Limits of a function and Continuity Ch.2 sec 2.

2
Limits
Limits are used to describe how a function behaves as the independent variable (x) moves
towards a certain value.
Example
f ( x) 2 x 2 4

What happens to the values of f(x) as x moves along the x-axis towards 2?
1.0
-2

1.9
3.22

1.95
3.605

1.99
3.9202

1.999
3.9920

2.001
4.008

2.01
4.0802

2.05
4.405

2.1
4.82

2.5
8.5

As x approaches 2 from the left ( x 2 ), values of f(x) approaches 4 ( f ( x) 4 )

We write

lim (2 x 2 4) 4

x2

As x approaches 2 from the right ( x 2 ), values of f(x) approaches 4 ( f ( x) 4 )

We write

lim (2 x 2 4) 4

x2

As x approaches 2 from both sides ( x 2 ), values of f(x) approaches 4 ( f ( x) 4 )

lim (2 x 2 4) 4
We write
x2

Limit Notation
1.

If the value of f(x) approaches the number L1 as x approaches a from the right side,
we write
or

2.

f ( x) L1

(one-sided limit)

as x a

If the value of f(x) approaches the number L2 as x approaches a from the left side,
we write

3.

lim f ( x) L1

x a

lim f ( x) L2

xa

(one-sided limit)

If both one-sided limits have the same value ( L1 L2 L ),

lim f ( x) L if and only if lim f ( x) lim f ( x) L .
we write
xa
xa
xa
If both one-sided limits do not have the same value ( L1 L2 L ),
lim f ( x) L does not exist.
we write
x a

Note: The limit of a function f(x) as x approaches a does not depend on the value of the
function at a [limit does not depend on f(a)]
Infinite Limits
If the values of f(x) increase without bound (indefinitely) as x a or x a ,
1

lim f ( x)

we write

or

xa

lim f ( x)

xa

If the values of f(x) decrease without bound (indefinitely) as x a or x a ,

lim f ( x)

we write

or

xa

lim f ( x)

xa

If both one-sided limits are

, then

lim f ( x)

If both one-sided limits are

, then

lim f ( x )

Note: The line

xa

xa

x a is called a vertical asymptote of the graph of the function f.

Example
1.

f ( x)

As x
1.

1
xa

f ( x)

2.

1
( x a) 2

If the value of f(x) approaches L ( f ( x) L ) as x increases without bound ( x ),

lim f ( x) L
we write
x

2.

If the value of f(x) approaches L ( f ( x) L ) as x decreases without bound ( x ),

lim f ( x) L
we write
x

Note: The line y L is called a horizontal asymptote of the graph of the function f.
Limits as x can fail (or does not exist) when
a)
the values of f(x) increase of decrease without bound.

lim f ( x)

b)

or lim f ( x)
x

or lim f ( x)
x

or lim f ( x)
x

the graph of the function oscillates indefinitely, the values of f(x) does not approach a
fixed number
we say that lim f ( x ) and lim f ( x) does not exist.
x

Limits by Computation
A constant function, f ( x ) k

lim k k ; lim k lim k k

x a

A linear function, f ( x) x

lim x a ; lim x lim x

xa

A reciprocal function, f ( x )

lim

x 0

1
x

1
1
1
1
; lim ; lim 0 lim 0
x x
x x
x 0 x
x

Theorem:
If lim f ( x ) L1 , lim g ( x) L2 both exist, then
lim kf ( x) k lim f ( x) kL1
a)
lim[ f ( x) g ( x)] lim f ( x) lim g ( x) L1 L2
b)
lim[ f ( x) g ( x)] lim f ( x ) lim g ( x) L1 L2
c)
lim[ f ( x).g ( x )] lim f ( x ). lim g ( x) L1 .L2
d)
f ( x) lim f ( x ) L1
lim[

, L2 0
e)
g ( x) lim g ( x ) L2
f)

lim n f ( x) n lim f ( x) n L1

g)

lim f ( x) lim f ( x) L1

A)

Polynomials

1.

lim p ( x) p (a )
xa

lim( x 3 3x 5) (5) 3 3(5) 5 115

ex.
2.

x 5

( x , x )

lim x n , n 1,2,3,...

, n 2,4,6,...
, n 1,3,5,...

lim x n
x

lim (c0 c1 x ...c n x n ) lim c n x n lim (c 0 c1 x ...c n x n ) lim c n x n

lim 8 x 8

ex.
B)

lim 5 x 5

lim 5 x 8

Rational Functions
Examples:
1.

(5 x 3 4)
5 x 3 4 lim
x2
lim

44
x2 x 3
lim( x 3)
x2

2.

lim

x 4
( x 2)( x 2)
lim
lim( x 2) 4
x

2
x2
x2
( x 2)

3.

lim

lim(1)
1
1
x 2
?
x 2 lim( x 2) 0

x2

x 2

x 2

use the sign graph to determine whether the answer is , or both.

1

lim
does not exist. ( from the right, and from the left)
x2 x 2
4.

( x , x )
3

C)

1
1
lim n 0
n
x x
x x

Ex.

(4 1 2 ) 0
4x 2 x
x x
lim 3
lim
0
x 2 x 5
x
5
(2 3 ) 2
x

Or

4x 2 x
(4 x 2 )
2

lim
lim 0
3
3
x 2 x 5
x ( 2 x )
x x

lim

lim

Radical Functions
Example:
1.

D)

Use

lim

3x 5 3
3x 5 3 1
lim

6x 8
6x 8
2

2.

1 2 x2 1
x2 2 / x
x2 2
x2 2 / x2
lim
lim
lim
lim

x 3 x 6
x (3 x 6) / x
x (3 x 6) / x
x 3 6
3
x

3.

1 2 x2
x2 2 / x
x2 2
x2 2 / x2
1
lim
lim
lim
lim

x 3 x 6
x (3 x 6) / x
x (3 x 6) /( x)
x 3 6
3
x

Piecewise Functions
Example:

x2 5, x 3
lim
f
(
x
)
f
(
x
)

Find x3
for

From the left,

From the right,

x 13 ,

x3

lim f ( x) lim ( x 5) 4
2

x 3

x 3

lim f ( x) lim x 13 4

x 3

x 3

Both one-sided limits are the same

lim f ( x) 4
x 3

Continuity
Definition:
A function f is said to be continuous at a point c if the following conditions are satisfied:
f c is defined.
1.
lim f ( x ) exists.
2.
xc

3.
-

lim f ( x) f (c)
x c

If one or more of the conditions are not satisfied, then f is called discontinuous at c, and c is
called a point of discontinuity of f.
f is continuous at (a,b) f is continuous at all points of an open interval (a,b).
If f is continuous on ( ,) - f is continuous everywhere.

A)

Polynomials
Theorem:

B)

Polynomials are continuous functions.

lim p ( x ) p(c)
x c

Rational Functions
A rational function is continuous everywhere except at the points where the denominator
is zero.
x2 1
Example:
f ( x) 2
x x 20
x 2 x 20 0
x 4,5
Denominator:

f(x) is discontinuous at points x = -5 and x = 4.

C)

Compositions ( f g )
If lim g ( x) L and if the function f is continuous at L,
Then lim f [ g ( x)] f [lim g ( x)] f ( L)
Example:

lim( x 2 7) 2 [lim( x 2 7)]2 [11]2 121

x 2

x 2

Theorem:
If the function g is continuous at the point c and the function f is continuous at the point
g(c), then f g is continuous at point c.
Continuity from the left and right
A function f is called continuous from the left at the point c if the conditions are satisfied:
1. f c is defined.
2.

lim f ( x) exists.

x c

f ( x ) f (c )
3. xlim
c
Similar definitions for
- f is continuous from the right at the point c
- f is continuous on a closed interval [a,b]
Theorem:
If the functions f and g are continuous at c, then
f g is continuous at c
1.
f g is continuous at c
2.
f .g is continuous at c
3.
4.

f
is continuous at c if g (c) 0 and is discontinuous at c if g (c) 0
g

Limits and Continuity of Trigonometric Functions

Theorem:
The functions sin x and cos x are continuous everywhere.
Note:

lim sin[ g ( x)] sin[lim g ( x)]

lim cos[ g ( x)] cos[lim g ( x)]

5

x2
x2

sin lim
sin 1
x

x
2
x

lim sin

Example:

Theorem:
If c is any number in the natural domain of the stated trigonometric function, then

lim sin x sin c ;

lim cos x cos c ;

lim tan x tan c

lim csc x csc c ;

lim sec x sec c ;

lim cot x cot c

x c
x c

x c

x c

Theorem:

lim
h 0

sin' h
1
h

lim
h 0

x c
x c

1 cos' h
0
h

Example:
1.
2.
3.

tan x
sin x 1
lim
.
(1)(1) 1
x 0
x 0
x
x cos x
sin 2
sin 2
sin t

lim
lim 2.
2. lim
2

0
0
t 0

2
t

sin 3 x sin 5 x
sin 3 x
3
sin 3 x sin 5 x
lim
lim
.
lim 3.
5.

x 0 sin 5 x
x 0
x 0
x
x
3x
5x
5

lim