BASIC CALCULUS

Lesson 4: Limit of a Function at Infinity

Limit of a Function at Infinity

1. A function f (x) has a limit L as x →+ ∞ if the value of f ( x ) approach the number L as x increases
without bound. We write this limit at infinity as
lim f ( x )=L .
x→ ∞
2. A function f ( x) has a limit L as x →−∞ if the value of f ( x ) approach the number L as x decreases
without bound. We write this limit at infinity as
lim f ( x ) =L.
x→−∞

Illustrative Example:
1
Complete the Table of Values by evaluating the function f ( x )= on given the value of x .
Based on x the table, complete the
x f ( x) x f (x) statement.
100 −100
1,000 −1,000 As the value of x approaches ∞ , the
10,000 −10,000 value of f (x) approaches __.
100,000 −100,000
1,000,000 −1,000,000 As the value of x approaches −∞ , the
value of f (x) approaches __.

1 1
lim =¿ ¿ and lim =¿ ¿.
x→ ∞ x x→−∞ x

Special Limits at Infinity

A A
If A is any real number and n is a positive rational number, then lim n
=0 and lim n =0.
x→ ∞ x x→−∞ x
Illustrative Example:
4 x 3 +2 x2 +5
lim 3
x→ ∞ 5 x +x
3 2
4 x + 2 x +5 Divide both numerator and denominator
x
3 by the highest power of x that appears
¿ lim 3 in the denominator, that is x 3.
x →∞ 5 x +x
x3

4 x3 2 x2 5
3
+ 3 + 3
x x x
¿ lim 3
x →∞ 5 x +x
3
+ 3
x x

2 5
4+ + 3
x x
¿ lim
x →∞ 1
5+ 2
x

4+ 0+0 4
¿ =
5+0 5

Try this:
7 x 5−2 x 2+1
lim 6 3
x→ ∞ 4 x +5 x + x−5
Lesson 5: Vertical and Horizontal Asymptotes

Vertical and Horizontal Asymptotes

lim ¿
If +¿
x→ a f ( x ) ∨ lim
−¿
¿¿ is ∞ or −∞ , the line x=a is called vertical asymptote of f ( x).
x→a f ( x ) ¿

If lim f ( x )∨ lim f ( x ) is L , the line y=L is called horizontal asymptote of f (x).

x→ ∞ x →−∞
Illustrative Examples:
1
1. Complete the Table of Values by evaluating the function f ( x )= 2 on given the value of x .
Based xon the table, complete the
x f ( x) x f ( x) statement.
−0.9 0.9
−0.5 0.5 As the value of x approaches 0, the
−0.01 0.01 value of f ( x) approaches __.
−0.001 0.001
−0.0001 0.0001 1
lim =¿ ¿ .
x →0 x2
1
Hence, x=0 is vertical asymptote of f ( x )= 2.
x
3 2
4 x +2 x +5 4 4
2. In the example on lesson 4, lim = , y= is the horizontal asymptote of
x→ ∞
3
5 x +x 5 5
3 2
4 x +2 x +5
f ( x )= 3 .
5x +x
Try these:
1
1. Is x=1 a vertical asymptote of f ( x )= 2?
( x −1)
1
2. Determine horizontal asymptote of lim if it exist.
x→−∞ x−2

Lesson 6: Limits of Exponential, Logarithmic, and Trigonometric Functions

A. Exponential Functions
x c
1. lim b =b
x →c
x c
Review: Unit Circle
2. lim
x →c
e =e
B. Logarithmic Functions
1. lim
x →c
log x=log c

2. lim
x →c
ln x=ln c
C. Trigonometric Functions Determine the following:
1. lim
x →c
sin x =sin c 1. sin π
2. cos 0
2. lim
x →c
cos x=cos c
π
3. sec
3. lim tan x=tan c
x →c
2
4. tan0
4. lim csc x =csc c
x →c π
5. cot
5. lim sec x=sec c
x →c
2
6. lim cot x =cot c
x →c
D. Special Limits
lim sin x
x→0
=1
x
lim 1−cos x
Illustrativex →Examples:
0
=0
1. lim x x=tan0
tan
x →0
0
¿ =0
1
lim
2. x→ π x cos x =lim x ∙ lim cos x
x→π x →π
¿ π cos π
¿ π (−1 )=−π
Try these:
2 lim sec x
1. lim
x →0
sin x 3. x→
π
2
tan x sin 4 x
2. lim 4. lim
x →0 x x →0 x
Lesson 7: Continuity at a Point

Continuity at a Point:
Illustrative Examples:
1.

Graphs 1 to 4 are discontinuous at x = a, while graph 5 is continuous at x = a.

2. f ( x )= {
3 x−1 if x ≥ 1
2
x +1if x<1
at x=1

a. f ( 1 ) =3 (1 ) −1
¿−2

b. lim
x →1 { 3 x−1 if x ≥ 1
2
x +1 if x< 1
=2
lim ¿
+¿
x→ 1 (3 x−1)=f ( 1 ) ¿
¿ 3 ( 1 )−1=2
lim ¿
x→ 1 (x +1 )=f ( 1 ) ¿
−¿ 2

¿ 12 +1=2

c. lim
x →1
2 {
3 x−1 if x ≥ 1
x +1 if x< 1
=2=f ( 1 )

2=2
3 x−1 if x ≥ 1
Hence, f ( x )= 2
x +1if x<1 {
is continuous at x=1.

Try these:
2
x −1
1. f ( x )= at x=−1
x+1
x +1
2. f ( x )= at x=1
x−1

Try to discover: Continuity on an Interval