the (minus m minus 1), and for a fractional exponent p over q it becomes (p over q) times a to the (p/q minus 1). This single result is what makes it possible to evaluate, by inspection, any limit that can be massaged into the shape of a power difference divided by a plain linear difference — including limits disguised by a hidden substitution, such as replacing a cube-root expression with a new variable t so that the cube root disappears and a plain power-difference limit remains.
This is (xn−an)/(x−a) with n=−3, a=2.
−163
By the standard theorem limx→ax−axn−an=nan−1, extended to negative integer exponents, with n=−3 and a=2: the limit is −3⋅2−4=−163.
−163
Standard limit of (xn−an)/(x−a) with a negative exponent.
Forgetting the minus sign that comes with a negative n, i.e. writing 3/16 instead of −3/16.
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.x→0limx1+x−1=?(a) 0(b) 21(c) 1(d) None of these
›Reveal solutionSolution
Rationalise the numerator by multiplying by its conjugate to remove the 0/0 indeterminate form, then substitute x=0.
limx→0x1+x−1
Multiply numerator and denominator by 1+x+1:
=limx→0x(1+x+1)(1+x−1)(1+x+1)=limx→0x(1+x+1)(1+x)−1=limx→0x(1+x+1)x
Cancel x (valid as x→0 but x=0):
=limx→01+x+11=1+11=21
✓Final answer(b) 21.
- CBSE 2026Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.lim (x→1) (x³ - 1)/(x - 1) is:(a) 0(b) 2(c) 3(d) Not defined
›Reveal solutionSolution
Factor the numerator using a³−b³ = (a−b)(a²+ab+b²) to cancel the (x−1) that causes the 0/0 form.
limx→1x−1x3−1
Direct substitution gives 00, an indeterminate form, so factor:
x3−1=(x−1)(x2+x+1)
So:
limx→1x−1(x−1)(x2+x+1)=limx→1(x2+x+1)=1+1+1=3
(This also matches the standard result limx→ax−axn−an=nan−1, here 3(1)2=3.)
✓Final answerThe limit equals 3 — option (c).
- CBSE 2025Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.Lim(x→0) (√(1+x) − 1)/x is:(a) 1/2(b) 0(c) ∞(d) Not defined
›Reveal solutionSolution
Multiplying by the conjugate turns the 0/0 form into a limit that can be evaluated directly.
x→0limx1+x−1
Multiply numerator and denominator by 1+x+1:
=limx→0x(1+x+1)(1+x−1)(1+x+1)=limx→0x(1+x+1)(1+x)−1=limx→0x(1+x+1)x
=limx→01+x+11=1+11=21
✓Final answerThe limit equals 21 — option (a).
- CBSE 2024Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.x→21lim2x−14x2−1 is equal to(a) 0(b) 1(c) −2(d) 2
›Reveal solutionSolution
Factor the numerator as a difference of squares and cancel the common factor before substituting.
4x2−1=(2x−1)(2x+1)
2x−14x2−1=2x−1(2x−1)(2x+1)=2x+1 (for x=21)
x→21lim(2x+1)=2(21)+1=1+1=2
✓Final answerOption (d) 2
- CBSE 2023Set ANNUAL1 markMCQQ.x→0limx1+x−1=(a) −1(b) 31(c) 41(d) 21
›Reveal solutionSolution
Rationalizing the numerator turns the 0/0 form into a limit that evaluates directly to 1/2.
Multiply numerator and denominator by the conjugate 1+x+1:
x1+x−1⋅1+x+11+x+1=x(1+x+1)(1+x)−1=x(1+x+1)x=1+x+11
Now taking the limit as x→0 is straightforward:
limx→01+x+11=1+11=21
✓Final answer(d) 21.
- CBSE 2023Set ANNUAL1 markQ.Evaluate : x→0lim{x(x+1)5−1}.
›Reveal solutionSolution
The limit equals 5.
Expand: (x+1)5=1+5x+10x2+10x3+5x4+x5.
Subtracting 1 and dividing by x:
x(x+1)5−1=5+10x+10x2+5x3+x4(xe0).
Taking the limit as x→0, every term with x vanishes, leaving 5.
✓Final answerThe limit is 5.
- CBSE 2022Set TERM11 markMCQQ.x→0limx1+x−1=(a) 0(b) 1(c) 21(d) −21
›Reveal solutionSolution
Multiply by the conjugate of the numerator to clear the square root.
x1+x−1×1+x+11+x+1=x(1+x+1)(1+x)−1=x(1+x+1)x=1+x+11. As x→0: 1+11=21.
✓Final answer(c) 21.
- CBSE 2022Set TERM11 markMCQQ.x→1limx10−1x15−1=(a) 23(b) 32(c) 1(d) −23
›Reveal solutionSolution
Split into two standard limits of the form limx→1x−1xn−1=n.
x10−1x15−1=(x10−1)/(x−1)(x15−1)/(x−1). As x→1, the numerator's ratio →15 and the denominator's ratio →10, giving 1015=23.
✓Final answer(a) 23.
- CBSE 2022Set annual1 markQ.x→alimx−axn−an=nan−2. (True/False)
›Reveal solutionSolution
The standard limit limx→ax−axn−an=nan−1; the exponent in the question is off by one, so the statement is false.
Recall the standard algebraic limit:
limx→ax−axn−an=nan−1
This can be verified using the factorization xn−an=(x−a)(xn−1+xn−2a+⋯+an−1), which has n terms, each tending to an−1 as x→a, giving nan−1.
The question states the limit equals nan−2, which is incorrect — the correct exponent is n−1, not n−2.
✓Final answerFalse. limx→ax−axn−an=nan−1, not nan−2.
- CBSE 2022Set ANNUAL1 markQ.Evaluate x→2limx−2x3−8.
›Reveal solutionSolution
The limit equals 12.
Factor the numerator using a3−b3=(a−b)(a2+ab+b2) with a=x,b=2:
x3−8=(x−2)(x2+2x+4).
So:
x−2x3−8=x2+2x+4(xe2).
Taking the limit as x→2:
22+2(2)+4=4+4+4=12.
✓Final answerThe limit is 12.
- CBSE 2021Set ANNUAL1 markQ.lim (x→0) (√(1+x) − 1)/x is ............. .
›Reveal solutionSolution
Rationalising the numerator turns the 0/0 form into a limit equal to 1/2.
x1+x−1⋅1+x+11+x+1=x(1+x+1)(1+x)−1=x(1+x+1)x=1+x+11
Now taking the limit directly (no more 0/0 form):
limx→01+x+11=1+11=21
✓Final answer21.
- CBSE 2020Set ANNUAL1 markQ.Evaluate x→0limx(x+1)3−1.
›Reveal solutionSolution
The limit evaluates to 3.
Expand the numerator:
(x+1)3−1=x3+3x2+3x+1−1=x3+3x2+3x=x(x2+3x+3).
So
x(x+1)3−1=xx(x2+3x+3)=x2+3x+3(xe0).
Taking the limit as x→0:
limx→0(x2+3x+3)=0+0+3=3.
✓Final answerThe limit is 3.
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