ONE SIDED LIMITS

Chapter 2 Lecture 2 Part 2

2 INTRODUCTION
So far in our discussion of the limit of a function as the independent variable x approaches a number a, we have been concerned with values of x as close to a and either greater than a or less than a, that is, values of x in an open interval containing a but not at a itself

3 INTRODUCTION
Suppose, however, that we have the function defined by f (x) ! x  4 Because f(x) does not exist if x < 4, f is not defined on any open interval containing 4. Thus, lim x  4 has xp4 no meaning. If, however, x is restricted to number x  4 can be made as greater than 4, the value of close to 0 as we please by taking x sufficiently close to 4 but greater than 4. In such a case we let x approach 4 from the right and consider the right hand limit (or the one-sided limit from the right).

4
DEFINITION OF A RIGHT-HAND LIMIT
Let f be a function defined at every number in some open interval (a,c). Then the limit of f(x), as x approaches a from the right, is L, written as
xpa

lim f ( x) ! L

Computing the limit of x  4 , as x approaches 4 from the right, we have from the definition
xp4

lim x  4 ! 0 

5 DEFINITION OF A LEFT-HAND LIMIT

Let f be a function defined at every number in some open interval (d,a). Then the limit of f(x), as x approaches a from the left, is L, written as
xpa

lim f ( x) ! L

6 NOTE
We refer to lim f ( x ) as the two-sided limit to xp a distinguish it from one-sided limits. The limit theorems remain valid when x p a is x p a  or x p a  replaced by either

7 THEOREM
lim f ( x) exists and is equal to L if and only if
xpa

lim f ( x) and lim f ( x) both exist and both are xpa xpa

equal to L.

8 Example:
Determine if the limit exists.
2 x C ( x) ! 1 .8 x
Solution:
x p10

lim ( x) ! lim 2 x
x p10

x p10

lim ( x) ! lim 1.8 x

x p10

! 20
 

! 18

Since xlim C( x) { xlim C( x) we conclude that lim C( x) p10 p10 xp10 does not exist.

9 Example:
Determine if the limit exists.
 x2 4 h( x ) ! 2 2  x
Solution:
x p1

lim h( x ) ! lim 4  x  
x p1 2

x p1

lim h( x) ! lim 2  x 2  
x p1 2

! 4  (1) ! 2  (1) !3 !3 Since lim h( x) ! lim h( x) , then lim h( x ) exists x p1 x p1 xp1 and is equal to 3.
 

10 Example:
Determine if the limit exists.
x g ( x) ! 2
Solution
xp0

lim g ( x) ! lim (  x )
xp0

xp0

lim g ( x) ! lim x 
xp0

!0
 

!0

Because xlim g ( x) ! xlim g ( x) , then lim g ( x) exists and p0 p0 xp0 is equal to 0. Notice that g(0) = 2 which has no effect on lim g ( x) xp0

11 Exercises: (MWF Classes)

Determine if the limit exists.
2 1) f ( x) !  1 3  t4 2) f (t ) ! 4 t

x2 3) f ( x) ! 8  2x
2r  3 4) f ( r ) ! 2  2r 7

12 Exercises: (TTh Classes)

Determine if the limit exists.
1) f ( x) ! 2

2

2 x 1 3) f ( x ) ! 10 x

2) f ( s ) ! 3  s

s3

 t2 3 4) g (t ) ! 0 t2 11