How do you find the limit of [(1/(x+1))-1]/x as x approaches 0?

1 Answer
Aug 1, 2015

lim_(x->0)(( 1/(x+1) -1)/x) = -1

Explanation:

Evaluating this limit for x->0 would result in the 0/0 indeterminate form. To avoid this, focus on the numerator of this fraction

1/(x+1) - 1

This expression can be rewritten like this

1/(x+1) - (x+1)/(x+1) = [1 - (x+1)]/(x+1) = (color(red)(cancel(color(black)(1))) - x + color(red)(cancel(color(black)(1))))/(x+1)

1/(x+1) - 1 = (-x)/(x+1)

The limit will now be

lim_(x->0)( (-color(red)(cancel(color(black)(x))))/(x+1) * 1/color(red)(cancel(color(black)(x)))) = lim_(xrarr0)-1/(x+1)

For x->0, this will result in

lim_(x->0)(-1/(0+1)) = color(green)(-1)