$f(x)=\left\{\begin{array}{cc}
\frac{\sqrt{1+p x}-\sqrt{1-p x}}{x} & -1 \leq x<0 \\
\frac{2 x+1}{x-2} & 0 \leq x \leq 1
\end{array}\right.$
is continuous in the interval $[-1,1]$, then $p$ is equal to :
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
$f(x)=\left\{\begin{array}{cl}\frac{\sqrt{1+p x}-\sqrt{1-p x}}{x} & -1 \leq x<0 \\ \frac{2 x+1}{x-2} & 0 \leq x \leq 1\end{array}\right.$
f is continous
⇒ $\lim\limits_{x→0^-}f((x) = \lim\limits_{x→0^+}f(x) = f(0)$
computing right hand limit
RHD = $\lim\limits_{x \rightarrow 0^{+}} f(x)=\lim\limits_{x \rightarrow 0} \frac{2 x+1}{x-2}=\frac{0+1}{0-2}=\frac{-1}{2}$
$f(0)=-1 / 2$
computing left hand limit
LHD = $\lim\limits_{x \rightarrow 0^{-}}(f-x)=\lim\limits_{x \rightarrow 0} \frac{\sqrt{1+p x}-\sqrt{1-p x}}{x}$
$=\lim\limits_{x \rightarrow 0} \frac{\left(\sqrt{1+p x}-\sqrt{1-p^x}\right)\left(\sqrt{1+p x}+\sqrt{1-p^x}\right)}{x\left(\sqrt{1+p^x}+\sqrt{1-p x}\right)}$
$=\lim\limits_{n \rightarrow 0} \frac{1+p x-1+p x}{x(\sqrt{1+p x}+\sqrt{1-p x})}$
$=\lim\limits_{x \rightarrow 0} \frac{2 p x}{x(\sqrt{1+p x}+\sqrt{1-p x})}$
LHD = $\lim\limits_{x \rightarrow 0} \frac{2 p}{\sqrt{1+p x}+\sqrt{1-p x}}=\frac{2 p}{\sqrt{1+0}+\sqrt{1-0}}$
LHD = $\frac{2}{2}=p$
LHD = RHS = f(0) ⇒ p = $\frac{-1}{2}$