Marikina High School

SHS STEM-Math Department

Teacher: Dan Russell M. Ventura

Email: russellventura@depedmarikina.ph

BASIC CALCULUS
Basic Concepts of Limits and
Continuity of Function
___

QUARTER 3 - MODULE 1

LIMIT OF A FUNCTION

2
Let’s say we have a given function 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 . What if we are asked to find the function as x approaches
2.

This concept is different from a function with 𝑥 = 2 or 𝑓(2).

2 2
𝑓(2) = 𝑥 = 2 = 4

While finding the function 𝑓(𝑥) as x approaches 2 requires us to generate tables of values or sketch its
graph. In other words, to evaluate the function as x approaches 2, we will make a table of values.
Evaluating some values on the left side of 2 (between 1 and less than 2), we found values of f(x) as:

x 1 1.5 1.7 1.9 1.99 1.9999

f(x) 1 2.25 2.89 3.61 3.9601 3.9996

Now, we consider x approaching 2 using numbers on the right side of 2 (between 3 and greater than 2),
we found values of f(x) as:

x 3 2.5 2.3 2.1 2.01 2.0001

f(x) 9 6.25 5.29 4.41 4.0401 4.0004

Going back to what we are asked: What is the function approaching as x equals 2?

Based on the tables of values, as the values of x get closer to 2 (greater or lesser than to the left/right
in the number line), the values of f(x) get closer to 4.

This is an idea connected to LIMIT. This concept is very important because it is where everything in
Calculus is based upon.
In mathematics, LIMITS are values that a function or sequence approaches as the input approaches
some value. The notation for the limit of 𝑓(𝑥), as 𝑥 approaches 𝑎 is 𝑐, written as:

lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑐
𝑥→ 𝑎

Hence, from the example above, we can rewrite it in notation form as follows:

lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 4
𝑥→ 2

2 2
Notice that 𝑓(2) = 𝑥 = 2 = 4while lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 4.
𝑥→ 2

Does this mean that the value of the function at 𝑎 and the limit of a function as x approaches the given
value 𝑎 equal?

𝑥−1
Let us consider the lim 𝑓(𝑥) given 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥−1
. Can we just simply express it as 𝑓(1) since we found
𝑥→ 1

out earlier that the value of the function at 𝑎 and the limit of a function as x approaches the given
value 𝑎 are equal?

However, when we evaluate the function with 𝑥 = 1, the function is undefined.

𝑥−1 1−1 0
𝑓(1) = 𝑥−1
= 1−1
= 0
(𝑎𝑛𝑦𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑑𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑧𝑒𝑟𝑜, 𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑙𝑢𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑧𝑒𝑟𝑜, 𝑖𝑠 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑)

𝑥−1
Therefore we can say that, for 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥−1
⇒ 𝑓(𝑥) = 1, 𝑥 ≠ 1. When we graph this:
Notice the gap or at 𝑥 = 1in the graph of the function to denote that 𝑓(1) 𝑖𝑠 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑.

When asked about the limit of the function as x goes closer and closer to 1, the function approaching
can be denoted as 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑎𝑠 𝑥 𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑠 1 𝑖𝑠 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝑡𝑜 1.This concept can be expressed in
notation as lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 1.
𝑥→1

{ }
2
𝑥 ,𝑥≠2
Let’s have another example, say a piecewise function 𝑔(𝑥) = 1, 𝑥 = 2

2
Notice again the gap at 𝑥 = 2 since we don’t use 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥 instead we use 𝑔(𝑥) = 1 and plot the
point outside the parabola.

Now, what is 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑔(𝑥) 𝑎𝑠 𝑥 𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑠 𝑡𝑜 2?

Again, the question is simply asking us what is g(x) approaching as x approaches 2. Meaning, if you
get to 1.9, or 1.99, or 1.9999, what is g(x) approaching? It is approaching 4, right?
Hence, we can say that the limit of g(x) as x approaches 2 is 4. In notation, we can express it as

lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 4
𝑥→2

Now, you’re probably seeing how the concept of limit is slightly different from evaluating a function.
Especially if we have functions where, for whatever reason, at a certain point, the function might not
be defined or jump up or down.

Sample Exercises on the Concepts of Limit

2𝑥 + 2
1. For 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥+1
, what is the lim 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥 → −1

What happens if we solve for 𝑓(− 1) or we evaluate the function with 𝑥 =− 1?

2𝑥 + 2 2(−1) + 2 0
𝑓(− 1) = 𝑥+1
= −1 + 1
= 0
, undefined

However, again, the concept of limit makes use of the values “approaching” -1. It’s not exactly about
having 𝑥 =− 1 just as we solve functions.

Now going back to the sample limit notation, how do we determine the limit of the given function?

● Limit from Data Tables

○ To evaluate the given limit, we will make a table of values. Let us consider x as it
approaches -1. Evaluating some values to the right of -1 and approaching it, we found
values of f(x) as:

x 1 0 -0.5 -0.9 -0.999

f(x) 2 2 2 2 2

○ This time, evaluating some numbers to the left of -1 and approaching it, we found
values of f(x) as:

x -2 -1.5 -1.1 -1.01 -1.001

f(x) 2 2 2 2 2

Note that as the values of x get closer to -1 (to the left and right in the number line), the value of f(x)
2𝑥 + 2
is still 2. Hence, we can say that 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥+1
, 𝑡ℎ𝑒 lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 2.
𝑥 → −1

● Limit from Graph

○ If we know the graph of 𝑓(𝑥), it is easier to determine its limit as 𝑥 approaches a given
2𝑥 + 2
value of 𝑎. The graph of the function 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥+1
is given by:
 ○ The graph shows that as the values of x approach -1, the values of f(x) are approaching
2 (even if in that particular graph, it does not exist when 𝑥 =− 1). Thus, again we can
2𝑥 + 2
say that 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥+1
, 𝑡ℎ𝑒 lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 2
𝑥 → −1
1
2. For 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥
, 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 lim 𝑔(𝑥)?
𝑥→0

● Using Graph
○ For this kind of given, we can just use the graph so we can easily see the behavior of the
values.
1
○ The graph of 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥
would be

○ From the graph above, we can see that as values from the left side (negative) approach
0, we have an asymptote, meaning, we approach negative infinity.
○ On the other hand, if we approach 0 from the right side (positive), we also have an
asymptote since it approaches positive infinity. We will never get to zero since the
function would be undefined if 𝑥 = 0.
 ○ Now for this given, we will have two notations:
■ The limit of g(x) as x approaches 0 from the positive direction: lim 𝑔(𝑥) = ∞
+
𝑥→0

■ The limit of g(x) as x approaches 0 from the negative direction:

lim 𝑔(𝑥) =− ∞
𝑥 → 0−
○ As you can see, based on the graph, we are approaching different values from one side
or the other, this limit does not exist (DNE). In notation, we can say that
1
𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥
, 𝑡ℎ𝑒 lim 𝑔(𝑥) 𝑑𝑜𝑒𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑒𝑥𝑖𝑠𝑡 or in other references, lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝐷𝑁𝐸.
𝑥→0 𝑥→0

Note: The limit does not exist (DNE) when we are taking a limit at a point where you get a two-sided
divergence (both the positive and negative directions differ). Hence, when using data tables, it is important
to evaluate using the values approaching the given variable from the left and right directions.

2
𝑥 − 5𝑥 + 4
3. Evaluate the lim 𝑥−1
𝑥→1

● Using Data Tables

○ Again, we have to make tables of values approaching 1 from the right and left direction:

x 0 0.5 0.7 0.9 0.99

f(x) -4 -3.5 -3.3 -3.1 -3.01

x 2 1.5 1.1 1.01 1.001

f(x) -2 -2.5 -2.9 -2.99 -2.999

○ Note that as the values of x get closer to 1 from its left or right, the values of f(x) get
2
𝑥 − 5𝑥 + 4
closer to -3. Hence, in notation, lim 𝑥−1
=− 3.
𝑥→1

4. Evaluate the lim ℎ(𝑥)if ℎ(𝑥) =

𝑥→4
{ 𝑥+1
2
(𝑥−4) +3 } 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 < 4
𝑖𝑓 𝑥 ≥ 4

● Using Data Tables

○ Again, we have to make tables of values approaching 4 from the right and left direction:

x 3.8 3.9 3.99 3.999

h(x) 4.8 4.9 4.99 4.999

x 4.2 4.1 4.01 4.001

h(x) 3.04 3.01 3.0001 3.000001

 ○ Note that as the values of x get closer to 4 from its left, the values of h(x) get closer to
5. On the other hand, as the values of x get closer to 4 from its right, the values of f(x)
get closer to 3. In such a case, we say that the limit of the given function does not exist.
Hence, in notation, lim ℎ(𝑥) = 𝐷𝑁𝐸.
𝑥→4

● Using Graph

○ The graph of ℎ(𝑥) = { 𝑥+1

2
(𝑥−4) +3 } 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 < 4
𝑖𝑓 𝑥 ≥ 4
would be

○
○ Based on the graph, you can see that f(x) has no limit as x approaches 4. The two
separate parts of the function moved toward unequal y values of y = 5 from the left; and
y = 3 from the right, in the vicinity of a = 4. Then, in notation, lim ℎ(𝑥) = 𝐷𝑁𝐸.
𝑥→4

Quick Summary:
So when do limits fail to exist?
1. When one-sided limits are not equal
2. When the function does not approach a finite value
3. When the function does not approach a particular value (oscillation)
4. The x-value is approaching the endpoint of a closed interval

REFERENCES

Introduction to Limits by Khan Academy

How to Determine if a Limit Does Not Exist

Graphical Representation of Limit of Piecewise Function

LIMIT LAWS

Most of the time, we can get the limit of functions by graphing or creating a table of values. However,
sometimes, it is nicer to have shortcuts, right?

These are certain properties that we can use to determine limits easily:
1. Constant Law: lim 𝑘 = 𝑘
𝑥→𝑎

This law deals with constant functions (horizontal lines). Since y is always equal to x, it does
not matter what x approaches. Example:
a. lim 8 = 8
𝑥→6

2. Identity Law: lim 𝑥 = 𝑎

𝑥→𝑎

This law deals with the function y = x . Since y and x are equal, whatever value x approaches, y
will have to approach the same value. Example:
a. lim 𝑥 = 4
𝑥→4

3. Addition (or Subtraction) Law: lim [𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥)] = lim 𝑓(𝑥) + lim 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

This simply means, when you take the limit of an addition, you can just take the limit of each
term or addends individually. Then, add the results. Examples:
a. lim (𝑥 + 5) = lim 𝑥 + lim 5
𝑥 → −7 𝑥 → −7 𝑥 → −7

= −7 + 5 by Identity Law and Constant Law

= −2
2 2
b. lim [(𝑥 + 𝑥) + (𝑥 + 1)] = lim (𝑥 + 𝑥) + lim (𝑥 + 1)
𝑥→2 𝑥→2 𝑥→2
2
= (2 + 2) + (2 + 1)
= (4 + 2) + 3
= 9
4. Mulitplication Law: lim [𝑓(𝑥) • 𝑔(𝑥)] = [ lim 𝑓(𝑥)][ lim 𝑔(𝑥)]
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

If the function involves the product of two (or more) factors, you can just take the limit of each
factor, then multiply the results together. Examples:
2
a. lim 𝑥 = lim (𝑥 • 𝑥)
𝑥→5 𝑥→5

= ( lim 𝑥)( lim 𝑥)

𝑥→5 𝑥→5

= (5)(5)
= 25
b. lim 8𝑥 = lim (8 • 𝑥)
𝑥→3 𝑥→3

=( lim 8)( lim 𝑥) by Constant Law and Identity Law

𝑥→3 𝑥→3

= (8)(3)
 = 24
2
c. lim (𝑥 + 2𝑥 + 1) = lim [(𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 + 1)]
𝑥→2 𝑥→2

=( lim 𝑥 + 1)( lim 𝑥 + 1)

𝑥→2 𝑥→2

= ( lim 𝑥 + lim 1)( lim 𝑥 + lim 1)by Addition Law

𝑥→2 𝑥→2 𝑥→2 𝑥→2

= (2 + 1)(2 + 1) by Constant Law and Identity Law

=9
2 2
5. Power Law: lim (𝑓(𝑥)) = ( lim 𝑓(𝑥))
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑐

When taking limits with exponents, you can take the limit of the function first, and then apply
the exponent. But you have to be careful. If the exponent is negative, then the limit of the
function should not be zero. Examples:
3 3
a. lim 4𝑥 = ( lim 4)( lim 𝑥 )
𝑥 → −2 𝑥 → −2 𝑥 → −2
3
= 4( lim 𝑥) by Constant Law
𝑥 → −2
3
= 4(− 2)
= 4(− 8)
=− 32
2 2
b. lim [3𝑥 + 3] = lim [3 • (𝑥 + 1)]
𝑥→2 𝑥→2
2
= ( lim 3)[( lim 𝑥 ) + ( lim 1)]
𝑥→2 𝑥→2 𝑥→2
2
= (3)[( lim 𝑥) + (1)]by Constant Law
𝑥→2
2
= (3)[(2) + 1] by Identity Law
= 3(5)
= 15
lim 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑓(𝑥) 𝑥→𝑎
6. Division Law: lim 𝑔(𝑥)
= lim 𝑔(𝑥)
provided that lim 𝑔(𝑥) ≠ 0
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

The Division Law tells us that we can simply find the limit of the numerator and the
denominator separately, as long as we don't arrive at zero as the denominator. Example:
lim 3𝑥
3𝑥 𝑥→2
a. lim 2 = 2
𝑥→2 𝑥 +1 lim 𝑥 +1
𝑥→2

3(2)
= 2
(2) +1
6
= 5

7. Root Law: lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐿 provided that 𝐿 ≥ 0 when n is even

𝑛 𝑛

𝑥→𝑎
 Root law for limits states that the limit of the nth root of a function equals the nth root of the
limit of the function. Example:

a. lim 𝑥 + 18 = lim 𝑥 + 18
𝑥 → −2 𝑥 → −2

= − 2 + 18 by Identity Law and Constant Law

= 16
=4

LIMITS OF ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS

Here are some tips regarding the limits of algebraic functions:

1. Polynomials are the nicest from the POV of limits; The limit of p(x), if this is a polynomial and a is
an element of Real numbers, is p(a).
Since every polynomial function is continuous everywhere on (− ∞, ∞).
The function f is continuous at a if ALL three of the conditions below are true:
a. 𝑓(𝑎) is defined
b. lim 𝑓(𝑥) exists
𝑥→𝑎

c. lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑎)

𝑥→𝑎

2. The limit of rational functions, f(x), is f(a) if the denominator is not equal to 0.

3. Not all discontinuous functions do not exist.

A discontinuous function is a function in algebra that has a point where either the function is not
defined at the point or the left-hand limit and right-hand limit of the function are equal but not
equal to the value of the function at that point or the limit of the function does not exist at the given
point. Discontinuities have different types:
4. Not all “undefined” rational functions do not exist. Sometimes if the numerator is any real number
and the denominator is 0, the limit does not exist; Also, sometimes, if the numerator and
denominator are zero, then the limit exists.

REFERENCES

Limit Laws

Continuous Functions

Continuous Functions and Discontinuity

Discontinuous Functions