Algebraic Simplification

Refer to example 7(a) in section 2.3 of the the class notes.

The original function, f, has a hole at x=-1 (i.e. -1 is not in the domain), this is illustrated in the diagram below. However, when we simplify the function and we obtain a function which is equivalent to f, when x not equal to -1, and is itself defined at -1. In other words, we remove the hole. This allows us to compute the limit of f at -1 by computing the corresponding value of g at -1.

Move the slider in the diagram below to remove the hole.

Jamie Mulholland
Department of Mathematics
Simon Fraser University
Created with GeoGebra