1.

6 One-Sided Limits & Continuity

One-sided limits: If f(x) approaches L as x tends toward c from the left (x < c), then lim f (x) = L . If f(x) approaches M as x tends toward c from the right (c < x), then x c lim f (x) = M . Continuity: A continuous function has no holes or gaps. To ensure that +
x c

f(x) does not have a hole or gap at x = c; the function must be defined at x = c, it must have a finite, two-sided limit at x = c; and lim f ( x) must equal f(c). If f(x) is not x c continuous at c, it is said to have a discontinuity there. Existence of a limit: The twosided limit lim f ( x) exists if and only if the two one-sided limits exist and are equal: x c

lim f ( x) = lim f ( x) = lim f ( x) . A polynomial or rational function is continuous wherever it x c x c x c+ is defined. Continuity on an interval: A function f(x) is continuous on an open interval a < x < b if it is continuous at each point x = c in that interval; it is continuous on the lim closed interval a x n if it is continuous on the open interval and x a+ f ( x) = f ( a) and lim lim Use the graphs to find the one-sided limits x 2 f ( x) and x 2+ f ( x) and lim f ( x) , if it x 2 exists: lim lim lim (1) x 2 f ( x) = (2) x 2 f ( x) = , 3. x 2 f ( x) = , lim f ( x) = lim f (x) =
x 2+ x 2

lim f ( x) = f ( b) . x b

lim f ( x) = lim f (x) =

x 2+ x 2

lim f ( x) = lim f (x) =

x 2+ x 2

Find the indicated limits, if it exists: x2 + 4 lim 4. x 2 x 2

(5) lim x 5
+

2x 1 3 x 5

(6)

x 1

lim f ( x) and lim f ( x )

x 1 +

1 if x < 1 f ( x) = x 1 f ( x) = x2 + 2x if x 1

Decide if the function is continuous at the specified value of x:

(7) f(x) = 1 x + 2x2 3x3 at x = 81

(8) f ( x) =

1 3x3 at x = 3x 6

9.

x2 1 ,x < 1 f ( x) = x+ 1 at -1 f ( x) = x2 3,x 1

List all the values of x for which the given function is not continuous: 10.
f ( x) = x2 2x + 1 x2 x 2

11.

2 3x, x 1 f ( x) = 2 x x + 3, x > 1

Homework: 1-40,43,45,51-54, Pages 81-84