Evaluating problems

Question

Evaluate  .

Options:

1. ∞
2. -∞
3. 0
4. -8

Answer 1

This is the limit as x approaches -8 from the right. Graph y = x/(x+8) on your graphing calculator and slide along the curve as you move left on the x-axis towards -8. What does the graph do?

If graphed correctly, you will notice that the function moves in a negative y direction as you get very close to -8. There is an invisible vertical line at x = -8, called an asymptote, that seems to be physically restricting the function from moving further towards the left and past - 8.

Instead, the function's value plummets towards negative infinity, - ∞