1950 AHSME Problems/Problem 40

Problem

The limit of $\frac {x^2\minus{}1}{x\minus{}1}$ (Error compiling LaTeX. Unknown error_msg) as $x$ approaches $1$ as a limit is:

$\textbf{(A)}\ 0 \qquad \textbf{(B)}\ \text{Indeterminate} \qquad \textbf{(C)}\ x-1 \qquad \textbf{(D)}\ 2 \qquad \textbf{(E)}\ 1$

Solution

Limits do not take the value of the limiting function at the specified value into account, so we are essentially being asked to find the limit of $x+1$ as $x$ approaches $1$. This is simply $\boxed{\textbf{(D)}\ 2}$.

See Also

1950 AHSC (ProblemsAnswer KeyResources)
Preceded by
Problem 39
Followed by
Problem 41
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