LIMITS AND CONTINUITY Chapter 8

Topic Outlines:
8.1 Limits
8.2 Asymptotes
8.3 Continuity

properties of other than

rational substitution
limits
evaluation of no surd (factorization)
limits
0/0
with surd (conjugate)
rational

determine 0/non zero substitution

limits one-sided limit
one-sided limits
test of existance
of limits

infinite limits determine infinite limits from the left and from the right

∞/∞ devide with highest power of denominator

limits & limits of infinity
continuity
∞∞ algebraic manipulation
vertical
asymptotes
asymptotes
horizontal
asymptotes
continuity at a
point
continuity
properties of
continuity

8.1 Limits

Definition
If f (x) becomes closer and closer to a single number L as x approaches a from either side,
then lim f x   L which is read as “the limit of f (x) as x approaches a is L”.
x a

Example 1

a) Find the lim x 2  1
x 0

x 1 0.5 0.25 0.001 0 0.001 0.25 0.5 1
f(x)=x2+1 2 1.25 1.0625 1.000001 1 1.000001 1.0625 1.25 2

The graph of y = f (x) = x2 + 1

y  f (x)
y = x2 + 1

x  0 0 x  0 x
 LIMITS AND CONTINUITY Chapter 8

The closer x gets to the value 0, the closer the value of f (x) comes to 1. This limit could have
been determined by simply substituting x = 0 into f (x).

   
Since lim x 2  1  lim x 2  1  1 , thus lim x 2  1  1 .
x 0 x 0 x 0
 

 2 x, if x  4
b) Given f x    . Find lim f x  .
2 x  3, if x  4 x 4

lim 2 x  3  11 and lim 2 x   8

x 4  x 4

Since lim 2 x  3  lim 2 x  , thus lim f x  does not exist.

x 4 x 4 x 4

Properties Of Limits

1. If f (x) = c, where c is a constant, then lim f ( x)  lim c  c .

x a x a
Example 2
lim 8  8
x 2

2. If f (x) = x, then lim f ( x)  lim x  a .

x a x a

Example 3
lim x  2
x 2

3. If f (x) = xn, where n is a positive integer (n > 0), then lim x n  a n .

x a

Example 4
lim x 3   2  8
3
x 2

4. If c is a constant, then lim c  f x   c  lim f x  .

x a x a

Example 5
lim 9 x 2  9 lim x 2  910  900
2
x 10 x 10

5. If lim f ( x) and lim g ( x) exist, then lim f x   g x   lim f x   lim g x  .

x a x a x a x a x a

Example 6
x 2
 
lim x 5  2 x  5  lim x 5  lim 2 x  lim 5  32   4  5  41
x 2 x 2 x 2
 LIMITS AND CONTINUITY Chapter 8

6. If lim f ( x) and lim g ( x) exist, then lim f x   g x   lim f x   lim g x  .

x a x a x a x a x a

Example 7
   
lim x 5  5 x  1  lim x 5  5  lim x  1  60  0
x 1 x 1 x 1

 f x  lim f x 
7. If lim f ( x) and lim g ( x) exist, then lim    x a , where lim g ( x)  0 .
x a g  x  g x  x a
x a x a
  lim
x a

Example 8
x  1 xlim x 1  4
lim 2
 3 2 
x 3 x lim x 9
x 3

Direct Substitution Method

The limits of certain functions may be evaluated by substituting x  a in f (x) . Thus we get
lim f x  f a  .
x a

Example 9
a) lim x b) lim 3x 2  4
x 5 x 2

2x  1
c) lim x  2 d) lim
x 4 x  3x  1
x 3 2

e) lim 2e x 1 f) limln x  1  5
x 1 x 2

Example 10
a) lim x4 b) lim x  2
x 3 x 3

c) lim x 7 x  3x  1
x 2
3
 2
 d) lim
x 1
x2 1
3
x 1

Exercises
Evaluate the following:

a) lim x 3  4 x  3
x 3
 
b) lim x 3  1 x  4
x 0

t 2 1 t3
c) lim 3 d) lim
t 3 t 1 t 3 t

e) lim 2 x  3 16 x
x 4

 LIMITS AND CONTINUITY Chapter 8

Answers
1
a) 36 b) 2 c) d) 9 e) 4
2

Limit Of A Rational Function

The limit of a rational function can be found by substitution when the denominator is
different from zero.
f ( x ) f (c )
If f(x) and g(x) are polynomials, then lim  , where g (c)  0 .
x c g ( x ) g (c )

Example 11
x 2  2 x  4 (2) 2  2(2)  4 12
lim   3
x 2 x2 22 4

Factorization Method
f ( x ) f (c ) f ( x) 0
If f(x) and g(x) are polynomials, then lim  will be lim  (indeterminate
x c g ( x ) g (c ) x c g ( x ) 0
form) if f (c)  0 and g (c)  0 . We use factorization method to solve the limit.

Example 12
x 2  3x  2 x2  x  2
a) lim b) lim
x 2 x2 x 1 x 2  4 x  3

1  1 1 x3 1
c) lim    d) lim
x 1 x  1 3  x x 1 x  1
 4
x4 f x  2  f 2
if f x   2
1
e) lim f) lim
x 4
x 2 x 0 x x 1

Multiplication of Conjugates Method

0
If by direct substitution, the limit of a rational function involving surd is
0
(indeterminate form), then the method of multiplication of conjugate can be used.

Example 13
x2 x9 3
a) lim b) lim
x 2
x2 2 x 0 x
x 2  3x  2
c) lim
x 2
2 x2
 LIMITS AND CONTINUITY Chapter 8

Exercises
Evaluate the following:
x5 t2  t  2
a) lim 2 b) lim
x 5 x  25 t 1 t 2 1
u 4 1 x2
c) lim 3 d) lim
u 1 u  1 x 2
2 6 x
3x  1  1
e) lim
x 0 2x

Answers
1 3 4 3
a) b) c) d) 4 e)
10 2 3 4

One - Sided Limits

A one - sided limit can either be a right-hand limit or a left –hand limit.

Right- hand limit is the limit of f as x approaches a from the right is L.

 lim f ( x)  L
x a

Left- hand limit is the limit of f as x approaches a from the left is M.

 lim f ( x)  M
x a

One-sided limits are useful in taking limits of functions involving radicals.

Example 14
Evaluate the limits that exist.

x 0

a) lim 3  x  b) lim 4  x
t 4

x2
c) lim x 2  4 d) lim
u 2 x 2 2 x
x5 x5
e) lim f) lim
x 5 x5 x 5 x  5

Example 15
Evaluate lim f x  for the fuction below if exist.
x 0

e  x , if x  0

f x   2, if x  0
2 x  1, if x  0

 LIMITS AND CONTINUITY Chapter 8

Example 16
Evaluate lim f x  for the fuction below if exist.
x 1

 x  2, x  1

f x    x 2 , 1  x  1
4  x 2 , x  1


Test for Existence of a Limit

If lim f ( x)  lim f ( x)  L , then lim f ( x)  L .

x a x a x a

Example 17
From the following graphs, determine whether each of the limits exist or not.
a) lim f ( x)
x1

-2

b) lim g ( x)
x1

-3

c) lim h( x)
x0

5
4

-5 -2 5
 LIMITS AND CONTINUITY Chapter 8

Example 18
4  x 2 ; x2
Given h( x)   . Find lim h( x).
2  x ; x2
2 x2

Exercises
a) Refer to the diagram below. Determine lim f ( x) and lim f ( x) .
x 2 x 0

-2 0

 2 x, x  4
b) Given f x    . Find lim f ( x) .
2 x  3, x  4 x4

4  x 2 , x  1
c) Given h( x)   . Find lim h( x).
2  x 2
, x  1 x1

2 , x  1
d) Given f x    . Find lim f ( x) .
5 , x  1 x1

e) Given f x   x  2 . Find lim f ( x) .

x2

Answers
a) does not exist, 1 b) does not exist
c) 3 d) 2
e) 0

Infinite Limits
 If the function f x  increases without bound as x approaches a from the left and right
side, then lim f ( x)   .
x a

lim f ( x)   , lim f ( x)  
x a  x a
 LIMITS AND CONTINUITY Chapter 8

 If the function f x  decreases without bound as x approaches a from the left and
right side, then lim f ( x)   .
x a

lim f ( x)   , lim f ( x)  
x a  x a

Note: When lim f ( x)   , then the limits exists but are undefined.
x a

 If the function f x  increases without bound as x approaches a from the right side,
and decreases without bound as x approaches a from the left side, then
lim f ( x)  does not exist .
x a

lim f ( x)   , lim f ( x)  
x a  x a

Example 19
1
To evaluate lim , we must take left and right hand limits as x approaches 1.
x 1 x  12

x1 x1+
f (0.9) = 100 f (1.1) = 100
f (0.99) = 10000 f (1.01) = 10000
f (0.9999) = 100000000 f (1.0001) = 100000000

1
We should conclude that lim   .
x 1 x  12
Graphically, f appears as in below figures,
 LIMITS AND CONTINUITY Chapter 8

Example 20
1. Find lim f ( x) , lim f ( x) and lim f ( x) . Sketch the given graph.
x a x a xa

f x   f x  
1 1
a) , a0 b) , a 1
x2 x 1
1  3x
f x   f x  
2x
2. a) , a3 b) , a 1
x3 1 x
f x  
x
c) , a  2
x 4
2

Exercises
Find lim f ( x) , lim f ( x) and lim f ( x) . Sketch the given graph.
x a x a xa

f x   f x  
1 1
a) , a2 b) , a  2
x 4 2
x 4
2

x2 1
c) f x   , a  2
2x  4

Answers
a) does not exist b) does not exist
c) does not exist

Theorems

 If lim f ( x)   and lim g ( x)  L , then lim f ( x)  g x    .

x a x a x a

  if L  0
 If lim f ( x)   and lim g ( x)  L , then lim f ( x)  g x    .
x a x a x a
  if L  0
  if L  0
 If lim f ( x)   and lim g ( x)  L , then lim f ( x)  g x    .
x a x a x a
  if L  0

Example 21
 2 1   2 
a) lim   2  b) lim   x
x 3  x  3 x 9 x 1  1  x 

4x  1 
c) lim  2 
x 4 x  5  x  16 
 LIMITS AND CONTINUITY Chapter 8

Limits At Infinity
 If x approaches positive infinity, f(x) approaches but never quite reaches a value of
L, using limit notation, we state lim f ( x)  L .
x 

 If x approaches negative infinity, f(x) approaches but never quite reaches a value of
M, using limit notation, we state lim f ( x)  M .
x 

Theorem (for n > 0)

 1 
 lim  n   0
 
x  x

 1 
 lim  n   0
 
x  x

lim x n  
 x 

 , n  2,4,6,...(even number)
 lim x n  
x 
 , n  1,3,5,...(odd number)

Example 22
1a) lim 7 x 5  9 1b) lim  4 x 8  1
x  x 

2a) lim 3x  1 2b) lim 1  x 

x  x 

 1
2c) lim x2  4 2d) lim  2  
x  x  
 x
 3 
2e) lim  2  1

x   x

 LIMITS AND CONTINUITY Chapter 8

0
If the limit of a rational function is(indeterminate form), then the limit can be evaluated
0
by dividing the numerator and the denominator by the highest degree of x in the denominator.

Example 23
x x2
a) lim b) lim
x   2 x  1 x  x  x  1
2

x3  1 2 y
c) lim 2 d) lim
x  x  1 y  
3  6y
x2  2 x2  2
e) lim f) lim
x   3x  4 x   3x  4
x 1 x 1
g) lim h) lim
x   x 
x2 1 x4 1

If the limit of a function is    (indeterminate form) then the limit can be evaluated by
using algebraic manipulation to the function.

 Polynomial Functions (Remove the common factor with the greatest power)
Example 24
lim x 3  2 x 2  3
x 

 Irrational Functions (Multiply and divide by the conjugate)

Example 25
lim
x 
 x 2  2x  x 
 Rational Functions (Reduce to a common denominator)
Example 26
1 2x
lim 2 
x 2 x  4 x2

Exercises
x 2  4x  3 5x 3  2 x 2  1
a) lim b) lim
x  5x  2 x  3x  2
2 3
c) lim 1   2 d) lim x 2  ax  x
x  x x x 

x2  2 5x  2
e) lim f) lim
x   3x  6 x  
x2  2
x2  2
g) lim
x   3x  6
 LIMITS AND CONTINUITY Chapter 8

Answers
a 1
a)   b)   c) 1 d) e)
2 3
1
f)  5 g) 
3

8.2 Asymptotes

Definition

VERTICAL ASYMPTOTES HORIZONTAL ASYMPTOTES

A line x  a is a vertical asymptotes A line y  b is a horizontal asymptotes

of the graph of a function y  f x  if of the graph of a function y  f x  if

lim f x    lim f  x   b
x a  x 

or or
lim f  x    lim f  x   b
x a  x  

Example: Example:
Find the vertical asymptotes of
f x   2
1
x

 From graph, as x  , y  4

 Using limit notation
The y- axis is an asymptote of the curve lim f x   4
x 
because
lim f x    and lim f x   
The horizontal asymptote for the
x 0 x 0 function is y  4
Thus, the line x  0 is the vertical
asymptotes of f x 
 LIMITS AND CONTINUITY Chapter 8

Steps in Finding the Vertical Asymptote

STEP 1
Make sure that the function is in simplified form

STEP 2

Find the values of x that make the denominator zero

STEP 3

If x  a causes the denominator to be zero, then check

whether both lim f x  and lim f x  approach 
x a x a

Example 27
Find the vertical asymptote of
x3
a) f x  
x2
2x  2
b) f x   2
x 1
c) f x   e  x
x3
d) f x  
x 2  6x  9
e) f x   ln 3x  1

Example 28
Determine the horizontal asymptote for the function
x2
a) f x   2
3x  x  1
x2
b) f x  
x2  9
5x 2  8x  3
c) f x  
3x 2  2
3x 2  2
d) f x  
x4  4
 LIMITS AND CONTINUITY Chapter 8

Example 29
2x  3
Given f x   . Find
x  1x  3
a) the domain of f
b) the x- intercept and y- intercept of f
c) the vertical asymptote(s) of f
d) lim f x  and lim f x  . Hence, state the horizontal asymptote of f .
x  x 

Example 30
A function f is defined by f x  
x
x2  9
a) State the domain of f
b) Find the vertical asymptotes
c) Determine lim f x  and lim f x  . Hence, state the horizontal asymptote of f .
x  x 

8.3 Continuity

a) Continuity Of A Function At A Point

The following functions are

discontinuous at x = a. Why?
 LIMITS AND CONTINUITY Chapter 8

The Existence of Limit

• f (c) exists
1 lim f ( x)  L exists if and only if
x a

The
lim f ( x) = lim f ( x)  L exists
• lim f ( x) exists x a  x a
Continuity
2 xc

Test
• lim f ( x)  f (c)
3 x c

Example 31
The diagram below shows the graph of the function f. Determine the continuity at x = 0,
x = 1 and x = 2.

I think Flow Map

How to determine the continuity at x = 0 ?

 LIMITS AND CONTINUITY Chapter 8

lim f ( x)  1 Since lim f ( x)  f (0)

x0
x 0 
f (0)  1 lim f ( x)  0  f x  is discontinuous
x 0 
exists
lim f ( x) does not exists at x  0
x0

1 2 3

Example 32
Determine whether the following functions are continuous at the given points.
x 1
a) f ( x)  2 , x 1
2x  x  3

 x  1, x  2

b) f ( x)  2 x  1, 1  x  2 , x  1
 x  1, x  1


Example 33
x2  x  6
Determine the value of x, where f ( x)  is discontinuous. If f(x) is continuous
x2
at any point, define the new f(x).

Example 34
Determine all values of the constants A and B so that the following function is continuous
for all values of x
 Ax  B, x  1
 2
f ( x)  2 x  3 Ax  B, 1  x  1
 4, x 1


Properties of Continuity

If f and g are continuous at x = c, then the following functions are also continuous at x = c.

 Sum and difference : f ( x)  g ( x)

 Product : f ( x)  g ( x)
f ( x)
 Quotient : , g ( x)  0
g ( x)

If g is continuous at c and f is continuous at g(c), then the composite function given by

fg(x) = f(g(x)) is continuous at c.
 LIMITS AND CONTINUITY Chapter 8

Exercises
 9  4x2 3
 , 0 x
 2x  3 2
a) If f ( x)   ,
 3
 4x , x4
 2
3
determine the continuity of f at the point x  .
2


 5  px ,  2  x  1

b) Given f ( x)   x 2  px  q , 1  x  2 .
 x2  4
 , x2
 x2
Find the values of p and q if f(x) is continuous for all real values of x.

Answers
a) f is not continuous b) p  1, q  2