determine the limits of a function f(x) at 2.86

I need to get lim x-2.86+ f(x)

I got the lim x-2.86- f(x)= -23, and f(2.86) = -23.

some additional values:
f(0) = 2.4000000000000123
f(1) = -0.9000000000000187
f(2.86) = -22.996799999999418

Question

determine the limits of a function f(x) at 2.86

I need to get lim x->2.86+ f(x)

I got the lim x->2.86- f(x)= -23, and f(2.86) = -23.

some additional values:
f(0) = 2.4000000000000123
f(1) = -0.9000000000000187
f(2.86) = -22.996799999999418

cruffo · Answer

Doesn't seem like there is enough information.  For instance, is f continuous?

anonymous · Answer

No, it's not continuous. and the left and right limits are not the same. Thanks

cruffo · Answer

do you have a graph, an expression for f, or any other data?

anonymous · Answer

no, no equation or graph alas. Just some boxes where I can plug the values for x and get the value of f(x).

However, it does say "Are the left and right limits the same at 2.86? "No". If so then this function is almost continuous and could be made continuous by redefining one value of the function namely f(2.86) .

cruffo · Answer

Can you plug in values of x like 3, 2.9, 2.89, ... numbers larger in value than 2.86?

anonymous · Answer

yes, but at -5 or 5 the values become undefined, which my limits can't be.

cruffo · Answer

Well, x=-5 and x=5 seem to be a bit farther out than you need for this problem.  
So you have the following
x      | f(x)
---------
0      | 2.4
1      | -0.9
2.86 | -23 

and from this you guess that the left-hand limit is -23?  
Be careful, could be that the function is -23 when x=2.86, but that may not be it's left-hand limit.

To get the right-hand limit, just repeat the procedure with values of x that are a little larger that 2.86,
x        | f(x)
---------
3         | 
2.9      |
2.87    | 

Then make a guess at what the limit is.

anonymous · Answer

lol, I give up. 

2.87 = -19.533110000000434
2.8601 = -19.416416819000435
2.85= -22.822499999999422
2.83 = -22.475700000000423

it would help if I knew what I was looking for, but I'm lost. The left hand limit is -23, as is f(2.86). That last bit is the only one I keep getting wrong.

cruffo · Answer

looks like the right hand limit may be -19.

cruffo · Answer

Is this problem from CouseCompass or something?

anonymous · Answer

I tried that. lol, the sad part is that statistically I should have gotten the correct answer accidentally by now. It's from webwork, pretty annoying system.

cruffo · Answer

man, what a trip.

anonymous · Answer

tell me about it =/ I've had around 50 attempts at this problem now, quite insulting to my intellect.