Second Semester

Basic Calculus
Week
1 Illustrating Limits of a
Function

After going through this learning material, you are expected to:
1.) illustrate the limit of a function using table of values and graph of the
function;
2.)distinguish between and f(c);
3.) illustrate the limit laws; and
4.) apply the limit laws in evaluating the limit of algebraic functions
(polynomial, rational and radical).
Week
1 Second Semester
Basic Calculus

Limits and Continuity

Derivative
Integral
 Second Semester
Basic Calculus

Week 1 Illustrating Limit of a Function

Week
Illustrating Limits of a Function
1
Limits
or L

Symbol representing limit function

“value of x approaches”

Read as: “The limit of f(x) as x approaches c”

Limit is defined as the unique real value that f(x) will approach
as x approaches c.
Week
Illustrating Limits of a Function
1
Limits

“The limit of 2 + 4x as x approaches 4”

To evaluate this limit,
1. First way: Use table of values.
Evaluate in two ways- values on the left and right side of the given c.
from the left side from the right side

*note: limit of the of the left and right side should be equal,
if not, limit does not exist (written as DNE).
2. The other way is by using the limit theorems.
Week
Illustrating Limits of a Function
1 Limits using table of values

1, 2, 3, 3.5, 3.9 4.1, 4.5, 5, 6, 7

x f(x) x f(x)
3 2 +4(3) = 14 5 22
3.5 16 4.8 21.2
3.8 17.2 4.5 20
3.9 17.6 4.1 18.4
3.999 17.996 4.001
18.004
3.99999 4.00001
17.99996 18.00004

= 18 = 18

= 18
Week
Illustrating Limits of a Function
1 Limits Graph of f(x) = 2 + 4x = 18
Week
Illustrating Limits of a Function
1
Limits

2 + 4(4)
f(4) = 18
= 18 f(4) = 18
= 18 f(c) = 18
Week
Illustrating Limits of a Function
1
Limits

lim ( 𝑥 − 3) lim ¿
−
𝑥⟶1 +¿ 2
𝑥⟶1 ( 𝑥 + 5) ¿

= -2 =6

= DNE
Week
Illustrating Limits of a Function
1
Limits

2 + 4(4)
f(4) = 18
= 18 f(4) = 18
= 18 f(c) = 18
Week
Illustrating Limits of a Function
1 Piecewise Function

lim 𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) = -1
𝑥⟶−2

lim 𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) = DNE
𝑥⟶0

lim ( 𝑥 − 3) lim 𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) =1
−
lim ¿ 𝑥⟶1
𝑥⟶1 +¿ 2
𝑥⟶1 ( 𝑥 + 5) ¿

= -2 =6 lim 𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) = DNE
𝑥⟶2

lim 𝑓 ( 𝑥 )
𝑥⟶4
= DNE
= DNE
lim 𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) =
𝑥⟶1 {
𝑥 − 3 , 𝑥< 1
2
¿ 𝑥 +5 , 𝑥 ≥ 1
Week
Illustrating Limits of a Function
1 Piecewise Function

lim 𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) = 𝐷𝑁𝐸
𝑥⟶−4

lim 𝑓 ( 𝑥 )=2 (-1, 2)

𝑥 ⟶ −1

lim ( 𝑥 − 3) lim 𝑓 ( 𝑥 )=− 2 (0, -2)

−
lim ¿ 𝑥⟶0
𝑥⟶1 +¿ 2
𝑥⟶1 ( 𝑥 + 5) ¿

= -2 =6 lim 𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) = 𝐷𝑁𝐸
𝑥⟶1

lim 𝑓 ( 𝑥 )=1 (3, 1)

𝑥⟶3

= DNE
Week
Illustrating Limits of a Function
1

lim 𝑓 ( 𝑥 )= 𝐷𝑁𝐸
𝑥⟶−8

lim 𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) =0
𝑥⟶−4

lim ( 𝑥 − 3) lim 𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) =3
−
lim ¿ 𝑥⟶2
𝑥⟶1 +¿ 2
𝑥⟶1 ( 𝑥 + 5) ¿

= -2 =6 lim 𝑓 ( 𝑥 )= 𝐷𝑁𝐸
𝑥⟶6

lim 𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) =0
𝑥 ⟶ 10

= DNE
Week
Illustrating Limits of a Function
1 Limit Theorems
1. The limit of a constant is itself.
ex. =8

2. The limit of x as x approaches c is equal to c.

ex. = -2

3. The constant multiple theorem. The limit of a multiple of function is the

multiple of the limit of the function . k
ex. = = =
Week
Illustrating Limits of a Function
1 Limit Theorems
4. The Addition theorem. The limit of a sum of functions is the sum of the
limits of the individual functions.
= +
=
ex.
=9 + 4
= 9 6 + 4 = 58

5. The Multiplication Theorem. The limit of a product of functions is the

product of the limits of the individual functions.
∙ lim ( 𝑥 − 1)
= 𝑥⟶1

ex. = (1+4) (1 -1) = 5 0 = 0

Week
Illustrating Limits of a Function
1 Limit Theorems
6. The Division theorem. The limit of a quotient of functions is the
quotient of the limits of the individual functions.
=
ex.
4 −9 −5
¿ ¿
8+3 11

7. The Power Theorem. The limit of an integer power p of function

is the power of the limit of functions. = =
ex. ( ¿2 ¿ 4
2
Week
Illustrating Limits of a Function
1 Limit Theorems
8. The Radical/Root theorem. The limit of the nth root of a
function is the nth root of the limits of the function.
= =
ex.
=

=4
Week
Illustrating Limits of a Function
1 Examples Limit Theorems

Addition Theorem
Solution:
2
¿ lim 𝑥 − lim 5 𝑥+ lim 6
𝑥⟶ 5 𝑥⟶5 𝑥 ⟶5

¿ 25−25+6
¿6
Division Theorem
2 2
Solution: 𝑥lim 𝑥 +5 𝑥 +10 lim 𝑥 + lim 5 𝑥 + lim 10
⟶1 𝑥⟶1 𝑥⟶ 1 𝑥⟶1
¿ ¿
lim 𝑥+ 1 lim 𝑥 + lim 1
𝑥⟶ 1 𝑥⟶ 1 𝑥⟶1

1+5+10 16
¿
1+1
¿
2
¿8
Week
Illustrating Limits of a Function
1 Examples Limit Theorems

2 2
Solution: lim 𝑥 − 3 𝑥 +2 lim 𝑥 − lim 3 𝑥 + lim 2
𝑥⟶2 𝑥⟶2 𝑥⟶ 2 𝑥⟶ 2
¿ ¿
lim 𝑥 − 2 lim 𝑥 − lim 2
𝑥 ⟶2 𝑥⟶ 2 𝑥 ⟶2

4 − 6 +2 0
¿ ¿ ¿ 𝐷𝑁𝐸
2 −2 0
Look for another solution

Solution: 𝑥lim ( 𝑥 − 2)( 𝑥 − 1)

¿
⟶2 ¿ lim ( 𝑥 −1)
lim 𝑥 − 2 𝑥⟶ 2
𝑥⟶2
¿ 2- 1
¿1