‘Learning Basic Calculus’ Starter Pack

No one in the history of mankind learned calculus overnight.

One must undergo an unending series of understanding and applying key
concepts if he or she wishes to learn it like a pro.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Firstly, whoever wishes to learn calculus should understand

limits.

Limits are the (1.___________________). It implies that prior to

studying derivatives and integrals, it’s necessary for a learner to
equip oneself with mastery of limits. Needless to say, a poor
foundation on limits leads to a poor understanding of calculus.

To evaluate the limit of a function, there are three basic ways.

One of which is by constructing a two-sided table. Using this,

it is guaranteed that the function has limit if
(2._________________________________________________________________)

It is also worth-noting that the limit of a function can be one-

sided. It happens when f(x) approaches a value as we get closer to x
from one side; on the other side, however, (3._______________)
stubbornly appears in the calculator. Meanwhile, if the outputs on
both sides increase or decrease without bound, then the limit of the
function in either case is (4.______________)

Another way to evaluate limits is by directly substituting to

the function the given value that x approaches. One thing though:
beware the output (5._____________) – it might be mistaken as non-
existence of limit. If this occurs, resort to (6.___________________)

Examining the function’s graph will also do; however, it

requires great effort to manually draw it.

Secondly, whoever wishes to learn calculus should understand

that it is a (7.____________________) – and that it is governed by
rules, theorems, laws, and the like.

Two of the key theorems that a learner should remember are,

“(8._____________________________________________)” and “the limit of
x as x approaches c is equal to (9._____________________)”.

Furthermore, one should distinguish between lim 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑓(𝑐). The
𝑥→𝑐
former is read, “The limit of a function as x approaches c,” while
the latter means, “(10.___________________________________).” In a
nutshell, lim 𝑓(𝑥) is (11.____________________________) as 𝑓(𝑐).
𝑥→𝑐
 Thirdly, whoever wishes to learn calculus should be adept in
utilizing the calculator.

Because calculus is full of operations involving non-integral

and irrational values, entering inputs in the calculator is delicate
for(12._____________________________________________________________)
Moreover, when dealing with limits of trigonometric functions in
which angles are expressed in radian unit, one should understand that
most calculators are set in (13.____) mode, so setting it in RAD mode
is a necessary skill(because, again, a wrong syntax will definitely
result to a wrong answer). In case shifting from one mode to another
seems daunting, (14.________________________________________________)
is a qualified alternative. Be ingenuine!

Finally, whoever wishes to learn calculus should understand

continuity.

It’s simple:(15.________________________________________________
___________________________________), then it is continuous. But what
if instead of its graph, the algebraic expression of the function is
given? How is a function’s continuity determined in this case?

A function is said to be continuous at x = c if all these

conditions are satisfied: (16-18_____________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________.

The same conditions consequently apply to continuity on an

interval, although it is a little tricky since it demands deep
understanding of (19.__________________) and (20.__________________).
But simply put, a function is discontinuous at any interval which
contains any x-value where the function is discontinuous.

It’s interesting to know that there are three types of

discontinuity: hole, jump, and (21._________). And, among them, only
(22.__________) discontinuity can be removed by redefining f(c) so
that it will equal lim 𝑓(𝑥). In other words, if lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐿, a hole
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
discontinuity can be remedied by letting f(c) be equal to (23.________).
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Of course, there’s more to understanding those mentioned above,

but it would be a headstart to learning the mathematics of
(24.________).

In retrospect, whoever wishes to learn calculus must undergo an

unending series of understanding and applying key concepts. On top of
that, whoever wishes to learn it must include in the starter pack the
virtue which can be of big help come tough times – (25._____________)
Part IIA: Determine whether each function is continuous or not at the given point. If it is, write
CONTINUOUS. If it isn’t, write DISCONTINUOUS, identify the type of discontinuity, and if it is
hole/removable type, repair it. (5 points)

1) 𝑓(𝑥) = 5𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 4 at 𝑥 = 2 _____________________________________

𝑥 2 −4
2) 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = at 𝑥 = 2 _____________________________________
𝑥−2

𝑥+2 ; 𝑥>1
3) 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = {3𝑥 ; 𝑥≤ 1 at 𝑥 = 1 _____________________________________

3
4) 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = at 𝑥 = 1 _____________________________________
𝑥−1

𝑥 2 −2𝑥+2 ; 𝑥<2
5) 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = { 𝑥+3 ; 𝑥≥2 at 𝑥 = 2 __________________________________

Part IIB: Tell whether each function is continuous on the given interval. If it is, write YES. Write
NO if otherwise. (5 points)

1) 𝑓(𝑥) = 3𝑥 + 2 (−∞ , +∞) ________

𝑥+2
2) 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = [0 , 3) ________
𝑥 2 −𝑥−6

3) 𝑓(𝑥) = √5 − 𝑥 (2 , +∞) ________

3𝑥 + 2 ; 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 > 5
4) 𝑓(𝑥) = { (−5 , 5) ________
17 ; 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 ≤ 5

𝜋
5) 𝑓(𝑥) = sec 𝑥 [0, ) ________
2

Part III: The function 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 3 − 𝑥 + 1 has a root on the interval [-2 , 2]. This interval,
however, is too broad to approximate the included root. Your task is to trim this until the
difference between the maxima and the minima is less than 0.05. (5 points)
Part IV: Find the limit of each using the required method. (10 points)

1) lim 5
𝑥→5

𝑥 4.9 4.99 4.999 𝐿 5.001 5.01 5.1

𝑓(𝑥)

2) lim 2𝑥 − 3
𝑥→−2

𝑥 -2.1 -2.01 -2.001 𝐿 -1.999 -1.99 -1.9

𝑓(𝑥)

1
3) lim
𝑥→0 𝑥2
𝑥 -0.1 -0.01 -0.001 𝐿 0.001 0.01 0.1

𝑓(𝑥)

4) lim √3𝑥 + 5
𝑥→1

𝑥 0.9 0.99 0.999 𝐿 0.001 0.01 0.1

𝑓(𝑥)

5) lim 𝑒 𝑥
𝑥→0

𝑥 -0.1 -0.01 -0.001 𝐿 0.001 0.01 0.1

𝑓(𝑥)

6) lim log 𝑥
𝑥→0−

𝑓(𝑥)

7) lim 𝑒 𝑥 (hint: 𝑥 → +∞ is read, “as 𝑥 DECREASES without bound)

𝑥→−∞

𝑓(𝑥)

𝑒𝑡 − 1
8) lim
𝑡→0 𝑡
𝑥 -0.1 -0.01 -0.001 𝐿 0.001 0.01 0.1

𝑓(𝑥)

9) lim
5𝜋
sin 𝑥 (use direct substitution) 𝐿 = ______
𝑥→
4

√𝑥−2
10) lim (use direct substitution) 𝐿 = ______
𝑥→4 𝑥−4