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Exercise 12.1 · Q2

Q.lim⁡x→π(x−227)\lim_{x\to \pi}\left(x - \dfrac{22}{7}\right)

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✓ Free question

The limit of a polynomial function as xx approaches a constant is simply the polynomial evaluated at that constant. For lim⁡x→π(x−227)\lim_{x\to \pi}\left(x - \frac{22}{7}\right), the value is π−227\pi - \frac{22}{7}.

The core idea here is that polynomials are continuous functions. Continuity means that as xx gets arbitrarily close to a point, the function’s value gets arbitrarily close to the function’s value at that point. So, for any polynomial P(x)P(x), we have:

lim⁡x→aP(x)=P(a)\lim_{x \to a} P(x) = P(a)

This is the “direct substitution” property. It works because polynomials have no breaks, jumps, or holes — they are smooth curves you can trace without lifting your pen.

The expression x−227x - \frac{22}{7} is a linear polynomial (degree 1). Linear polynomials are the simplest continuous functions. So, to find the limit as x→πx \to \pi, we just plug x=πx = \pi into the expression.

Let’s walk through it step by step:

  1. Identify the function type.

    f(x)=x−227f(x) = x - \frac{22}{7} is a polynomial. Specifically, it’s a linear function with slope 1 and y-intercept −227-\frac{22}{7}.

  2. Apply the direct substitution property.

    Since polynomials are continuous everywhere, we can evaluate the limit by substituting x=πx = \pi directly:

lim⁡x→π(x−227)=π−227\lim_{x\to \pi}\left(x - \frac{22}{7}\right) = \pi - \frac{22}{7}

  1. Interpret the result. This is not a simplification to a neat number — it’s an exact expression. π\pi is an irrational number, and 227\frac{22}{7} is a rational approximation of π\pi (it’s about 3.142857…, while π\pi is about 3.14159…). So the limit is a small positive number: π−227≈−0.00126\pi - \frac{22}{7} \approx -0.00126, which is negative. But the exact answer is left in symbolic form.
Watch out

A common mistake is to think 227\frac{22}{7} equals π\pi. It does not — 227\frac{22}{7} is only an approximation. The limit is not zero; it’s the exact difference π−227\pi - \frac{22}{7}, which is a small negative number.

Tip

If you ever see a limit of a polynomial (or any continuous function like sin⁡x\sin x, exe^x, etc.), always try direct substitution first. It’s the fastest and most reliable method — just check that the function is indeed continuous at the point.

✓Final answer

The value is π−227\boxed{\pi - \frac{22}{7}}.

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