Overview of Problems

x 2 − 3x + 2 x3 + x2 + x + 1
1 lim 2 lim
x −2
x →∞ x3 + 3x2 + 5x + 2
Solved Problems on Limits x →2

3 lim x 2 + 1 − x 2 − 1 4 lim x 2 + x + 1 − x 2 − x − 1
and Continuity x →∞

2x
x →∞

sin ( 3 x )
5 lim 6 lim
x →0
2x 2 + x + 1 − x 2 − 3 x + 1 x →0 6x
( )
sin x 2
7 sin ( sin ( x ) ) 8 lim
x →0 x sin ( x )
lim
x →0 x
x + 2sin ( x ) tan ( x )
9 lim 10 lim e
x 2 + 2 sin ( x ) + 1 − sin2 ( x ) − x + 1
x →0 π
x→ +
2

Calculators Mika Seppälä: Limits and Continuity

Overview of Problems Main Methods of Limit Computations

11 Where y = tan ( x ) is continuous? 1 The following undefined quantities cause problems:
0 ∞
 1  00 , , , ∞ − ∞, 0∞ , ∞0.
12 Where f (φ ) = sin  2  is continuous? 0 ∞
 φ − 1 In the evaluation of expressions, use the rules
x2 − x 2
13 How must f ( 0 ) be determined so that f ( x ) = , x ≠ 0,
x −1 a ∞
is continuous at x = 0? = 0, = ∞, ∞ × (negative number ) = −∞.
∞ positive number
14 Which of the following functions have removable
If the function, for which the limit needs to be computed, is
singularities at the indicated points? 3
defined by an algebraic expression, which takes a finite value
x − 2x − 8
2
x −1 at the limit point, then this finite value is the limit value.
a) f (x) = , x0 = −2, b) g( x ) = , x0 = 1
x+2 x −1
If the function, for which the limit needs to be computed,
 1 4
c) h ( t ) = t sin   , t0 = 0 cannot be evaluated at the limit point (i.e. the value is an
t  undefined expression like in (1)), then find a rewriting of the
15 Show that the equation sin ( x ) = e x has ∞ many solutions. function to a form which can be evaluated at the limit point.

Calculators Mika Seppälä: Limits and Continuity

Calculators Mika Seppälä: Limits and Continuity

1
Main Computation Methods Continuity of Functions
1 Frequently needed rule ( a + b) ( a − b) = a 2
−b .
2
1
Functions defined by algebraic or elementary expressions
involving polynomials, rational functions, trigonometric
Cancel out common factors of rational functions. functions, exponential functions or their inverses are
2
x 2 − 1 ( x − 1) ( x + 1)
continuous at points where they take a finite well defined
= = x + 1 
x →1
→ 2. value.
x −1 x −1
3 If a square root appears in the expression, then multiply and A function f is continuous at a point x = a if
2
divide by the conjugate of the square root expression. lim f ( x ) = f ( a) .
x →a
Used to show

x +1 − x −2 =
( x +1 − x +2 )( x +1 + x −2 ) The following are not continuous x = 0:
that equations
have solutions.
x +1 + x −2 3 1 1 x
f ( x ) = , g ( x ) = sin   ,h ( x ) = .
=
( x + 1) − ( x − 2 ) =
3
 →0
x x x
x →∞
x +1 + x −2 x +1 + x +2
4 Intermediate Value Theorem for Continuous Functions
sin ( x )
4 Use the fact that lim = 1. If f is continuous, f(a) < 0 and f(b) > 0, then there is a point
x →0 x c between a and b so that f(c) = 0.

Calculators Mika Seppälä: Limits and Continuity

Calculators Mika Seppälä: Limits and Continuity

Limits by Rewriting Limits by Rewriting

x − 3x + 2
2
x3 + x2 + x + 1
Problem 1 lim Problem 2 lim
x →2 x −2 x →∞ x3 + 3x 2 + 5x + 2

x 2 − 3 x + 2 ( x − 1)( x − 2 )
Solution Rewrite = = x − 1. Solution
x −2 x −2
x 2 − 3x + 2 1 1 1
Hence lim = lim ( x − 1) = 1. x3 + x2 + x + 1
1+ + +
x →2 x−2 x →2
= x x 2 x 3 →1.
x →∞
x 3 + 3x 2 + 5x + 2 1+ 3 + 5 2
+ 3
2
x x x

Calculators Mika Seppälä: Limits and Continuity

Calculators Mika Seppälä: Limits and Continuity

2
Limits by Rewriting Limits by Rewriting
Problem 3 lim x 2 + 1 − x 2 − 1 Problem 4 lim x 2 + x + 1 − x 2 − x − 1
x →∞ x →∞

Solution Rewrite
Solution Rewrite

( x2 + 1 − x2 − 1 )( x2 + 1 + x2 − 1 ) x2 + x + 1 − x2 − x − 1 =
x2 + 1 − x2 − 1 =
x + 1 + x2 − 1
2
( x2 + x + 1 − x2 − x − 1 ) x2 + x + 1 + x2 − x − 1
x2 + x + 1 + x2 − x − 1
(x ) ( )=
( ) ( ) + x + 1 − x2 − x − 1
2
2 2
2x + 2
=
x2 + 1 − x2 − 1
=
(x 2
) (
+ 1 − x2 − 1 )= 2 =
x2 + x + 1 + x2 − x −1 x2 + x + 1 + x2 − x − 1
x +1+ x −1
2 2
x +1+ x −1
2 2
x +1+ x −1
2 2
2
2+ Next divide by x.
2 = x  →2
Hence lim x + 1 − x − 1 = lim 2 2
= 0. 1 1 1 1
x →∞
x →∞ x →∞
x2 + 1 + x2 − 1 1+ + 2 + 1 − − 2
x x x x

Calculators Mika Seppälä: Limits and Continuity

Calculators Mika Seppälä: Limits and Continuity

Limits by Rewriting Limits by Rewriting

2x
Problem 5 lim sin ( 3 x )
x →0
2x 2 + x + 1 − x 2 − 3 x + 1 Problem 6 lim
x →0 6x
Solution Rewrite
2x
= sin (α )
2x 2 + x + 1 − x 2 − 3x + 1 Solution Use the fact that lim = 1.
α →0 α
2x ( 2x + x + 1 + x − 3 x + 1
2 2
) sin ( 3 x ) 1 sin ( 3 x )
( 2x 2 + x + 1 − x 2 − 3 x + 1 )( 2x 2 + x + 1 + x 2 − 3 x + 1 ) Rewrite
6x
=
2 3x

=
2x ( ) = 2x (
2x 2 + x + 1 + x 2 − 3 x + 1 2x 2 + x + 1 + x 2 − 3 x + 1) sin ( 3 x ) sin ( 3 x ) 1
= 1, we conclude that lim =
( 2x + x + 1) − ( x − 3 x + 1)
2 2
x2 + 4x Since lim .
2 2 x →0 3x x →0 6x 2
2 ( 2 x + x + 1 + x − 3 x + 1)
2 2 Next divide by x.
=  →1 x →0
x+4

Calculators Mika Seppälä: Limits and Continuity

Calculators Mika Seppälä: Limits and Continuity

3
Limits by Rewriting Limits by Rewriting
sin ( sin ( x ) ) lim
( )
sin x 2
Problem 7 Problem 8
lim
x →0 x
x →0 x sin ( x )

Solution Rewrite: Solution Rewrite:

sin ( sin ( x ) ) sin ( sin ( x ) ) sin ( x )

x
=
sin ( x ) x

x →0
→1 sin x 2( ) = sin ( x ) 2
x
 →1
x sin ( x ) x2 sin ( x ) x →0
sin (α )
since lim = 1. In the above, that fact
α →0 α
was applied first by substituting α = sin ( x ) .
sin ( sin ( x ) )
Hence lim = 1.
x →0 sin ( x )

Calculators Mika Seppälä: Limits and Continuity

Calculators Mika Seppälä: Limits and Continuity

Limits by Rewriting Limits by Rewriting

Problem 9 x + 2 sin ( x ) x + 2 sin ( x )
lim Problem 9 lim
x →0
x 2 + 2 sin ( x ) + 1 − sin2 ( x ) − x + 1 Solution x →0
x 2 + 2 sin ( x ) + 1 − sin2 ( x ) − x + 1
Solution Rewrite (cont’d) Rewrite
x + 2 sin ( x ) x + 2 sin ( x )
=
x 2 + 2 sin ( x ) + 1 − sin2 ( x ) − x + 1 x 2 + 2 sin ( x ) + 1 − sin2 ( x ) − x + 1

( x + 2 sin ( x ) ) ( x + 2 sin ( x ) + 1 + sin ( x ) − x + 1

2 2
) ( x + 2 sin ( x ) ) ( x 2 + 2sin ( x ) + 1 + sin2 ( x ) − x + 1 ) Next divide by x.
=
( )( ) x − sin2 ( x ) + 2 sin ( x ) + x
2
x 2 + 2 sin ( x ) + 1 − sin2 ( x ) − x + 1 x 2 + 2 sin ( x ) + 1 + sin2 ( x ) − x + 1
sin ( x ) 
( x + 2 sin ( x )) ( x 2 + 2 sin ( x ) + 1 + sin2 ( x ) − x + 1 )

1 + 2
 x 
 ( x 2 + 2sin ( x ) + 1 + sin2 ( x ) − x + 1 ) 3×2
= =  → = 2.
sin ( x ) sin ( x )
(x ) (
+ 2 sin ( x ) + 1 − sin2 ( x ) − x + 1 )
x →0
2 +1
x − sin ( x )
2
+2 +1

( x + 2 sin ( x )) ( )
x x
x 2 + 2 sin ( x ) + 1 + sin2 ( x ) − x + 1
= Here we used the fact that all sin(x)/x terms approach 1 as x → 0.
x 2 − sin2 ( x ) + 2 sin ( x ) + x

Calculators Mika Seppälä: Limits and Continuity

Calculators Mika Seppälä: Limits and Continuity

4
One-sided Limits Continuity
tan( x )
Problem 10 lim e Problem 11 Where the function y = tan ( x ) is continuous?
π
x→ +
2

Solution

Solution
sin ( x )
The function y = tan ( x ) = is continuous whenever cos ( x ) ≠ 0.
cos ( x )
π
For < x < π , tan ( x ) < 0 and lim tan ( x ) = −∞. π
2 x→ +
π Hence y = tan ( x ) is continuous at x ≠ + nπ , n ∈ .
2 2
tan( x )
Hence lim e = 0.
π
x→ +
2

Calculators Mika Seppälä: Limits and Continuity

Calculators Mika Seppälä: Limits and Continuity

Continuity Continuity
 1 
Problem 12 Where the function f (φ ) = sin  2  is continuous? Problem 13 How must f ( 0 ) be determined so that the function
 φ − 1
x2 − x
f (x) = , x ≠ 0, is continuous at x = 0 ?
 1  x −1
Solution The function f (φ ) = sin  2  is continuous at all points
 φ − 1
where it takes finite values. Solution

1  1 
If φ = ±1, 2 is not finite, and sin  2  is undefined.
Condition for continuity of a function f at a point x0 is:
φ −1  φ − 1
lim f ( x ) = f ( x0 ) . Hence f ( 0 ) must satisfy f ( 0 ) = lim f ( x ) .
1  1  x → x0 x →0
If φ ≠ ±1, 2 is finite, and sin  2  is defined and also finite.
φ −1  φ − 1 x2 − x x ( x − 1)
Hence f ( 0 ) = lim = lim = lim x = 0.
x →0 x − 1 x −1
 1  x →0 x →0
Hence sin  2  is continuous for φ ≠ ±1.
 φ − 1

Calculators Mika Seppälä: Limits and Continuity

Calculators Mika Seppälä: Limits and Continuity

5
Continuity Continuity
A number x0 for which an expression f ( x ) either is undefined or Problem 15 Show that the equation sin ( x ) = e x has
infinite is called a singularity of the function f . The singularity is
inifinitely many solutions.
said to be removable, if f ( x0 ) can be defined in such a way that
the function f becomes continous at x = x0 . Solution sin ( x ) = e x ⇔ f ( x ) = sin ( x ) − e x = 0.
Problem 14 Which of the following functions have removable By the intermediate Value Theorem, a continuous function takes
any value between any two of its values. I.e. it suffices to show
singularities at the indicated points? Answer that the function f changes its sign infinitely often.
π 
Observe that 0 < e x < 1 for x < 0, and that sin  + nπ  = ( −1) , n ∈ .
n

x 2 − 2x − 8 2 
f (x) = , x 0 = −2 Removable π
Hence f ( x ) < 0 for x = + nπ if n is an odd negative number
a)
x +2
2
x −1
g( x ) = , x0 = 1 Not removable π
and f ( x ) > 0 for x = + nπ if n is an even negative number.
b)
x −1
2
π π 
c)
 1
h ( t ) = t sin   , t 0 = 0 Removable We conclude that every interval  + 2nπ , + ( 2n + 1) π  , n ∈ and n < 0, contains
t  2 2 
a solution of the original equation. Hence there are infinitely many solutions.

Calculators Mika Seppälä: Limits and Continuity

Calculators Mika Seppälä: Limits and Continuity