Q.
The limit of a polynomial function as approaches a constant is simply the polynomial evaluated at that constant. For , the value is .
The core idea here is that polynomials are continuous functions. Continuity means that as 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 , we have:
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 is a linear polynomial (degree 1). Linear polynomials are the simplest continuous functions. So, to find the limit as , we just plug into the expression.
Let’s walk through it step by step:
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Identify the function type.
is a polynomial. Specifically, it’s a linear function with slope 1 and y-intercept .
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Apply the direct substitution property.
Since polynomials are continuous everywhere, we can evaluate the limit by substituting directly:
- Interpret the result. This is not a simplification to a neat number — it’s an exact expression. is an irrational number, and is a rational approximation of (it’s about 3.142857…, while is about 3.14159…). So the limit is a small positive number: , which is negative. But the exact answer is left in symbolic form.
A common mistake is to think equals . It does not — is only an approximation. The limit is not zero; it’s the exact difference , which is a small negative number.
If you ever see a limit of a polynomial (or any continuous function like , , 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.
The value is .
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