Introductory Calculus: Limit of a Function and Continuity

The limit of a function from left or right or both:

If from the left as

, we call the limit of this function as x approaches 1

Similarly, we call the limit as x approaches 1 from the right equal to 2.

What is mysterious about this concept of limit? The function obviously has a value of 2 when x = 1.

We say that

This is a simple thing to analyze because this function is continuous (the graph is connected) and we can clearly see that the function value at x = 1 is 2. See the graph below.

Suppose that

What is the limit as x approaches 1 from the left/right? We will get two different values for this limit because there are two different

expressions for

. ], we use the formula

If x approaches 1 from the left [for

which gives us

If x approaches 1 from the right [for

], we use the formula

which gives us

In this case, we say that

Since these limits are different, we say that the ONE limit as x approaches 1 does not exist. In order for this limit to exist, both the left hand and right hand limits would have to be the same, and the graph would have to connect from the left and right sides.

These limits from the left and right have different values. Looking at a graph from a calculator screen, we can see that the left hand graph and the right hand graph do not meet in one point, but the limits from the left and right sides can be seen on the graph as the y values of this functionfor each piecewise-defined part of the graph. Notice the open circle and "closed" circle on the graph. Notice that the value of the function at the point 1 is

because only defines this function for the value x= 1. This is an important fact as we examine the continuity of a function. We will compare this value, if it exists, to the limit value.

Continuity of a function at a point x = a: Definition A function is said to be continuous at a point where x = a if three conditions hold:

Using our function

we apply the definition of continuity at the point x = 1. Condition (i) is OK because meaning that exists.

Condition (ii) is not OK because meaning does not exist.

We can STOP here because as soon as one of these three conditions goes wrong, we know the function is NOT continuous at the given value of x.