Basic Calculus

Marivic G. Mohillo, LPT

Mathematics Department
Silliman University Dumaguete City
 Prayer
Lord of Logic and Source of Infinite
Patterns, Our Almighty God, as we delve
into the world of mathematics today, we
ask for your enlightenment. May our
mathematical endeavors reflect the
harmony and order you have woven into
the fabric of creation.
Amen

Mohillo, M. (2023) 2
 Lesson 2.1: Limit of a Function

Determining the Limit

of a Function by using
Tabular and Graphical
Methods

Mohillo, M. (2023) 3
 Limit of a Function
• The limit a function 𝒇 is a number 𝑳 that the values of 𝒇(𝒙) approach as the values of 𝒙
approaches a certain number 𝒂. It is written as 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝑳 if it exists.
𝒙→𝒂

• 𝒍𝒊𝒎− 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝑳 is the limit of 𝒇(𝒙) approach as the values of 𝒙 approaches the number 𝒂
𝒙→𝒂
from the left. On the other hand, 𝒍𝒊𝒎+ 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝑳 is the limit of 𝒇(𝒙) approach as the values
𝒙→𝒂
of 𝒙 approaches the number 𝒂 from the right. They are known as one-sided limits.
• 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇(𝒙) exists and is equal to 𝑳 if and only if 𝒍𝒊𝒎− 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒍𝒊𝒎+ 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝑳.
𝒙→𝒂 𝒙→𝒂 𝒙→𝒂

• 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇(𝒙) is not always equal to 𝒇(𝒂).

𝒙→𝒂
Note: → 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔

Mohillo, M. (2023) 4
 Evaluating Limit
of a Function

Tabular Method

Mohillo, M. (2023) 5
 In order to get the limit of a function 𝒚 = 𝒇 𝒙 as 𝒙 approaches
the number 𝒂, do the following:
1. Compute for the values of 𝒇(𝒙) as 𝒙 approaches the number 𝒂 from the left and
check whether these values approaches a certain number. This is 𝒍𝒊𝒎− 𝒇(𝒙).
𝒙→𝒂
2. Compute for the values of 𝒇(𝒙) as 𝒙 approaches the number 𝒂 from the right
and check whether these values approaches a certain number. This is 𝒍𝒊𝒎+ 𝒇(𝒙).
𝒙→𝒂

3. Verify whether 𝒍𝒊𝒎− 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒍𝒊𝒎+ 𝒇(𝒙).

𝒙→𝒂 𝒙→𝒂

a. If 𝒍𝒊𝒎− 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒍𝒊𝒎+ 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝑳, then 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝑳

𝒙→𝒂 𝒙→𝒂 𝒙→𝒂

b. If 𝒍𝒊𝒎− 𝒇(𝒙) ≠ 𝒍𝒊𝒎+ 𝒇 𝒙 , then the 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇(𝒙) does not not exist (𝑫𝑵𝑬).
𝒙→𝒂 𝒙→𝒂 𝒙→𝒂

Mohillo, M. (2023) 6
 Evaluating Limit of a Function: Tabular
Method
Example 1: Evaluate the limit of 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑 as 𝑥 approaches 𝟏 using tabular method.

Solution:
In symbol: Find 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑 where 𝒂 = 𝟏 and 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑. Then form table of
𝒙→𝟏
values for 𝒙 and 𝒇 𝒙 . The values for 𝑥 approaches 𝟏 from the left and from the right and
evaluate 𝒇(𝒙) at these values.

Mohillo, M. (2023) 7
Example 1: Evaluate 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑 using tabular method.
𝒙→𝟏

𝐱
Table 1: 𝐱 approaches 𝟎 𝟎. 𝟓 𝟎. 𝟗 𝟎. 𝟗𝟗 𝟎. 𝟗𝟗𝟗
𝟏 from the left ∴ 𝐥𝐢𝐦−(𝟐𝐱 − 𝟑) = −𝟏
𝐱→𝟏
𝐱 → 𝟏− 𝐟 𝐱 = 𝟐𝐱 − 𝟑
−𝟑 −𝟐 −𝟏. 𝟐 −𝟏. 𝟎𝟐 −𝟏. 𝟎𝟎𝟐

𝐱
𝟐 𝟏. 𝟓 𝟏. 𝟏 𝟏. 𝟎𝟏 𝟏. 𝟎𝟎𝟏
Table 2: 𝐱 approaches
𝟏 from the right ∴ 𝐥𝐢𝐦+(𝟐𝐱 − 𝟑) = −𝟏
𝐱→𝟏
𝐱 → 𝟏+ 𝐟 𝐱 = 𝟐𝐱 − 𝟑
𝟏 𝟎 −𝟎. 𝟖 −𝟎. 𝟗𝟖 −𝟎. 𝟗𝟗𝟖

Since, 𝒍𝒊𝒎−(𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑) = 𝒍𝒊𝒎+ 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑 = −𝟏, then 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑 = −𝟏.

𝒙→𝟏 𝒙→𝟏 𝒙→𝟏

Mohillo, M. (2023) 8
 𝒙𝟐 −𝟗
Example 2: Use tabular method to evaluate 𝒍𝒊𝒎 .
𝒙→𝟑 𝒙−𝟑

Table 1: 𝒙 approaches 𝒙 𝟐 𝟐. 𝟓 𝟐. 𝟗 𝟐. 𝟗𝟗 𝟐. 𝟗𝟗𝟗

𝟑 from the left 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟗
𝒙𝟐 − 𝟗 ∴ 𝐥𝐢𝐦− =𝟔
𝒙 → 𝟑− 𝟓 𝟓. 𝟓 𝟓. 𝟗 𝟓. 𝟗𝟗 𝟓. 𝟗𝟗𝟗 𝒙→𝟑 𝒙−𝟑
𝒇 𝒙 =
𝒙−𝟑

𝒙 𝟒 𝟑. 𝟓 𝟑. 𝟏 𝟑. 𝟎𝟏 𝟑. 𝟎𝟎𝟏
Table 2: 𝒙 approaches
𝟑 from the right 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟗
∴ 𝐥𝐢𝐦+ =𝟔
𝒙 → 𝟑+ 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟗 𝒙→𝟑 𝒙−𝟑
𝒇 𝒙 = 𝟕 𝟔. 𝟓 𝟔. 𝟏 𝟔. 𝟎𝟏 𝟔. 𝟎𝟎𝟏
𝒙−𝟑

𝒙𝟐 −𝟗 𝒙𝟐 −𝟗 𝒙𝟐 −𝟗
Since, 𝒍𝒊𝒎− 𝒙−𝟑 = 𝒍𝒊𝒎+ 𝒙−𝟑 = 𝟔, then 𝒍𝒊𝒎 = 𝟔.
𝒙→𝟑 𝒙→𝟑 𝒙→𝟑 𝒙−𝟑

Mohillo, M. (2023) 9
 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟏, 𝒙 < 𝟐
Example 3: Let 𝒈 𝒙 = ቊ . Evaluate 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒈(𝒙).
𝒙 + 𝟐, 𝒙 ≥ 𝟐 𝒙→𝟐

Solution:
In symbol: Find 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒈 𝒙 where 𝒂 = 𝟐 and 𝒈 𝒙 as defined above. Then form
𝒙→𝟐
table of values for 𝒙 and 𝒈 𝒙 . The values for 𝑥 approaches 𝟐 from the left and
from the right and evaluate 𝒈(𝒙) at these values.

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 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟏, 𝒙 < 𝟐
Example 3: Let 𝒈 𝒙 = ቊ . Evaluate 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒈(𝒙).
𝒙 + 𝟐, 𝒙 ≥ 𝟐 𝒙→𝟐

Table 1: 𝒙 approaches 𝒙 𝟏 𝟏. 𝟓 𝟏. 𝟗 𝟏. 𝟗𝟗 𝟏. 𝟗𝟗𝟗

𝟐 from the left ∴ 𝐥𝐢𝐦− 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝟑
𝒙 → 𝟐− 𝟐
𝒈 𝒙 =𝒙 −𝟏 𝟎 𝟏. 𝟐𝟓 𝟐. 𝟔𝟏 𝟐. 𝟗𝟔𝟎𝟏 𝟐. 𝟗𝟗𝟔𝟎𝟎𝟏 𝒙→𝟐

𝒙 𝟑 𝟐. 𝟓 𝟐. 𝟏 𝟐. 𝟎𝟏 𝟐. 𝟎𝟎𝟏
Table 2: 𝒙 approaches
𝟐 from the right ∴ 𝐥𝐢𝐦+ 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝟒
𝒙 → 𝟐+ 𝒙→𝟐
𝒈 𝒙 =𝒙+𝟐 𝟓 𝟒. 𝟓 𝟒. 𝟏 𝟒. 𝟎𝟏 𝟒. 𝟎𝟎𝟏

Since, 𝒍𝒊𝒎− 𝒈 𝒙 = 𝒍𝒊𝒎+ 𝒈(𝒙), that is 𝟑 ≠ 𝟒, then 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒈(𝒙) 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒆𝒙𝒊𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒓 𝑫𝑵𝑬.
𝒙→𝟐 𝒙→𝟐 𝒙→𝟐

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 Infinite Limits

Mohillo, M. (2023) 12
 𝒙
Example 4: Use tabular method to evaluate 𝒍𝒊𝒎 .
𝒙→𝟐 𝒙−𝟐

Table 1: 𝒙 approaches 𝒙 𝟏 𝟏. 𝟓 𝟏. 𝟗 𝟏. 𝟗𝟗 𝟏. 𝟗𝟗𝟗

𝟐 from the left 𝒙
𝒙 ∴ 𝐥𝐢𝐦− = −∞
𝒙 → 𝟐− 𝒇 𝒙 = −𝟏 −𝟑 −𝟏𝟗 −𝟏𝟗𝟗 −𝟏𝟗𝟗𝟗 𝒙→𝟐 𝒙−𝟐
𝒙−𝟐

𝒙 𝟑 𝟐. 𝟓 𝟐. 𝟏 𝟐. 𝟎𝟏 𝟐. 𝟎𝟎𝟏
Table 2: 𝒙 approaches
𝟐 from the right 𝒙
𝒙 ∴ 𝐥𝐢𝐦+ = +∞
𝒙 → 𝟐+ 𝒙→𝟐 𝒙−𝟐
𝒇 𝒙 = 𝟑 𝟓 𝟐𝟏 𝟐𝟎𝟏 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟏
𝒙−𝟐

𝒙 𝒙 𝒙
Since, 𝒍𝒊𝒎− ≠ 𝒍𝒊𝒎+ = 𝟔, that is −∞ ≠ +∞, then 𝒍𝒊𝒎 DNE.
𝒙→𝟐 𝒙−𝟐 𝒙→𝟐 𝒙−𝟐 𝒙→𝟐 𝒙−𝟐

Mohillo, M. (2023) 13
 Limit of a Function
• The limit of a function 𝑓 as • In Example 1: 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑 = −𝟏.
𝒙→𝟏
𝑥 → 𝑎 is equal to the function
value at 𝑎 if 𝑎 is part of the • 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑 and the domain of this function is the set of all real
domain of 𝑓. The limit in this numbers. Now 1 is part of the domain since 1 is a real number. So,
case always exist if the function 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑 = 𝒇 𝟏 = 𝟐 𝟏 − 𝟑 = −𝟏.
𝒙→𝟏
is not piecewise.
𝒙𝟐 −𝟗
Symbol: 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒇(𝒂) iff
𝒙→𝒂
• In Example 2: 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒙−𝟑 = 𝟔.
𝒙→𝟑
𝒂 is an element of the
𝒙𝟐 −𝟗
domain of 𝒇. • 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝒙−𝟑 and the domain of this function is the set of all real
• If 𝑎 is not part of the domain numbers except for the zero of the denominator 𝑥 − 3 = 0 ⇒ 𝑥 = 𝟑 .
𝒙𝟐 −𝟗
of 𝑓 then 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇(𝒙) ≠ 𝒇(𝒂). Now 3 is not part of the domain. So, 𝒍𝒊𝒎 ≠ 𝒇(𝟑). To verify
𝒙→𝒂 𝒙→𝟑 𝒙−𝟑
𝒙𝟐 −𝟗
𝒇 𝟑 is undefined. Thus, 𝒍𝒊𝒎 does not exist.
𝒙→𝟑 𝒙−𝟑

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 Evaluating Limit
of a Function

Graphical Method

Mohillo, M. (2023) 15
Example 1: Evaluate 𝒍𝒊𝒎(𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑) using graphical method.
𝒙→𝟏
• As 𝒙 → 𝟏− (𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑤𝑠) the values for 𝒇 𝒙 or the
𝑦 − 𝑐𝑜𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒 of the point where the arrow (green)
intersect the graph approaches −𝟏. Thus, 𝒍𝒊𝒎−(𝟐𝒙 −
𝒙→𝟏
𝟑) = −𝟏.
• As 𝒙 → 𝟏+ (𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑤𝑠) the values for 𝒇 𝒙 or the 𝑦 −
𝑐𝑜𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒 of the point where the arrow (red) intersect
the graph approaches −𝟏. Thus, 𝒍𝒊𝒎+ 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑 = −𝟏.
𝒙→𝟏

• Since, 𝒍𝒊𝒎− (𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑) = 𝒍𝒊𝒎+ 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑 = −𝟏,

𝒙→𝟏 𝒙→𝟏

then 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟑 = −𝟏.

𝒙→𝟏

Mohillo, M. (2023) 16
 𝒙𝟐 −𝟗
Example 2: Evaluate 𝒍𝒊𝒎
𝒙−𝟑
using graphical method.
𝒙→𝟑
• As 𝒙 → 𝟑− (𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑤𝑠) the values for 𝒇 𝒙 or the
𝑦 − 𝑐𝑜𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒 of the point where the arrow (green)
𝒙𝟐 −𝟗
intersect the graph approaches 𝟔. Thus, 𝒍𝒊𝒎 = 𝟔.
𝒙→𝟑− 𝒙−𝟑

• As 𝒙 → 𝟑+ (𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑤𝑠) the values for 𝒇 𝒙 or the 𝑦 −

𝑐𝑜𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒 of the point where the arrow (red) intersect
𝒙𝟐 −𝟗
the graph approaches 𝟔. Thus, 𝒍𝒊𝒎 = 𝟔.
𝒙→𝟑+ 𝒙−𝟑

𝑥 2 −9 𝑥 2 −9
• Since, lim− 𝑥−3 = lim = 6,
𝑥→3 𝑥→3+ 𝑥−3

𝒙𝟐 −𝟗
then 𝒍𝒊𝒎 = 𝟔.
𝒙→𝟑 𝒙−𝟑

Mohillo, M. (2023) 17
 𝒙𝟐 − 𝟏, 𝒙 < 𝟐
Example 3: Let 𝒈 𝒙 = ቊ . Evaluate 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒈(𝒙)using graphical method.
𝒙 + 𝟐, 𝒙 ≥ 𝟐 𝒙→𝟐

• As 𝒙 → 𝟐− (𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑤𝑠) the values for 𝒈 𝒙 or the

𝑦 − 𝑐𝑜𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒 of the point where the arrow (green)
intersect the graph approaches 𝟑. Thus, 𝒍𝒊𝒎− 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝟑.
𝒙→𝟐

• As 𝒙 → 𝟐+ (𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑤𝑠) the values for 𝒈 𝒙 or the 𝑦 −

𝑐𝑜𝑜𝑟𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒 of the point where the arrow (red) intersect
the graph approaches 𝟒. Thus, 𝒍𝒊𝒎+ 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝟒.
𝒙→𝟐

• Since, 𝒍𝒊𝒎− 𝒈(𝒙) ≠ 𝒍𝒊𝒎+ 𝒈(𝒙), that is 𝟑 ≠ 𝟒,

𝒙→𝟐 𝒙→𝟐

then 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒈(𝒙) 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒆𝒙𝒊𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒓 𝑫𝑵𝑬.

𝒙→𝟐

Mohillo, M. (2023) 18
Example 4: Using the given graph of 𝒇 𝒙 at the right, answer the following.

1. 𝒍𝒊𝒎− 𝒇 𝒙 = ______; 𝒍𝒊𝒎+ 𝒇 𝒙 = ______; 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇 𝒙 = ______

𝒙→−𝟓 𝒙→−𝟓 𝒙→−𝟓

2. 𝒇 −𝟓 = ______

3. 𝒇 −𝟑 = ______

4. 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇 𝒙 = ______
𝒙→−𝟑

5. 𝒍𝒊𝒎− 𝒇 𝒙 = ______; 𝒍𝒊𝒎+ 𝒇 𝒙 = ______; 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇 𝒙 = ______

𝒙→𝟎 𝒙→𝟎 𝒙→𝟎

6. 𝒇 𝟎 = ______

Mohillo, M. (2023) 19
Example 4: Using the given graph of 𝒇 𝒙 at the right, answer the following.

1. 𝒍𝒊𝒎− 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝟕 ; 𝒍𝒊𝒎+ 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝟕 ; 𝒍𝒊𝒎− 𝒇 𝒙 = 𝟕

𝒙→−𝟓 𝒙→−𝟓 𝒙→−𝟓

2. 𝒇 −𝟓 = 𝟕
3. 𝒇 −𝟑 = 𝟓

4. 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇 𝒙 𝑫𝑵𝑬
𝒙→−𝟑

5. 𝒍𝒊𝒎− 𝒇 𝒙 = −∞ ; 𝒍𝒊𝒎+ 𝒇 𝒙 = +∞ ; 𝒍𝒊𝒎− 𝒇 𝒙 𝑫𝑵𝑬

𝒙→𝟎 𝒙→𝟎 𝒙→𝟎

6. 𝒇 𝟎 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐫 𝑫𝑵𝑬

Mohillo, M. (2023) 20
Example 5: Using the given graph of 𝒈 𝒙 at the right, answer the following.

1. 𝒍𝒊𝒎− 𝒈 𝒙 = ______; 𝒍𝒊𝒎+ 𝒈 𝒙 = ______; 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒈 𝒙 = ______

𝒙→𝟎 𝒙→𝟎 𝒙→𝟎

2. 𝒈 𝟎 = ______

3. 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒈 𝒙 = ______
𝒙→−𝟑

4. 𝒈 −𝟑 = ______

Mohillo, M. (2023) 21
Example 5: Using the given graph of 𝒈 𝒙 at the right, answer the following.

1. 𝒍𝒊𝒎− 𝒈 𝒙 = +∞ ; 𝒍𝒊𝒎+ 𝒈 𝒙 = +∞ ; 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒈 𝒙 = +∞

𝒙→𝟎 𝒙→𝟎 𝒙→𝟎

2. 𝒈 𝟎 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐫 𝑫𝑵𝑬

3. 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒈 𝒙 = 𝑫𝑵𝑬
𝒙→−𝟑

4. 𝒈 −𝟑 = −𝟏

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