Chapter 1

Functions, Limits, and

Continuity

B. Limits and Continuity of

Functions
B. Limits and Continuity of Functions

1.Limits of Functions
2.Limits Theorems
3.Continuity of Functions
LIMITS OF FUNCTIONS
An Introduction
What is “limit”?
• In the previous topic(Functions), you were able to
understand yourself and your relationship with
others.
• Here in this topic, you will try to understand the
difference between your actual “limits” and the
limits you impose upon yourself and that are
imposed upon you by others.
• The mathematical concept of a limit is not too
different from the psychological concept of a limit.
• A function approaches a “limit” or value just as you
also approach a limit like “exhaustion, fatigue,
depression, saturation, procrastination, indifference,
denial, and others.
• Understanding your limit is the first step towards
overcoming them.
• As you have to find the limits of functions, you also
have to find your own limits and exceed them.
• Calculus I is a very demanding course. It is not enough
to understand yourself and to be surrounded by
supportive people, you also have to surpass your
limits.
• Just as functions are limited by asymptotes and
discontinuities, humans are limited by opinions,
assumptions, past experiences, emotions, sentiments
and others.
• Calculus 1(4-unit course) demands that you overcome
these limits.
• You can re-write your experience in Math by doing
well in this course.
• You can improve your GPA significantly.
• So as you approach your limits, think of exceeding
them, think of exceeding your expectation of yourself,
and think of exceeding everyone else’s expectation of
you.
• You can actually do it!
• Calculus is easy!
• This topic- Limits and Continuity of Functions deals
with mathematical limit, the root of derivatives and
integrals.
Diagnostic Test
LIMITS OF FUNCTIONS
A Historical Background
 Historical development of limits

Denbel, Dejene Girma (2014). Students’ Misconceptions of the Limit Concept in a First Calculus Course. Journal of
Education and Practice Vol.5, No.34
Limits and the Two Classic Problems in Calculus

HISTORICAL NOTE
In one of the most astounding events
ever to occur in mathematics, it was
discovered that the tangent line problem
and the area problem are closely related.
This discovery led to the birth of
calculus.
 Limits and the Two Classic Problems in Calculus
1. Tangent Line Problem 2. Area Problem
 Tangent Line Problem
• The slope of the tangent line is said to be the limit of the slopes of
the secant lines.
• The limiting position of the secant line is the tangent line.
LIMITS OF FUNCTIONS
Notions & Definition
 Notions & Definition of Limits of
Functions
• The basic concept which calculus depends on is the
“limit of a function”.
• The limit concept applies to the way a quantity
behaves. That is, how it behaves close to, but not
exactly at a point of interest.
• Just like, speed limit, weight limit, or endurance
limit which suggest that a limit is a type of bound,
which may not be attained but may be reached or
even exceeded.
Remember :
Notion/idea of a limit is

fundamental to the study of Calculus.

• Let us introduce the mathematical
notion of limits by examining some
intuitive, graphical, algebraic and
analytical examples.
Intuitive Notion
INTUITIVE NOTION OF LIMIT OF A FUNCTION
Consider a curve with distinct points P and Q.
What will happen to the secant line PQ if we let Q move towards P?
Intuition suggests that if we move Q along the curve towards P, then the
secant line moves toward a limiting position.
The line in this limiting position is the tangent line of the curve at P
Graphical Notion
How to start ?
 Task: Illustrate limit of a function
THinK – PaiR - SHaRe
 as x approaches 2 from the left

4 5.2 6.1 6.7 6.85 6.991 6.9997 6.9999997

f(x) approaches 7

as x approaches 2 from the right

7.0000003 7.0015 7.027 7.03 7.3 7.6 8.5 10

f(x) approaches 7

Say : “ limit of (1 + 3x ) is 7 as x approaches 2 “

Written as : lim ( 1 + 3 x ) = 𝟕
𝑥 →2
2.
as x approaches -1 from the left

2.25 2.44 2.0201 2.00020001

f(x) approaches 2

as x approaches -1 from the right

1.99980001 1.9801 1.64 1.25

f(x) approaches 2

Say : “ limit of 𝒙𝟐 + 1 is 2 as x approaches -1 “

Written as : lim ( 𝒙𝟐 + 1) = 𝟐
𝑥 →−1
3.
as x approaches 1 from the left

-3.5 -3.12 -3.004 -3.0001

f(x) approaches -3

as x approaches 1 from the right

-2.9999 2.997 -2.83 -2.5

f(x) approaches -3
f(x) approaches -3

𝒙𝟐 − 𝟓𝒙 + 𝟒
Say : “ limit of is -3 as x approaches 1 “
𝒙− 𝟏

𝟐
)= −𝟑
𝒙 − 𝟓𝒙 + 𝟒
Written as : lim (
𝑥 →1 𝒙− 𝟏
 as x approaches 4 from the left

4.7 4.85 4.9995 4.99999

f(x) approaches 5

as x approaches 4 from the right

3 3.000001 3.01 3.09

f(x) approaches 3

Say : “ limit of f (x) does not exist “

Written as : lim 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝑫𝑵𝑬 ( Does Not Exist)

𝑥 →1
Because lim ( 1 + 3 x ) = lim ( 1 + 3 x ) = 𝟕
𝑥 → 2− 𝑥 → 2+

lim ( 1 + 3 x ) = 𝟕
𝑥→2
f(x)

f(x)
𝐥𝐢𝐦(𝟏 + 𝟑𝒙) = 𝟕
𝒙→𝟐

x x
 f(x) 𝐥𝐢𝐦 (𝒙𝟐 +𝟏) = 𝟐
𝒙→−𝟏

f(x)

x x
 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒙 = 𝟎
𝒙→𝟎
f(x)

x x

f(x)
 x x

f(x)

°
f(x)

𝒙𝟐 − 𝟓𝒙 + 𝟒
𝐥𝐢𝐦 = −𝟑
𝒙→𝟏 𝒙−𝟏
 f(x) 𝐱 + 𝟏, 𝐱<𝟒
𝐟 𝐱 =ቊ
𝐱 − 𝟒 𝟐 + 𝟏, 𝐱≥𝟒

𝐟 𝟒 =𝟏

𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇 𝒙 ≠ 𝒍𝒊𝒎− 𝒇 𝒙
𝒙→𝟒+ 𝒙→𝟒

f(x)

x x 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝑫𝑵𝑬
𝒙→𝟒
 𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐋 𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖 𝐎𝐅 𝐋𝐈𝐌𝐈𝐓𝐒
➢ If the values of f(x) can be made as close as we like to L by taking
values of x sufficiently close to c but not equal to c , then we
write
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = L
x→ c

which is read “ the limit of f(x) as x approaches c is L “ or “ f(x)

approaches L as x approaches c “
In symbols,
f(x) → L as x → c
➢ the value of f(x) at x =a has no bearing on the existence of the
limit of f(x) as x approaches c .

➢ The limit of f(x) EXISTS when f(x) approaches the same value as x values
approach c from the left and from the right.
LIMITS OF FUNCTIONS
Definition
You know that a function may be thought of as
a set of ordered pairs (𝑥, 𝑦) or (𝑥, 𝑓(𝑥)), with
the y-values related to the x-values by some
rule.
Let a function 𝑓 be defined throughout an open
interval containing a real number a, except
possibly at a itself.
We are often interested in the function value f(x)
when x is very close to a, but not necessarily equal
to a. In fact, in many instances, the number a is not
in the domain of f, i.e. 𝑓(𝑎) is not defined.
The notion of the limit of a function is
suggested by the question:
“What happens to f(x) as x gets nearer
and nearer to a (but x is not equal to a)? “
or
“Does f(x) approach some number L?”

The question implies that we have to find

the “limit of f(x) as x approaches a .”
EXAMPLE 1. Investigate the values of the
function f(x) = 2x – 4
as x approaches 2
We will study the behavior of the linear function f(x) =2 x -4 as
we choose the x values in such a way that they are getting
closer and closer to 2 from both sides; that is, through the
values less than 2 and greater than 2.
The table below shows the corresponding values of f(x) =2 x -4.

x 1.5 1.9 1.99 1.999 1.9999 2 2.0001 2.001 2.01 2.1 2.5
f(x)
 f(x) = 2x – 4
x 1.5 1.9 1.99 1.999 1.9999 2 2.0001 2.001 2.01 2.1 2.5
f(x) -1 -0.2 -.02 -0.002 -0.0002 0 0.0002 -0.002 0.02 0.2 1

a. What is f(2)? 0
b. What is f(x) approaching as x is near 2 but not
equal to 2? 0
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟒 = 𝟎
𝒙→𝟐

Notes: The most basic use of limits to describe how a

function behaves as the independent variable
approaches a given value.
EXAMPLE 2. Examine the behavior of the function ,

for x values getting closer to 1.

X 0 0.9 0.99 0.999 0.9999 1 1.0001 1.001 1.01 1.1 1.5
f(x) 1 1.9 1.99 1.999 1.9999 ∞ 2.0001 2.001 2.01 2.1 2.5

a. What is f(1)? ∞(𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝)

b. What is f(x) approaching as x is near 1 but not equal
to 1? 2
𝒙𝟐 − 𝟏
𝐥𝐢𝐦 =𝟐
𝒙→𝟏 𝒙 − 𝟏
• The statements imply that given the same distance
between two points in the x-axis, all values of x inside
this distance have corresponding values of y lying
inside the small distance between two points in the y-
axis.
• These small x-distance and y-distance are denoted by
the Greek letters 𝜖 (epsilon) and 𝛿 (delta) in the
formal definition of limits.
 EXAMPLE 1.
f(x) = 2x – 4
x 1.5 1.9 1.99 1.999 1.9999 2 2.0001 2.001 2.01 2.1 2.5
f(x) -1 -0.2 -.02 -0.002 -0.0002 0 0.0002 0.002 0.02 0.2 1

a. f(2)= 0
b. lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 0
𝑥→2
• We can say that the limit of f(x) as x approaches 2 is 0
if we can possibly make the value of f(x) gets closer
and closer to 0.
• We can only do such by taking x close enough to 2.
• That is, 𝑓 𝑥 − 0 can be made as small as we please
by making 𝑥 − 2 small enough.
• Remember, we are not interested with the value of
f(x) when x = 2, or f(2).
 EXAMPLE 1.
f(x) = 2x – 4
x 1.5 1.9 1.99 1.999 1.9999 2 2.0001 2.001 2.01 2.1 2.5
f(x) -1 -0.2 -0.02 -0.002 -0.0002 0 0.0002 0.002 0.02 0.2 1
𝑥−2 0.5 0.1 0.01 0.001 0.0001 1 0. 0001 0.001 0.01 0.1 0.5

𝐟 𝐱 −𝟎 1 0.2 0.02 0.002 0.0002 0 0.0002 0.002 0.02 0.2

• Another way of phrasing this is:
• Given any positive number ∈ , we can make
𝑓 𝑥 − 0 < ∈ by making 𝑥 − 2 small
enough; that is, there is some sufficiently small
positive number 𝛿 such that
𝑖𝑓 0 < 𝑥 − 2 < δ then 2𝑥 − 4 − 0 < 0.3
 EXAMPLE 1.
f(x) = 2x – 4
x 1.5 1.9 1.99 1.999 1.9999 2 2.0001 2.001 2.01 2.1 2.5
f(x) -1 -0.2 -0.02 -0.002 -0.0002 0 0.0002 -0.002 0.02 0.2 1
𝑥−2 0.5 0.1 0.01 0.001 0.0001 0 0. 0001 0.001 0.01 0.1 0.5 𝛅
𝐟 𝐱 −𝟎 1 0.2 0.02 0.002 0.0002 0 0.0002 0.002 0.02 0.2 1
∈
ALGEBRAIC NOTION
• In the graphical notion of limit, it is important to
realize that ∈ is chosen first because whay we want
to assume is that we can get closer and closer to L
if this is the limit.
• The question is how we can get close to L.
• Since the values of y depend on the values of x,
then we must be able to make x-values get close to
a so that f(x) can get close to L.
• The number 𝛿 is the value that tells us how close x
should get to a so that f(x) can get close to L by a
distance ∈.
• The size of 𝛿must be dependent on the size of ∈.
EXAMPLE 2. 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟏
𝐥𝐢𝐦 =𝟐
𝒙→𝟏 𝒙 − 𝟏
X 0 0.9 0.99 0.999 0.9999 1 1.0001 1.001 1.01 1.1 1.5
f(x) 1 1.9 1.99 1.999 1.9999 ∞ 2.0001 2.001 2.01 2.1 2.5
𝑥−1 1 0.1 0.01 0.001 0. 0001 0 0.0001 0.001 0.01 0.1 0.5 𝛅
𝐟 𝐱 −𝟐 1 0.1 0.01 0.001 0.0001 - 0.0001 0.001 0.01 0.1 0.5 ∈

What is 𝛅 when ∈ is 0.3 ?

SOLUTION
𝑓 𝑥 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑙𝑖𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 2 ± 0.3 = 1.7 & 2.3

𝑓 𝑥 = 1.7 𝑓 𝑥 = 2.3 𝛅 = 𝟎. 𝟕 − 𝟏 or 𝛅 = 𝟏. 𝟑 − 𝟏
𝑥 2 −1 𝑥 2 −1
= 1.7 = 2.3
𝑥−1 𝑥−1
Thus, 𝜹=0.3
𝑥 + 1 = 1.7 𝑥 + 1 =2.3

𝒙 = 𝟎. 𝟕 𝐱 = 𝟏. 𝟑
 EXAMPLE 1.
f(x) = 2x – 4
x 1.5 1.9 1.99 1.999 1.9999 2 2.0001 2.001 2.01 2.1 2.5
f(x) -1 -0.2 -0.02 -0.002 -0.0002 0 0.0002 0.002 0.02 0.2 1
𝑥−2 0.5 0.1 0.01 0.001 0.0001 0 0. 0001 0.001 0.01 0.1 0.5 𝛅
𝐟 𝐱 −𝟎 1 0.2 0.02 0.002 0.0002 0 0.0002 0.002 0.02 0.2 1
∈
What is 𝛅 when ∈ is 0.3 ?

SOLUTION
∈
δ=
2
0.3
δ= = 𝟎. 𝟏𝟓
2
ANALYTICAL NOTION
Confirm analytically the choice of δ in f(x) = 2x – 4 by using properties of
inequalities.

SOLUTION
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟒 = 𝟎
We wish to determine a δ > 0 𝑠𝑢𝑐ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝒙→𝟐
𝑖𝑓 0 < 𝑥 − 𝑎 < δ then 𝑓 𝑥 − 𝐿 <∈

↔ 𝑖𝑓 0 < 𝑥 − 2 < δ then 2𝑥 − 4 − 0 < 0.3

↔ 𝑖𝑓 0 < 𝑥 − 𝑎 < δ then 2𝑥 − 4 < 0.3
↔ 𝑖𝑓 0 < 𝑥 − 𝑎 < δ then 2 𝑥 − 2 < 0.3
0.3
↔ 𝑖𝑓 0 < 𝑥 − 𝑎 < δ then 𝑥 − 2 <
2
↔ 𝑖𝑓 0 < 𝑥 − 𝑎 < δ then 𝑥 − 2 < 0.15
• Another way of phrasing this is:
• Given any positive number ∈ , we can make
𝑓 𝑥 − 0 < ∈ by making 𝑥 − 2 small
enough; that is, there is some sufficiently small
positive number 𝛿 such that
𝑖𝑓 0 < 𝑥 − 2 < δ then 2𝑥 − 4 − 0 < 0.3
Definition of Limit of a Function
Let f be a function defined at every number in
some open interval containing a, except possibly at
the number a itself. The limit of f(x) as x
approaches L, written as

If the following statement is true:

Given any , however small,
there exists a such that
if then .
EXAMPLE 1.
Find the limit L. Then use the 𝜀 − 𝛿 definition
to prove that the limit is L.

lim 2𝑥 + 5
𝑥→3
 Given any ∈ > 0, however small,
there exists a 𝛿 > 0 such that
if 0 < 𝑥 − 𝑎 < 𝛿, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑓 𝑥 − 𝐿 <∈.

Solution:
if 0 < 𝑥 − 3 < 𝛿, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 2𝑥 + 5 − 11 < ∈
∈
𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝛿 =
2𝑥 + 5 − 11 < ∈ 2
𝑥−3 <𝛿
2𝑥 − 6 < ∈ ∈
𝑥−3 <
2(𝑥 − 3) < ∈ 2
∈ 2(𝑥 − 3) < ∈
𝑥−3 <
2 2𝑥 − 6 < ∈
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝟐𝒙 + 𝟓 = 𝟏𝟏 2𝑥 + 5 − 11 < ∈
𝒙→𝟑
 EXAMPLE 1.
f(x) = 2x + 5
x 2.5 2.9 2.99 2.999 2.9999 3 3.0001 3.001 3.01 3.1 3.5
f(x) 10 10.8 10.98 10.998 10.9998 11 11.0002 11.002 11.02 11.2 12
𝑥−3 0.5 0.1 0.01 0.001 0.0001 0 0. 0001 0.001 0.01 0.1 0.5 𝛅
𝐟 𝐱 − 𝟏𝟏 1 0.2 0.02 0.002 0.0002 0 0.0002 0.002 0.02 0.2
∈

lim 2𝑥 + 5 = 11
𝑥→3

∈
𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝜹 =
𝟐
EXAMPLE 2.
Prove that the limit is the indicated number by
applying the definition of limit of a function
Given any ∈ > 0, however small, there exists a 𝛿 > 0 such that
if 0 < 𝑥 − 𝑎 < 𝛿, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑓 𝑥 − 𝐿 <∈

Solution:
3 4𝑥 2 −9
↔ 𝑖𝑓 0 < 𝑥 − 2 < δ then − 6 <∈
2𝑥−3
2𝑥−3
↔ 𝑖𝑓 0 < < δ then 2𝑥 + 3 − 6 < ∈
2
1
↔ 𝑖𝑓 0 < (2𝑥
− 3) < δ then 2𝑥 − 3 < ∈
2
3 1 1
↔ 𝑖𝑓 0 < 𝑥 − < δ then (2𝑥 − 3) < ∈
2 2 2
3 ∈ 3 ∈
↔ 𝑖𝑓 0 < 𝑥 − 2 < then 𝑥 − 2 < 2
2
∈
Let δ= 2
PRACTICE EXERCISE #3
Page 51, Ex. 1.5 #s 8,10