CHAPTER 2 :

FUNCTIONS & LIMIT

2.0 INTRODUCTION
2.1 FUNCTIONS
2.2 LIMITS
2.1 LIMITS Numerical
2
approach to
LIMITS
Limit is used to describe how a function behaves as the
independent variable (x) approaches a given value.
For example, let us examine the behavior of the function
as x take values closer to 1.
f x   2 x  2
The following table 1 & 2 shows the behavior of f(x) for x
close to 1;

Ex 8 pg 67
Table 1 (Left side, x < 1)
x 0.5 0.8 0.9 0.95 0.99 0.999 0.99999 → 1.0
f(x) 3 3.6 3.8 3.9 3.98 3.998 3.99998 ?
2.1 LIMITS
3

Table 2 (Right side), x > 1)

x 1.0 ← 1.00001 1.001 1.01 1.05 1.1 1.2 1.5
f(x) ? 4.0002 4.002 4.02 4.1 4.2 4.4 5

From the Table 1, when x approaches 1, f(x) approaches 4, or

we can write:
lim 2 x  2  lim 2 x  2  4
x 1 x 1

 lim 2 x  2  4
x 1
 Example 5
2
4
x 1
Given that hx   , compute h(x) as x takes values
x 1
closer to 1. Ex 8 (3) pg
Solution 68

Step 1: Let us consider the values of x that get closer and closer to x = 1.
Table 1 (Left side, x < 1)
x 0.5 0.8 0.9 0.95 0.99 0.999 0.99999 → 1.0
f(x) 1.5 1.8 1.9 1.95 1.99 1.999 1.99999 ?

Table 2 (Right side), x > 1)

x 1.0 ← 1.00001 1.001 1.01 1.05 1.1 1.2 1.5
f(x) ? 2.00001 2.001 2.01 2.05 2.1 2.2 2.5

Step 2: In both cases when x approaches 1; x2  1

lim 
x 1 x  1
2.1.1 Two Sided Limits
5

Definition:
 The two sided limit of a function f exist at a point c if and only
if both the one sided limits exist at that point and have the
same value, that is;
lim f ( x )  L if and only if lim f ( x )  L  lim f ( x )
x c x c x c

The definition for the two one sided limits are

 Right – handed limit: lim f ( x )  L
x c

 Left – handed limit: lim f ( x )  L

x c
 Graphical
From the RIGHT approach to
6 LIMITS

We write lim f ( x )  L
x c

if we can make the values of f(x) as close to L as we

like by taking x to be sufficiently close to c and more
than c
y
f(c)
y = f(x)
L

x
c x

Figure 1.5
 Graphical
From the LEFT approach to
7
LIMITS

We write lim f ( x )  L
x c
if we can make the values of f(x) as close to L as we
like by taking x to be sufficiently close to c and less
than c
y
f(c)
y = f(x)

L
x
x c
Figure 1.6
 Example 6 Ex 9 pg 69

1. Refer to the Figure 2.2.2, determine lim f x 

x 2

Solution

The graph below shows that as x

approaches 2 from the left (the bicycle), y
approaches 2 and this can be written as
lim f x   2
x 2

As x approaches 2 from the right (the car),

y approaches 4 and this can be written as
lim f x   4
x 2 Why?
Therefore; lim f x  doesn' t exist DNE  lim f x   lim f x 
x 2
x 2 x 2
 Ex 9 pg 71
Example 6 - 73
9

Tut
Tut 2.7
2.7 pg
pg
3. Refer to the Figure 2.2.4, determine lim f x  242
242 –– 247
247
x 0

Solution

The graph below shows that as x

approaches 0 from the left (the bicycle), y
approaches 2 and this can be written as
lim f x   2
x 0

As x approaches 0 from the right (the car),

y approaches 2 and this can be written as
lim f x   2
x 0 Why?
Therefore; lim f x   2 lim f x   lim f x 
x 0
x 0 x 0
 Ex 9 pg 71
Example 6 - 73
10

 x if x  0 Tut
Tut 2.7
2.7 pg
pg
4. From the graph of f x    , determine: 242
242 –– 247
247
 x if x  0
a. lim f x 
x 0

b. lim f x 
x 0

c. lim f x 
x 0
f (x)  x
Solution f (x )  x
 Ex 9 pg 71
Example 6 - 73
11

Tut
Tut 2.7
2.7 pg
pg
 2 if x  0
4. From the graph of g x    , determine: 242
242 –– 247
247
 2 if x  0
a. lim g x 
x 0

b. lim g x 
x 0

c. lim g x 
x 0

Solution
2.1 LIMITS LIMIT
12 THEOREMS
The following are some basic useful algebraic properties of
limits:
1) lim k  k
6) f ( x ) xlimc
f (x)
x c lim 
x c g ( x ) lim g ( x )
2) lim x  c x c
x c
7) 
lim f ( x )  lim f ( x )
n
n

lim kf x   k lim f x 
x c x c
3)
x c x c 8) lim n f ( x )  n lim f ( x )
x c x c

4)
lim f ( x )  g ( x )  lim f ( x )  lim g ( x )
x c x c x c

5) x c

x c

lim f ( x )  g ( x )  lim f ( x ) lim g ( x )
x c

 Example 7
13

Find the limit of the following function:

Solution

1) lim 5  5
x 3 x 0
3 5
 3
6) lim ( x  2)  lim x  lim 2
x 0 x 0

5

 0  2  32
5
lim x  2
2) x 2
7) lim x 2  12  lim x 2  12
3) xlim ( x  3)  lim x  lim 3 x 2 x 2
 2 x  2 x  2

 2  3  5  22  12  4

(2  x )  lim 2  lim x lim 2 x 2  1

4) xlim
2
2 x  1 x 3
3 x 3 x 3 8) lim 3

x 3 x 2 lim x 3  2
235 x 3

3 x  lim 3. lim x 2(3)2  1 19

5) xlim
 2 x  2 x  2
 3

(3)  2 25
 3 2  6
 Example 7
14

Find the limit of the following function: Ex 11 pg

Solution 76 - 77

9) lim

2x 42
 First check the
denominator Tut
x 2 x 2
Tut 2.8
2.8 pg
pg
lim x  2  0 248
248 –– 251
251
x 2

lim

2 x2  4 
 lim
2x  2x  2 We cannot use Theorem 6.
x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 We have to use algebraic
 lim 2x  2 technique (factorize)
x 2

 22  2
8
 Example 8
15

Determine the limit of the following functions:

Solution Ex 11 pg
76 - 77
v 1 First check the
d. lim denominator
v 1 v 1
lim v  1  0
v 1

 v  1 v  1 v 1

v 1 v 1 Simplify by using;
 v 1 a 2  b 2  a  b a  b 
v 1
lim  lim v  1
v 1 v 1 v 1

 lim v  1
v 1

 1  1
 0 or 2
2.1 LIMITS CONTINUITY
16

In mathematics and science, we use the word continuous to

describe a process that goes on without abrupt changes.
In fact, our experience leads us to assume this as an essentials
feature of many natural processes.

y y y

f f Only 3rd graph

exhibits
f continuity at a.

a x a x a x
Limit does not
exist as x → a
Figure 1.8 Limit exist as x → a
but not equal to f(a)
2.1 LIMITS CONTINUITY
17

Definition:
A function f is continuous at the point x = a if the following
conditions are satisfied:
 f(a) is defined (exist)
lim
 xa f x  exist
If one of these three
fails, then f is
 blim f x   f a  discontinuous at a.
x a
 Example 9
18 We need to get both the limit
at that point and the function
value at that point.
Given the graph of f(x) shown below determine if f(x) is
continuous at x=-2, x=0 and x=3.
Solution Figure 1.9 Function is
discontinuous at x = 3.
This kind of
discontinuity is called
a removable
discontinuity.
f (3)  1
lim f ( x)  1
x 3

Function is discontinuous
at this point. This kind of
f (2)  2
discontinuity is called a Function is f (0)  1
jump discontinuity which lim f ( x)
lim f x   1
continuous at
occurs where the graph x 2
this point. x 0
has a break in it. Doesn’t
exist
 Ex 13 pg
Example 10 84 - 85
19

Tut
Tut 2.7
2.7 pg
pg
1. Given the function defined by the graphs in Figure 2.31, determine if 254
254 –– 257
257
f(x) is continuous at
f 5 is defined but
x  1, x  2, x  3, x  4, x  5, and x  6 lim f x DNE
x 5
y
Solution Function is
discontinuous at
this point.
f x is defined but
lim f x DNE
x 6

f 1is defined but f 4 is defined but

lim f x DNE
x1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
x
not equal to lim f x 
x 4

Function is f 2is defined but Function is f 3 is undefined

discontinuous at lim f x DNE discontinuous at even though
this point. x2
this point. lim f x exist
x3
 Ex 13 pg
Example 10 84 - 85
20

Tut
Tut 2.7
2.7 pg
pg
2. From the Figure 2.32, explain why the f(x) is discontinuous at 254
254 –– 257
257
the given points

y
Solution

a) x  1 b) x  2

c) x  3 d) x  4

e) x  5 f) x  6
1 2 3 4 5 6 x
 Ex 13 pg
Example 10 84 - 85
21

Tut
Tut 2.7
2.7 pg
pg
2. Given the function defined by the Figure 2.3.3, determine if 254
254 –– 257
257
f(x) is continuous at :

Solution
a) x  2 b) x  0

1 c) x  3 d) x  4
-4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4
-1

-2