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Notation of Limits
Notation of Limits
LIMITS
Notation of limits
We use the notation f(c) to indicate the value of a function f(x) at x = c. In order to discuss a value that
f(x) approaches as x approaches c, we use the idea of limit.
Definition of limit
Let f(x) be a function defined on an open interval containing c, except perhaps at c. Then
lim f ( x) L
x c
One-sided limits
Limit from the Right: lim f ( x) L means the values of f(x) approach the value L as x c but x > c.
x c
Limit from the Left: lim f ( x) M means the values of f(x) approach the value M as x c but x < c.
x c
i) lim k k
x c
ii) lim x c
x c
f ( x) L
v) lim if M 0
x c g ( x) M
Continuity of a functions
The function f(x) is continuous at x = c, if:
i) f(c) exists
ii) lim f ( x) exists
x c
iii) lim f ( x) f c
x c
If one or more of the conditions above do not hold, the function is discontinuous at x = c.
-Every polynomial function f ( x) an x n an1 x n1 ... a1 x a0 is continuous for all real numbers.
f ( x)
-Every rational function h( x) is continuous for all values of x except those that make the
g ( x)
denominator 0.
Limits at infinity
If c is any constant then:
i) lim c c
x
c
ii) lim 0 where p 0
x x p
c
iii) lim n 0 where n 0 is any integer
x x
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Limits at infinity and horizontal asymptotes
If lim f ( x) b or lim f ( x) b , where b is a constant, then the line y = b is a horizontal asymptote for
x x
the graph of y = f(x). Otherwise y = f(x) has no horizontal asymptote.
1. Use the figure bellow to find lim f ( x) and f(4) if they exist.
x 4
Fig 1.1
Solution: As x approaches 4 from both the left and right, the graph approaches the point (4, -6). Thus
f(x) approaches the single value -6. So, lim f ( x) 6 .
x 4
The value of f(4) is the y-coordinate of the point on the graph at x = 4. So, f(4)=-6.
2. Use the figure bellow to find lim f ( x) and f(6) if they exist.
x 6
Fig 1.2
Solution: As x approaches 6 from both the left and right, the graph approaches the point (6, 72). Thus
f(x) approaches the single value 72. So, lim f ( x) 72 .
x 4
The value of f(6) is the y-coordinate of the point on the graph at x = 6. So, f(6)=72.
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3. Use the figure bellow to find lim f ( x) and f(20) if they exist.
x 20
Fig 1.3
Solution:
As x approaches 20 from both the left and right, the graph approaches the open circle at (20, 100).
So lim f ( x) 100 .
x 20
The figure shows that at x = 20, there is no point on the graph. So f(20) is undefined.
4. Use the figure bellow to find lim f ( x) and f(-8) if they exist.
x 8
Fig 1.4
Solution: As x approaches -8 from both the left and right, the graph approaches the point (-8, 0).
So, lim f ( x) 0 .
x 8
The figure shows that at x = -8 there is a point on the graph at (-8, -10). So f(-8)=-10.
It is obvious that lim f ( x) f 8 .
x 8
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5. Use the figure bellow to find lim f ( x) , lim f ( x) , lim f ( x) and f(-10) if they exist.
x 10 x 10 x 10
Fig 1.5
Solution:
lim f ( x) DNE or lim f ( x) as x -10-;
x 10 x 10
So lim f ( x) DNE.
x 10
6. Use the figure bellow to find lim f ( x) , lim f ( x) , lim f ( x) and f(2) if they exist.
x 2 x 2 x 2
Fig 1.6
Solution: As x 2 from the left, f x approaches , and as x 2 from the right, f x
approaches , so f x does not approach a finite value as x 2. Therefore, lim f ( x) does not
x 2
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7. Use the figure bellow to find lim f ( x) , lim f ( x) , lim f ( x) and f(2) if they exist.
x 2 x 2 x 2
Fig 1.7
Solution:
lim f ( x) 3 ; lim f ( x) 0 .
x 2 x 2
x f(x)
0,9
0,99
0,999
↓ ↓
1 ?
↑ ↑
1,001
1,01
1,1
Solution:
f 0,9 2,9; f 0,99 2,99; f 0,999 2,999; f 1,001 3,001; f 1,01 3,01; f 1,1 3,1 .
lim f x 3 .
x 1
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9. Complete the table and predict the limit, if it exists.
4 x 2 for x 2
f x 2 ; lim f x =?
x 2x for x 2 x 2
x f(x)
-2,1
-2,01
-2,001
↓ ↓
-2 ?
↑ ↑
-1,999
-1,99
-1,9
Solution:
f 2,1 0,41; f 2,01 0,0401; f 2,001 0,004; f 2 0 ;
f 1,999 0,002; f 1,99 0,0199; f 1,9 0,19 .
lim f x 0 .
x 2
10. Use properties of limits and algebraic methods to find the limits, if they exist.
(a) lim (34 x) (b) lim (82 x) (c) lim (4 x 3 2 x 2 2)
x 35 x 80 x 1
1 3x x 2 16
(d) lim(2 x 3 12x 2 5 x 3) (e) lim (f) lim
x 3 x 1 / 3 9 x 2 1 x 4 x 4
x 2 8x 7 x 2 8 x 15 x 2 4x 4
(g) lim (h) lim (i) lim
x 7 x 2 6x 7 x 5 x 2 5x x 2 x 2 3 x 2
x 2 8 x 20 10 2 x for x 3
(j) lim (k) lim f x , where f x 2
x 10 x 2 11x 10 x 3
x x for x 3
x3 4
7 x 10 for x 5 for x 2
(l) lim f x , where f x (m) lim f x , where f x x 3
25 for x 5 3 x for x 2
2
x 5
x 2
x
x 2 6x 8 x 2 5x 6 2 x h 2 x 2
2
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Solution:
(a) If f x is polynomial then lim f x f c . So lim (34 x) 34 35 1 .
x c x 35
(b) lim(82 x) 82 80 2 .
x 80
1 3x 1 3 1 / 3 2
(e) lim 1
x 1 / 3 9 x 1 9 1 / 32 1 2
2
(f) lim
x 2 16
lim
x 4x 4 lim x 4 8 .
x 4 x 4 x 4 x4 x 4
(g) lim
x 2 8x 7
lim
x 7x 1 lim x 1 6 3 .
x 7 x 6 x 7 x7 x 7 x 1 x7 x 1 8 4
2
(h) lim
x 2 8 x 15
lim
x 5x 3 lim x 3 2 2 .
x 5 x 5x
2 x 5 x x 5 x 5 x 5 5
(i) lim
x 2 4x 4
lim
x 2 lim x 2 0 0 .
2
x 2 x 2 3 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 1 x 2 x 1 1
(j) lim
x 2 8 x 20
lim
x 2x 10 lim x 2 12 4 .
x 10 x 11x 10
2 x 10 x 1 x 10 x 10 x 1 9 3
lim f x DNE.
x 3
x 2 6x 8 3
(n) lim . The limit does not exist. The function is unbounded as x 5 .
x 5 x5 0
x 6x 8 3
2
x 2 6x 8 3
lim and lim . The line x 5 is vertical asymptote.
x 5 x5 0 x 5 x5 0
x 2 5x 6 2
(o) lim is undefined. The line x 1 is vertical asymptote.
x 1 x 1 0
2 x h 2 x 2 2 x 2 4 xh 2h 2 2 x 2 h4 x 2h
2
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11. If lim f x g x 5 and lim g x 11 , find
x 2 x 2
3g x
(a) lim f x
x 2 x2
(b) lim f x g x
2 2
(c) lim
x 2 f x g x
.
Solution:
(a) lim f x lim f x g x lim g x 5 11 6 ,
x 2 x 2 x 2
x2
2 2
(b) lim f x g x 6 112 36 121 85 ,
2
3g x 3 11 33
(c) lim .
x 2 f x g x 6 11 17
g x
(a) lim f x g x (b) lim f x g x (c) lim f x g x (d) lim .
x 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 f x
Solution:
(a) lim f x g x 4 2 2 ,
x 3
(b) lim f x g x 4 2 6 ,
x 3
g x 2 1
(d) lim .
x 3 f x 4 2
13. If lim f x 3 , lim f x 0 and f 0 0 , find lim f x , if it exists. Explain your conclusions.
x0 x0 x 0
Solution:
lim f x DNE because lim f x lim f x .
x 0 x 0 x 0
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14. For each given x-value, use the figure to determine whether the function is continuous or
discontinuous at that x-value. If the function is discontinuous, state which of three conditions that
define continuity is not satisfied.
Fig 1.8
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15. Determine whether each function is continuous or discontinuous at the given x-value. Examine the
three conditions in the definition of continuity.
x2 4
(a) f x , x 2
x2
x2 9
(b) f x , x3
x3
x2 9
(c) f x , x 3
x3
x2 4
(d) f x , x2
x2
x 3 if x 2
(e) f x , x2
4 x 7 if x 2
x 2 1 if x 1
(f) f x 2 , x 1.
2 x 1 if x 1
Solution.
(a) f 2
2 4
2
0
0; lim f x lim
x2 4
0.
22 4 x 2 x 2 x 2
discontinuous at x 2 .
(f) f 1 12 1 2 . lim f x DNE since lim f x 2 and lim f x 2 12 1 1 . So, f x is
x 1 x 1 x 1
discontinuous at x 1.
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16. Determine whether the given function is continuous. If it is not, identify where it is discontinuous
and which condition fails to hold.
4 x 2 3x 2
(a) f x 4 x 2 1 (b) f x 5 x 3 2 x (c) f x
x2
4x 2 4x 1 2x 1
(d) f x (e) f x (f) f x
x
x 1/ 2 x 1
2
x2 3
3 if x 1 x3 1 if x 2
(g) f x 2 ( h) f x 2 .
x 2 if x 1 x 4x 1 if x 2
Solution.
(a) f x 4 x 2 1 is second degree polynomial. Every polynomial function is continuous for all real
numbers.
(b) f x 5 x 3 2 x is continuous function for all real numbers since it is a polynomial of third degree.
4 x 2 3x 2
(c) f x is a rational function. Every rational function is continuous for all values of x
x2
except those that make the denominator 0. So f x is discontinuous at x 2 (Figure 1.9)
Figure 1.9
4x 2 4x 1
(d) f x is continuous function except at x 1/ 2 .
x 1/ 2
(e) f x
x
is continuous function for all real numbers since its denominator is always different
x 1
2
than 0.
2x 1
(f) For the same reasons as in previous case, the function f x is continuos for all real
x2 3
numbers.
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(g) f(x) is a piecewise defined function in which each part is polynomial. We need only to check the
value of x for which the definition changes.
lim f x lim 3 3 ; lim f x lim x 2 2 3 . So lim f x 3 and it is equal to functional value
x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1 x 1
f 1 . Hence, f x is continuous function at x 1 and this implies that f x is continuous for all real
numbers.
(h) f(x) is a piecewise defined function in which each part is polynomial. The definition changes at
x 2 x 2
x 2 x 2
x 2 . lim f x lim x 3 1 9 ; lim f x lim x 2 4 x 1 11 . So lim f x DNE and therefore
x 2
f x is discontinuous at x 2 .
5x 3 4 x 4 x 2 5x 3x 2 5 x 7x3 8
(e) lim (f) lim 2 (g) lim (h) lim 2 .
x 3 x 3 2 x x 4 x x 6 x 1 x 4 x 5 x
Solution.
3
(a) lim
x x 1
The highest power of x present is x1. We divide each term in the numerator and denominator by x and
3 3
3 0
use the properties for limits at infinity. So lim lim x lim x 0.
x x 1 x x 1 x 1 1 0
1
x x x
3
The graph of the function y is:
x 1
Fig 1.10
y-coordinates of the graph approach 0 as x + and x -. So y = 0 is a horizontal asymptote.
Also there is a discontinuity (vertical asymptote) at x = -1.
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4 4
4 x2 2 0
(b) lim 2 lim 2 lim x 0.
x x 2 x x x 2x x 2 1 0
1
x2 x2 x
4
The graph of the function y 2 is:
x 2x
Fig 1.11
So y = 0 is a horizontal asymptote. Since there is a discontinuity at x = 0 and x = 2, the lines x = 0 and
x = 2 are vertical asymptotes.
x3 1 1
3 1
x3 1 x 3
x x3 1 0 1.
(c) lim 3 lim 3 lim
x x 4 x x 4 x 4 1 0
3 1
x 3
x x3
x3 1
The graph of the function y 3 is:
x 4
Fig 1.12
x 1
3
Since lim 1 , it follows that the line y 1 is a horizontal asymptote. Since the function is
x x 3 4
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3x 2 2 2
2 3 2
3x 2 2 2
x 3 0 3.
(d) lim 2 lim x 2 x lim
x x 4 x x 4 x 4 1 0
2
2
1 2
x x x
3x 2 2
The graph of the function y 2 is:
x 4
Fig 1.13
3x 22
Since lim 3 , it follows that the line y 3 is a horizontal asymptote. Since the function is
x2 4
x
discontinuous at x 2 and x 2 , it follows that the lines x 2 and x 2 are vertical asymptotes.
5x 3 4 x 4
3 5
5x 3 4x x3 x lim x2 5 0 5 .
(e) lim lim
x 3 x 3 2 x 3 x 3 2 x 2 30 3
3 2
x3 x3 x
5x 3 4 x
The graph of the function y is:
3x 3 2
Fig 1.14
The line y 5 / 3 is a horizontal asymptote and the line x 3 2 / 3 is a vertical asymptote.
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4x 2 5x 5
2 4
4x 2 5x 2
x 40 4.
(f) lim 2 lim x 2 x lim
x x 4 x x x 4x x 4 1 0
1
x2 x2 x
The line y 4 is a horizontal asymptote and the lines x 0 and x 4 are vertical asymptotes.
3x 2 5 x 5
2 3
3x 2 5 x 2
x 3 …So the limit does not exist and there is no
(g) lim lim x x lim
x 6 x 1 x 6 x 1 x 6 1 0
2
2 2
x x x x
horizontal asymptote. The line x 1/ 6 is a vertical asymptote.
7x3 8 8
3 7 3
7x 8
3 3
x 7 ... The limit does not exist and there is no
(h) lim 2 lim x 2 x lim
x 4 x 5 x x 4 x 5x x 4 5 0
3
3
2
x x x x
horizontal asymptote. The lines x 0 and x 5 / 4 are vertical asymptotes (the function is
discontinuous at the points x 0 and x 5 / 4 ).
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