BASIC CALCULUS

Learning Activity Sheet

Limit of a Function

Name: __________________________________________________________ Grade & Section: ______________

Date: _____________________ Score: ______________

Target Skills
This activity sheet serves as your self-learning guide in learning the competencies for this lesson.
This will help you understand how to illustrate the limit of a function using table of values and its graph,
and to differentiate between 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) and f(c).
𝑥𝑥 →𝑐𝑐

The Idea of Limits

The concept of “limit” is the building block on which all the underlying concepts of calculus are
based. It helps us to describe, in precise way, the behavior of f(x) when x is close, but not equal, to a
particular value of c.
Consider a function f of a single variable x and a constant c which the variable x will approach
(c may or may not be in the domain of f). The limit, to be denoted by L, is the unique real value that f(x)
will approach as x approaches c. In symbols,
𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) = L
𝑥𝑥 →𝑐𝑐

This is read, The limit of f(x) as x approaches c is L”.

To illustrate, let’s consider

Example 1: 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 (1 + 3𝑥𝑥)
𝑥𝑥 →2

Here, f(x)=1+3x and the constant c, which x will approach, is 2. To evaluate the given limit, we
will make use of a table to help us keep track of the effect that the approach of x toward 2 will have on
f(x). We first consider approaching 2 from its left or through values less than 2. Remember that the
values to be chosen should be close to 2.

Now we consider approaching 2 from its right or through values greater than but close to 2.

The table above suggests that as x gets closer and closer to 2 from either direction (left or right), the
corresponding values of f(x) gets closer and closer to 7.
Thus, we conclude that the limit, or limiting value, is 7. In symbols, 𝒍𝒍𝒍𝒍𝒍𝒍(𝟏𝟏 + 𝟑𝟑𝟑𝟑) = 7
𝒙𝒙 →𝟐𝟐
Looking at the graph of f(x) = 1+3x at the right.

Consider again f(x) = 1+3x. Its graph is the straight line with
slope 3 and intercepts (0, 1) and (1/3, 0). Look at the graph in
the vicinity of x = 2.

You can easily see the points (1, 4), (1.4, 5.2), (1.7, 6.1), and
so on, approaching the level where y = 7. The same can be seen
from the right. Hence, the graph clearly confirms that

𝒍𝒍𝒍𝒍𝒍𝒍(𝟏𝟏 + 𝟑𝟑𝟑𝟑) = 7
𝒙𝒙 →𝟐𝟐

Example 2: Investigate
𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 (𝑥𝑥 2 + 1)
𝑥𝑥 →─1

By constructing tables of values. Here, c = ─1 and f(x) = x2 + 1. We begin again by approaching ─1

from the left.

Now approach ─1 from the right.

The tables above suggest that as x approaches ─1, from either direction (left or right of ─1), f(x) gets
closer and closer to 2. In symbols,
𝒍𝒍𝒍𝒍𝒍𝒍 (𝒙𝒙𝟐𝟐 + 𝟏𝟏) = 2
𝒙𝒙 →─𝟏𝟏

Graphically it can be seen that as values of x approach 1, the values of f(x) approach 2.
Example 3: Investigate
𝑥𝑥 2 − 5𝑥𝑥 + 4
𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙
𝑥𝑥 →1 𝑥𝑥 − 1
𝒙𝒙𝟐𝟐 −𝟓𝟓𝟓𝟓 + 𝟒𝟒
Through the function f(x) = 𝒙𝒙−𝟏𝟏
is undefined at x = 1. Its limit would still be computed. Take note
that 1 is not in the domain of f, but this is not a problem. In evaluating a limit, remember that we only
need to go very close to 1; we will not go to 1 itself.
We now approach 1 from the left.

Approach 1 from the right.

The tables show that as x approaches 1, f(x) approaches 3. In symbols,

𝒙𝒙𝟐𝟐 −𝟓𝟓𝟓𝟓 + 𝟒𝟒
𝒍𝒍𝒍𝒍𝒍𝒍 𝒙𝒙−𝟏𝟏
= ─3
𝒙𝒙 →𝟏𝟏

This is consistent with the graph of f(x) shown at the figure below.

𝒙𝒙𝟐𝟐 −𝟓𝟓𝟓𝟓 + 𝟒𝟒 (𝑥𝑥−4)(𝑥𝑥−1 )

Take note that f(x) = 𝑥𝑥−1
= 𝑥𝑥−1
= x – 4, provided x ≠ 1. Hence, the graph of f(x) is also the
graph of y = x – 1, excluding the point where x = 1.

One-Sided Limits
In using both the numerical and graphical approaches to finding 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥), we studied the
𝑥𝑥 →𝑐𝑐
behavior of the function f from both sides of c. There are times when it is necessary to investigate the
limit on just one side of c (from the left or right of c).

The notation x → c means that x approaches c. It requires x to be on either side of c, that is, x is
less than c or greater than c. If x approaches c but always stays larger than c, we say that x approaches
c from the right, we use the notation
x → c+
If x approaches c but always stays less than c, we say that x approaches c from the left, we use
the notation
x → c─
 The limits of f(x) as x → c+ or x → c─ are called one-sided limits of f(x). The right-hand limit of f(x)
is denoted by 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙+ 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥), and the left-hand limit of the function f is denoted by 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙− 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥).
𝑥𝑥 →𝑐𝑐 𝑥𝑥 →𝑐𝑐

Example 4: Investigate through a table of values.

𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥)
𝑥𝑥 →4
if
𝑥𝑥 + 1 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑥𝑥 < 4
f(x) = �
(𝑥𝑥 − 4)2 + 3 𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑖 𝑥𝑥 ≥ 4.

This looks a bit different, but the logic and procedure are exactly the same. We still approach the
constant 4 from the left and from the right but note that we should evaluate the appropriate
corresponding functional expression. In this case, when x approaches 4 from the left, the values taken
should be substituted in f(x) = x + 1. Indeed, this is the part of the function which accepts values less
than 4. So,

On the other hand, when x approaches 4 from the right, the values taken should be substituted
in f(x)=(x – 4)2 + 3. So,

Observe that the values that f(x) approaches are not equal, namely, f(x) approaches 5 from the
left, denoted by 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙− 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) = 5, while it approaches 3 from the right, denoted by 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙+ 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) = 3.
𝑥𝑥 →4 𝑥𝑥 →4

Since 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) ≠ 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙+ 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥),

𝑥𝑥 →4 − 𝑥𝑥 →4

we say that the limit of the given function does not exist (DNE). In symbols,
𝒍𝒍𝒍𝒍𝒍𝒍 𝒇𝒇(𝒙𝒙) DNE
𝒙𝒙 →𝟒𝟒

Remarks:
1. If the left-hand limit does not equal to the right-hand limit, then the limit does not exist.
2. The existence of 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) does not depend on whether f(c) is defined or not.
𝑥𝑥 →𝑐𝑐
3. The existence of 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) does not depend on the value of f(c) if f(c) is defined. That is f(c) is
𝑥𝑥 →𝑐𝑐
defined but does not equal to 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥).
𝑥𝑥 →𝑐𝑐

Let’s Practice!
A. Complete the given tables to numerically estimate the following:
a. 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙− 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥)
𝑥𝑥 →𝑐𝑐

b. 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙+ 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥)
𝑥𝑥 →𝑐𝑐

c. 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥)
𝑥𝑥 →𝑐𝑐
1. f(x) = 2 – 3x; c = 1
x 0 0.9 0.99 0.999 1 1.001 1.01 1.1 2
f(x) ?

2. f(x) = 2x4 – 3x3 + 2x – 4; c = ─2

x ─3 ─2.1 ─2.01 ─2.001 ─2 ─1.999 ─1.99 ─1.9 ─1
f(x) ?

𝑥𝑥 2 −1
3. f(x) = 𝑥𝑥−1
;c=1

x 0 0.9 0.99 0.999 1 1.001 1.01 1.1 2

f(x) ?

𝑥𝑥 3 + 8
4. f(x) = 𝑥𝑥+2
; c = ─2

x ─3 ─2.1 ─2.01 ─2.001 ─2 ─1.999 ─1.99 ─1.9 ─1

f(x) ?

3𝑥𝑥 + 1, 𝑥𝑥 > 0
5. f(x) = � ;c=0
𝑥𝑥 2 + 1, 𝑥𝑥 ≤ 0
x ─1 ─0.1 ─0.01 ─0.001 0 0.001 0.01 0.1 1

f(x) ?

B. Use the graph of the function f as shown at the right to estimate the indicated limits.
_____ 1. f(-0.5) ______ 6. 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙− 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥)
𝑥𝑥 →2

_____ 2. f(-1.75) ______ 7. 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙+ 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥)

𝑥𝑥 →2

_____ 3. 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙− 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) ______ 8. 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥)

𝑥𝑥 →0 𝑥𝑥 →2

_____ 4. 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙+ 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) ______ 9. 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥)

𝑥𝑥 →0 𝑥𝑥 →4

_____ 5. 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥) ______ 10. 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 𝑓𝑓(𝑥𝑥)

𝑥𝑥 →0 𝑥𝑥 →1

C. Solve each problem (5 points each).

1. Given that 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 (3𝑥𝑥 + 5) = 2, find the value (s) of a.

𝑥𝑥 →2

1 1
−
2. Find the 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 �𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥−22� by constructing table of values.
𝑥𝑥 →2

References

Soaring 21st Century Mathematics (Basic Calculus) by Simon L. Chua, D. T., Ricci Ryan G. Rojo,
Ezekiel Bryan P. Aron, and Minerva Bianca U. Avecilla (Phoenix Publishing House)

Teaching Guide for Senior High School (Basic Calculus)

Brief Calculus and Its Applications by Larry J. Goldstein, David C. Lay, and David I. Schneider