[tex]\bf \lim\limits_{x\to 9}~\cfrac{x^2-81}{x-9}\implies \cfrac{\stackrel{\textit{difference of squares}}{x^2-9^2}}{x-9}\implies \cfrac{\underline{(x-9)}(x+9)}{\underline{x-9}}\implies x+9
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\lim\limits_{x\to 9}~x+9\implies 9+9\implies 18[/tex]