Limit of xn at x→a MCQs With Answer

Introduction: Understanding the Limit of xn at x→a is essential for B.Pharm students studying calculus applied to pharmaceutical calculations. This topic covers how power functions behave as the variable approaches a point, continuity of polynomials, and special cases like negative or fractional exponents and root functions. Mastery of limit laws, substitution, and how limits relate to derivatives (for example (xn−an)/(x−a)) is useful in dose-response modeling and kinetics. This Student-friendly guide focuses on Limit of xn at x→a MCQs With Answer to strengthen concept clarity, problem-solving speed, and exam readiness. Now let’s test your knowledge with 50 MCQs on this topic.

Q1. What is lim(x→a) xn for a real number a and integer n≥0?

  • a
  • an
  • n·a
  • 0

Correct Answer: an

Q2. For n a positive integer, which property justifies lim(x→a) xn = an?

  • Intermediate Value Theorem
  • Continuity of polynomial functions
  • Mean Value Theorem
  • Bolzano’s theorem

Correct Answer: Continuity of polynomial functions

Q3. If n is negative (n = −m) and a ≠ 0, lim(x→a) xn equals:

  • 0
  • a−m
  • −am
  • Does not exist

Correct Answer: a−m

Q4. lim(x→0) x3 equals:

  • 0
  • 1
  • Undefined
  • 3

Correct Answer: 0

Q5. If f(x)=xn and g(x)=xm, what is lim(x→a) [f(x)·g(x)]?

  • lim f(x) + lim g(x)
  • lim f(x) · lim g(x)
  • lim f(x) / lim g(x)
  • The product does not have a limit

Correct Answer: lim f(x) · lim g(x)

Q6. For even n, the function xn near x=a preserves which of the following?

  • Sign of x
  • Non-negativity for all real x
  • Odd symmetry
  • Periodicity

Correct Answer: Non-negativity for all real x

Q7. Evaluate lim(x→2) (x4).

  • 8
  • 16
  • 4
  • 256

Correct Answer: 16

Q8. For rational exponent r=p/q with q odd, lim(x→a) xr equals:

  • ap/q if defined
  • Always 0
  • Does not exist
  • −ap/q

Correct Answer: ap/q if defined

Q9. If a=0 and n is negative, lim(x→0) xn is:

  • 0
  • ∞ or does not exist
  • 1
  • −∞

Correct Answer: ∞ or does not exist

Q10. Which limit rule allows lim(x→a) [xn + xm] = an + am?

  • Sum rule for limits
  • Quotient rule for limits
  • Chain rule
  • Integration rule

Correct Answer: Sum rule for limits

Q11. lim(x→a) (xn − an)/(x−a) equals:

  • n·an−1
  • an
  • 0
  • 1

Correct Answer: n·an−1

Q12. The expression lim(x→a) x1/2 requires what condition on a for real-valued limit?

  • a ≥ 0
  • a ≤ 0
  • a ≠ 1
  • All real a

Correct Answer: a ≥ 0

Q13. For continuous function f(x)=xn, what is lim(x→a+) f(x) compared to lim(x→a−) f(x)?

  • They are equal
  • Right-hand is always larger
  • Left-hand is always larger
  • They differ unless n is even

Correct Answer: They are equal

Q14. lim(x→∞) xn for n>0 is:

  • 0
  • 1
  • Does not exist because oscillatory

Correct Answer:

Q15. If f(x)=xn and a is nonzero, continuity implies which immediate result?

  • Derivative does not exist
  • lim(x→a) f(x) = f(a)
  • f is bounded everywhere
  • f has a removable discontinuity

Correct Answer: lim(x→a) f(x) = f(a)

Q16. Which technique directly gives lim(x→a) xn = an by substituting x=a?

  • Direct substitution using continuity
  • Partial fractions
  • Integration by parts
  • Squeeze theorem

Correct Answer: Direct substitution using continuity

Q17. lim(x→a) (x2 − a2)/(x−a) equals:

  • 2a
  • a2
  • a
  • 0

Correct Answer: 2a

Q18. For x near a, xn − an can be factored using:

  • Difference of powers formula
  • Quadratic formula
  • Binomial theorem only for n=2
  • Taylor series only

Correct Answer: Difference of powers formula

Q19. If a=−2 and n is odd, lim(x→−2) xn equals:

  • −2
  • (−2)n
  • 2n
  • Does not exist

Correct Answer: (−2)n

Q20. Which statement is true for lim(x→a) xn when n is even?

  • Limit equals an and is non-negative
  • Limit flips sign at a
  • Limit is undefined for negative a
  • Limit depends on direction only

Correct Answer: Limit equals an and is non-negative

Q21. lim(x→a) (x3 + 2x2 − x) equals:

  • a3 + 2a2 − a
  • a6
  • 3a2 + 4a − 1
  • Does not exist

Correct Answer: a3 + 2a2 − a

Q22. To prove lim(x→a) xn = an using epsilon-delta, you need to bound |xn−an| by:

  • n·|x−a|·M for some M
  • |x−a|
  • Integers only
  • Infinity

Correct Answer: n·|x−a|·M for some M

Q23. If a=0 and n>0, lim(x→0) xn equals 0 by which reasoning?

  • Because xn→0 as x→0 for n>0
  • Because derivative at 0 is 0
  • Because integral from 0 to a is 0
  • It does not approach 0

Correct Answer: Because xn→0 as x→0 for n>0

Q24. For limit involving (xn − an)/(x−a), which calculus concept does this limit represent?

  • Second derivative
  • Derivative of xn at a
  • Integral of xn
  • Mean value of xn

Correct Answer: Derivative of xn at a

Q25. lim(x→a) (xn)/(xm) equals an−m provided:

  • a ≠ 0 if m>n
  • m = n only
  • a = 0 always
  • The limit is always infinite

Correct Answer: a ≠ 0 if m>n

Q26. For sequence x_k → a, what is lim(k→∞) x_kn?

  • Depends on sequence only
  • an
  • n·a
  • 0

Correct Answer: an

Q27. Which is a correct limit when approaching from the right for x1/3 at a negative a?

  • Different from left-hand limit
  • Equal to real cube root of a
  • Undefined because negative
  • Infinite

Correct Answer: Equal to real cube root of a

Q28. lim(x→a) [xn − an]/(x−a) for n=1 equals:

  • 1
  • a
  • 0
  • Does not exist

Correct Answer: 1

Q29. If lim(x→a) f(x) = L and f(x)=xn, then L equals:

  • 0
  • an
  • n·a
  • Undefined

Correct Answer: an

Q30. For small h, (a+h)n ≈ an + n an−1 h follows from which concept?

  • Continuity fails
  • Linear approximation / derivative
  • Integration
  • Riemann sum

Correct Answer: Linear approximation / derivative

Q31. Evaluate lim(x→−1) x2.

  • −1
  • 1
  • 0
  • 2

Correct Answer: 1

Q32. For non-integer rational exponent p/q with even q, lim(x→a) xp/q exists for real values only if:

  • a ≥ 0 for real principal root
  • a ≤ 0
  • a ≠ 0
  • Always exists

Correct Answer: a ≥ 0 for real principal root

Q33. Which of the following is true about lim(x→a) xn when a→0 and n→∞ simultaneously? (Consider fixed x variable approaching 0 first)

  • Indeterminate without order of limits
  • Always 0
  • Always ∞
  • Equals 1

Correct Answer: Indeterminate without order of limits

Q34. The squeeze theorem is useful for limits of xn when:

  • You can bound xn between two functions with known limits
  • Only for polynomials of degree 1
  • Never useful
  • Only for rational functions

Correct Answer: You can bound xn between two functions with known limits

Q35. lim(x→a) |x|n equals:

  • |a|n
  • an always
  • −|a|n
  • Depends on direction

Correct Answer: |a|n

Q36. If a=0 and n=0 (x0 conventionally 1), lim(x→0) x0 is:

  • 0
  • 1
  • Undefined due to 00
  • Depends on path

Correct Answer: Undefined due to 00

Q37. lim(x→a) (xn − an)/(x−a) can be computed by factorization giving:

  • Sum of geometric-like terms: an−1 + an−2x + … + xn−1
  • Only a single term
  • Infinity always
  • Zero always

Correct Answer: Sum of geometric-like terms: an−1 + an−2x + … + xn−1

Q38. For small x near a, continuity of xn implies what about error when substituting?

  • Error can be made arbitrarily small
  • Error is fixed and large
  • Error increases without bound
  • Substitution is invalid

Correct Answer: Error can be made arbitrarily small

Q39. lim(x→a) (xn/xn) for x≠0 equals:

  • 0
  • 1
  • a
  • Does not exist

Correct Answer: 1

Q40. If f(x)=xn and n is an integer, then f is continuous at which points?

  • All real numbers
  • Only at x=0
  • Only positive x
  • Only integers

Correct Answer: All real numbers

Q41. lim(x→a) xn where n is even and a is negative gives:

  • Negative result
  • Positive result equal to an
  • Undefined
  • Zero

Correct Answer: Positive result equal to an

Q42. Evaluate lim(x→3) (x0).

  • 3
  • 0
  • 1 for x≠0
  • Undefined

Correct Answer: 1 for x≠0

Q43. In pharmacokinetic modeling, why is continuity of xn important when using limits?

  • Ensures model predictions change smoothly with parameters
  • Makes equations nonlinear always
  • Prevents differentiation
  • Causes discontinuities in concentration

Correct Answer: Ensures model predictions change smoothly with parameters

Q44. lim(x→a) (x·xn) equals:

  • an+1
  • an−1
  • a
  • 0

Correct Answer: an+1

Q45. If lim(x→a) xn = an, then for continuous g, lim(x→a) g(xn) =:

  • g(an)
  • g(n)
  • Cannot determine
  • 0

Correct Answer: g(an)

Q46. For limit lim(x→0) x1/3, the value is:

  • 0
  • Undefined because root
  • 1

Correct Answer: 0

Q47. lim(x→a) (xn − an)/(x−a) can also be evaluated using which theorem?

  • Mean Value Theorem (MVT)
  • Fundamental Theorem of Algebra
  • Intermediate Value Theorem only
  • Green’s theorem

Correct Answer: Mean Value Theorem (MVT)

Q48. For a polynomial P(x)=Σ c_k xk, lim(x→a) P(x) equals:

  • Σ c_k ak
  • 0
  • Only leading coefficient matters
  • Infinite

Correct Answer: Σ c_k ak

Q49. Which of the following is true about lim(x→a) xn when considering complex a and n integer?

  • Limit equals an using complex continuity
  • Limit does not exist in complex plane
  • Only real limits allowed
  • Limit equals conjugate of an

Correct Answer: Limit equals an using complex continuity

Q50. When applying limits in B.Pharm calculations, which practical tip about xn limits is most useful?

  • Direct substitution is valid when function is continuous at a
  • Always use l’Hôpital’s rule
  • Avoid substitution to prevent errors
  • Limits are irrelevant in pharmaceutical modeling

Correct Answer: Direct substitution is valid when function is continuous at a

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