LIMITS

AND

CONTINUITY
CHAPTER 1
Limit of a Function:
Theorems and Examples
LESSON 1
Objective(s)
 Illustratethe limit of a function using a table of
values and the graph of the function.
 Distinguish between and .
Evaluate the function if
Limit of a Function
 Considera function of a single variable .
Consider a constant which the variable will
approach ( may or may not be in the domain
of ). The limit, to be denoted by , is the
unique real value that will approach as
approaches . In symbols, we write this process
as
Limit of a Function

‘‘The limit of as approaches is .”

Limit of a Function
 If approaches from the left, or through
values less than , then we write

 If approaches from the right, or through

values greater than , then we write

 These are called one-sided limits

Limit of a Function
 Furthermore, if and only if
and
 Inother words, for a limit to exist, the limits
from the left and from the right must both exist
and be equal to
Limit of a Function
LOOKING AT A TABLE OF VALUES
To illustrate, consider:
Limit of a Function

On the left
side of 2
Limit of a Function

On the right
side of 2
Limit of a Function
Since,
and , then
Limit of a Function
LOOKING AT GRAPH
To illustrate, consider:
Limit of a Function
Consider and investigate:
Limit of a Function
Limit of a Function
Since,
and , then
Limit of a Function
Consider and investigate:
Limit of a Function
Limit of a Function
Since,
and , then
Limit of a Function
Consider and investigate:
Limit of a Function
Limit of a Function
Since,
and , then
Limit of a Function
Consider and investigate:

if
Limit of a Function
Limit of a Function
Since,
and ,
and
then
Limit of a Function
 Remember, if and only if
and

 if

* -
Limit of a Function
Consider and investigate the graph of
Limit of a Function



Limit of a Function
Exercise A
Complete the following tables of values to
investigate:

f
Exercise B