Analyzing the Setup
We are given a continuously differentiable function f(x) with the specific values f(2)=6 and f′(2)=481.
The relationship between f(x) and g(x) is defined by the integral equation:
Our objective is to determine the value of the limit limx→2g(x).
Unmasking the Integral
First, we evaluate the left-hand side of the equation. Using the power rule for integration, the antiderivative of 4t3 is t4.
Applying the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, we evaluate the integral from 6 to f(x):
∫6f(x)4t3dt=[t4]6f(x)=f(x)4−64
This simplifies our original equation to:
The Algebraic Bridge
To isolate g(x), we divide both sides by (x−2):
We now examine the limit as x→2. Substituting x=2 directly yields:
We have encountered the classic 0/0 indeterminate form, which necessitates the use of L'Hopital's Rule.
The Power of L'Hopital
Applying L'Hopital's Rule, we differentiate the numerator and the denominator with respect to x.
Using the chain rule for the numerator, the derivative of f(x)4 is 4f(x)3⋅f′(x). The derivative of the constant 64 is 0, and the derivative of the denominator (x−2) is 1.
The limit expression becomes:
x→2limg(x)=x→2lim14f(x)3⋅f′(x)
Final Calculation
Now, we substitute the known values f(2)=6 and f′(2)=481 into the expression:
x→2limg(x)=4⋅(f(2))3⋅f′(2)
Substituting the constants:
Since 63=216, we calculate:
x→2limg(x)=4⋅216⋅481=48864=18
The final result is 18.