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Limit
Limit
Limit
1.1 Limit
1. Definition of Limit
Definition:(formal Definition of Limit)
Let f be a function defined on an open interval containing a, with the possible
exception of a itself. Then the limit of f (x) as x approaches a is the number L,
written as
for every number > 0 there is a number δ > 0 such that if 0 < |x − a| < δ, then
|f (x) − L| < .
This idea can be represented graphically by the figure below
Remark:
(a) δ is a function of
1
1.1 Limit 2
Consider
|f (x) − 8| < ⇒ |(3x − 4) − 8| < ⇒ |3x − 12| < ⇒ |x − 4| <
3
Now choose δ =
3
Thus 0 < |x − 4| < δ ⇒ |x − 4| <
3
⇒ 3|x − 4| = |(3x − 4) − 8| < Example:Show that lim (x2 − 1) = 3
x→2
Consider
|f (x) − 3| < ⇒ |(x2 − 1) − 3| <
⇒ |x2 − 4| <
⇒ |(x − 2)(x + 2)| <
Let δ = 1 , thus, |x − 2| < 1 ⇒ −1 < x − 2 < 1 ⇒ 3 < x + 2 < 5,
Hence, |x + 2| < 5
⇒ |x2 − 4| = |x + 2||x − 2| < 5|x − 2| < ⇒ |x2 − 4| <
5
Now choose δ = min( , 1)
5
Thus 0 < |x − 2| < δ
⇒ |(x2 − 1) − 3| < 5|x − 2| < 5 =
5
Example:Using − δ definition of limit prove that
Proof:
Yadeta
c Ch. Seboka
1.1 Limit 3
Consider
|f (x) − 12| = |(x2 + x) − 12)| = |(x + 4)(x − 3)| = |x + 4||x − 3|
Take δ = 1, then
|x − 3| < δ ⇒ |x − 3| < 1
⇒ −1 < x − 3 < 1
⇒ 2 < x < 4 ⇒ 6 < |x + 4| < 8
Thus we have |f (x) − 12| = |x + 4||x − 3| < 8|x − 3| < iff |x − 3| <
8
Now choose δ = min(1, )
8
Thus, 0 < |x − 3| < δ ⇒ |f (x) − 12| = |x2 + x − 12| = |x + 4||x − 3| < 8 =
8
(b) Let > 0 be given. We must find δ such that
1
0 < |x − 3| < δ ⇒ |f (x) − | <
3
Consider
1 2 1 6 − (x + 3)
|f (x) − | = | − |=| |<
3 x+3 3 3(x + 3)
1 x−3
⇒ | |<
3 x+3
Take δ = 1, then
|x − 3| < δ ⇒ |x − 3| < 1
⇒ −1 < x − 3 < 1
⇒ 2 < x < 4 ⇒ 5 < |x + 3| < 7
1 1 1 1 1 1
⇒ < < Thus we have |x − 3| < |x − 3| < iff
7 x+3 5 3 |x + 3| 15
|x − 3| < 15
Now choose δ = min(1, 15)
1 2 1
Thus, 0 < |x − 3| < δ ⇒ |f (x) − | = | − |
3 x+3 3
1 x−3
= | |
3 x+3
1
< 15 =
15
Yadeta
c Ch. Seboka
1.1 Limit 4
Consider
√ √
|f (x) − 5| = |(2 + x − 5| = | x − 3| <
x−9
⇒ |√ |<
x+3
Take δ = 1, then
|x − 9| < δ ⇒ |x − 9| < 1
⇒ −1 < x − 9 < 1
√ √ √
⇒ 8 < x < 10 ⇒ 8 + 3 < x + 3| < 10 + 3
1 1 1
⇒√ <√ <√ Thus we have
10 + 3 x+3 8+3
1 1 √
|x − 9| √ <√ |x − 9| < iff |x − 9| < ( 8 + 3)
x+3 8 + 3√
Now choose δ = min(1, ( 8 + 3))
√ x−9 1 √
Thus, 0 < |x − 9| < δ ⇒ |(2 + x − 5| = | √ |< √ ( 8 + 3) =
x+3 8+3
lim (mx + b) = ma + b
x→a
lim c = c
x→a
Yadeta
c Ch. Seboka
1.1 Limit 5
lim [f (x)]n = Ln
x→a
(a) Let f be a function which is defined at every number in some open interval
(a, c).Then the limit of f (x), as x approaches a from the right, is L, written
lim f (x) = L
x→a+
if for any > 0, however small, there exists a δ > 0 such that,
(b) Let f be a function which is defined at every number in some open interval
(d, a).Then the limit of f (x), as x approaches a from the left, is L, written
lim f (x) = L
x→a−
if for any > 0, however small, there exists a δ > 0 such that,
Yadeta
c Ch. Seboka
1.1 Limit 6
i. lim f (x) = ∞ iff for every M > 0, there is a δ > 0, such that
x→a
Example:
2x
i. lim+ =∞
x→3 x − 3
2x
ii. lim− = −∞
x→3 x − 3
2x
Therefore, the line x = 3 is the vertical asymptote of f (x) =
x−3
(b) Limit at infinity and Horizontal asymptotes Definition:
for every > 0 there is a number M > 0 such that if x > M , then
|f (x) − L| < .
for every > 0 there is a number M < 0 such that if x < M , then
|f (x) − L| < .
Example:
1
i. lim =0
x→∞ x
Yadeta
c Ch. Seboka
1.1 Limit 7
1
ii. lim =0
x→−∞ x
1
Therefore, the line y = 0 is the horizontal asymptote of f (x) =
x
Example: Find the vertical and horizontal asymptotes of the graph of
√
9x2 + 1
f (x) =
3x − 5
Solution:
i. If lim− f (x) = ±∞, or lim+ f (x) = ±∞ or lim f (x) = ±∞ then the line
x→a x→a x→a
x = a is a vertical asymptote
√ of f (x)
2
9x + 1
Now, find lim− = = −∞
5 3x − 5
x→
3
5
Thus, the line x = is the vertical asymptote of f (x)
3
ii. To find the horizontal Asymptote
If lim f (x) = L, or lim f (x) = L, then the line y = L is the horizontal
x→∞ x→−∞
asymptote of f (x)√
9x2 + 1
Now, find lim =
x→∞ 3x −
r5
√ 1
x2 (9 + )
9x2
+1 x2
lim = lim
x→∞ 3xr −5 x→∞ 3x − 5
1
x 9+ 2 √
x
= lim , since x > 0, x2 = x
x→∞r 3x − 5 r
1 1 √
x 9+ 2 9+ 2
x x 9
lim = lim = =1
x→∞ 5 x→∞ 5 3
x(3 − ) (3 − )
x √ x
9x2 + 1
Again, find lim =
x→−∞ −5
3x r
√ 1
2 x2 (9 + 2 )
9x + 1 x
lim = lim
x→−∞ 3x − 5r x→−∞ 3x − 5
1
(−x) 9 + 2 √
x
= lim , since x < 0, x2 = −x
x→−∞ 3x − 5
Yadeta
c Ch. Seboka
1.2 Continuity 8
r r
1 1 √
(−x) 9 + 2 (−1) 9 + 2
x x − 9
lim = lim = = −1
x→−∞ 5 x→−∞ 5 3
x(3 − ) (3 − )
x x
Thus, the lines y = 1 and y = −1 are the horizontal asymptote of f (x)
1.2 Continuity
x2 − x − 2
(a) f (x) =
x−2
2x
(b) f (x) =
1 − x2
1 , if x 6= 0
2
(c) f (x) = x
1, if x = 0
x2 − x − 2
, if x 6= 2
(d) f (x) = x−2
1,
if x=2
Yadeta
c Ch. Seboka
1.2 Continuity 9
Continuity on Intervals
Definition: f is said to be continuous on (a, b) if it is continuous at each point of
(a, b) Theorem: If f and g are continuous at a, and c is a constant then the
following are also continuous at a.
(a) f ± g,
(b) cf ,
(c) f g,
f
(d) , if g(a) 6= 0
g
Yadeta
c Ch. Seboka
1.2 Continuity 10
Solution:
f is continuous at a iff lim+ f (x) = lim− f (x) = f (a)
x→a x→a
lim+ f (x) = f (1) ⇒ lim+ (ax + 3) = f (1)
x→1 xto1
⇒a+3=4⇒a=4−3=1
and lim− f (x) = f (1) ⇒ lim− (x2 + b) = f (1)
xto1 xto1
⇒1+b=4⇒b=4−1=3
Excersice: Determine whether f is continuous or discontinuous at a.
√
(a) f (x) = x − 2; a = 2
|x − 4|
f or x 6= 4
(b) f (x) = x − 4|
e4−x
f or x = 4
Yadeta
c Ch. Seboka
1.2 Continuity 11
1. 2x3 + x2 − x + 1 = 5 in [1, 2]
π
2. x + tanx = 1 in [0, ]
4
3. x5 − x2 + 2x + 3 = 0 in [−1, 0]
Yadeta
c Ch. Seboka