<s>[INST] Calculus - Finding limit (NOT L'Hopital's Rule): $\lim_{x \to 1^-}\frac{x^2+x+\sin({\pi\over 2}x)-3}{x-1}$ How do I find this limit?
$$\displaystyle{\lim_{x \to 1^-}}\frac{x^2+x+\sin({\pi \over 2}x)-3}{x-1}$$
I am unable to factor the numerator to get rid of the denominator. Can someone please help? Thank you!
Is there any other way to get the answer besides using L'Hopital's Rule?
 [/INST] Another possible way to do it.
Start changing variable $x=y+1$; this gives
$$\frac{x^2+x+\sin \left(\frac{\pi  x}{2}\right)-3}{x-1}=\frac{y^2+3 y+\cos \left(\frac{\pi  y}{2}\right)-1}{y}$$ Now, use Taylor expansion $$\cos(t)=1-\frac{t^2}{2}+O\left(t^4\right)$$ which gives $$\cos \left(\frac{\pi  y}{2}\right)=1-\frac{\pi ^2 y^2}{8}+O\left(y^4\right)$$ So $$\frac{y^2+3 y+\cos \left(\frac{\pi  y}{2}\right)-1}{y}=\frac{y^2 +3y-\frac{\pi ^2 y^2}{8}+O\left(y^4\right)}{y}=(1-\frac{\pi ^2 }{8})y+3+O\left(y^3\right)$$ which shows the limit and how it is approached.
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