Solved Problems on Limits

and Continuity
Calculators
Mika Seppl: Limits and Continuity
Overview of Problems
( )
( )
2
0
sin
lim
sin
x
x
x x

1
2
2
3 2
lim
2
x
x x
x

2
3 2
3 2
1
lim
3 5 2
x
x x x
x x x

+ + +
+ + +
3
2 2
lim 1 1
x
x x

+
2 2
lim 1 1
x
x x x x

+ +

+ + +
2 2 0
2
lim
2 1 3 1
x
x
x x x x
( )
0
sin 3
lim
6
x
x
x

( ) ( )
0
sin sin
lim
x
x
x

4
5 6
7 8
9 10
( )
( ) ( )

+
+ + +
2 2 0
2sin
lim
2sin 1 sin 1
x
x x
x x x x
( ) tan x
2
lim e
x
t
+
Calculators
Mika Seppl: Limits and Continuity
Overview of Problems
11 ( )
= Where tan is continuous? y x
12 ( )
|
|
| |
=
|

\ .
2
1
Where f sin is continuous?
1
13
( ) ( )

= =

=
2
How must f 0 be determined so that f , 0,
1
is continuous at 0?
x x
x x
x
x
14
( ) ( )
( )

= = = =
+
| |
= =
|
\ .
2
0 0
0
Which of the following functions have removable
singularities at the indicated points?
2 8 1
a) f , 2, b) g , 1
2 1
1
c) h sin , 0
x x x
x x x x
x x
t t t
t
( )
= Show that the equation sin e has many solutions.
x
x 15
Calculators
Mika Seppl: Limits and Continuity
Main Methods of Limit Computations
If the function, for which the limit needs to be computed, is
defined by an algebraic expression, which takes a finite value
at the limit point, then this finite value is the limit value.
3
If the function, for which the limit needs to be computed,
cannot be evaluated at the limit point (i.e. the value is an
undefined expression like in (1)), then find a rewriting of the
function to a form which can be evaluated at the limit point.
4
In the evaluation of expressions, use the rules 2
( )
0, , negativenumber .
positive number
a
= = =

The following undefined quantities cause problems: 1

0 0
0
0 , , , ,0 , .
0

Calculators
Mika Seppl: Limits and Continuity
Main Computation Methods
If a square root appears in the expression, then multiply and
divide by the conjugate of the square root expression.
3
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
1 2 1 2
1 2
1 2
1 2
3
0
1 2 1 2
x
x x x x
x x
x x
x x
x x x x

+ + + +
+ =
+ +
+
= =
+ + + + +
Cancel out common factors of rational functions.
2
( ) ( )
2
1
1 1
1
1 2.
1 1
x
x x
x
x
x x

+

= = +

Use the fact that 4
( )
0
sin
lim 1.
x
x
x

=
Frequently needed rule 1 ( ) ( )
2 2
. a b a b a b + =
Calculators
Mika Seppl: Limits and Continuity
Continuity of Functions
Functions defined by algebraic or elementary expressions
involving polynomials, rational functions, trigonometric
functions, exponential functions or their inverses are
continuous at points where they take a finite well defined
value.
1
If f is continuous, f(a) < 0 and f(b) > 0, then there is a point
c between a and b so that f(c) = 0.
4
A function f is continuous at a point x = a if
2
( ) ( )
limf f .
x a
x a

=
The following are not continuous x = 0:
3
( ) ( ) ( )
1 1
f ,g sin ,h .
x
x x x
x x x
| |
= = =
|
\ .
Intermediate Value Theorem for Continuous Functions
Used to show
that equations
have solutions.
Calculators
Mika Seppl: Limits and Continuity
Limits by Rewriting
Problem 1
2
2
3 2
lim
2
x
x x
x

Solution
( )( )
2
1 2
3 2
Rewrite 1.
2 2
x x
x x
x
x x

+
= =

( )
2
2 2
3 2
Hence lim lim 1 1.
2
x x
x x
x
x

+
= =

Calculators
Mika Seppl: Limits and Continuity
Limits by Rewriting
Problem 2
3 2
3 2
1
lim
3 5 2
x
x x x
x x x

+ + +
+ + +
Solution
3 2
2 3
3 2
2 3
1 1 1
1
1
1.
3 5 2
3 5 2
1
x
x x x
x x x
x x x
x x x

+ + +
+ + +
=
+ + +
+ + +
Calculators
Mika Seppl: Limits and Continuity
Limits by Rewriting
Problem 3
2 2
lim 1 1
x
x x

+
Solution
( )( )
2 2 2 2
2 2
2 2
1 1 1 1
1 1
1 1
x x x x
x x
x x
+ + +
+ =
+ +
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
2 2
2 2
2 2
2 2 2 2 2 2
1 1
1 1
2
1 1 1 1 1 1
x x
x x
x x x x x x
+
+
= = =
+ + + + + +
Rewrite
2 2
2 2
2
Hence lim 1 1 lim 0.
1 1
x x
x x
x x

+ = =
+ +
Calculators
Mika Seppl: Limits and Continuity
Limits by Rewriting
Problem 4
2 2
lim 1 1
x
x x x x

+ +
Solution
( ) ( )
2 2
2 2 2 2
1 1
2 2
1 1 1 1
x x x x
x
x x x x x x x x
+ +
+
= =
+ + + + + +
( )
2 2
2 2
2 2
2 2
1 1
1 1
1 1
1 1
x x x x
x x x x
x x x x
x x x x
+ + =
+ + +
+ +
+ + +
2 2
2
2
2
1 1 1 1
1 1
x
x
x x x x

+
=
+ + +
Rewrite
Next divide by x.
Calculators
Mika Seppl: Limits and Continuity
Limits by Rewriting
Problem 5

+ + +
2 2 0
2
lim
2 1 3 1
x
x
x x x x
Solution
( )
( ) ( )
( )
+ + + + + + + +
= =
+
+ + +
2 2 2 2
2 2 2
2 2
2 2 1 3 1 2 2 1 3 1
4
2 1 3 1
x x x x x x x x x x
x x
x x x x
( )
( )( )
=
+ + +
+ + + +
+ + + + + + +
2 2
2 2
2 2 2 2
2
2 1 3 1
2 2 1 3 1
2 1 3 1 2 1 3 1
x
x x x x
x x x x x
x x x x x x x x
( )

+ + + +
=
+
2 2
0
2 2 1 3 1
1
4
x
x x x x
x
Rewrite
Next divide by x.
Calculators
Mika Seppl: Limits and Continuity
Limits by Rewriting
Problem 6
( )
0
sin 3
lim
6
x
x
x

Solution
( ) ( )
sin 3 sin 3
1
Rewrite
6 2 3
x x
x x
=
( )
0
sin
Use the fact that lim 1.
o
o
o

=
( ) ( )
0 0
sin 3 sin 3
1
Since lim 1, we conclude that lim .
3 6 2
x x
x x
x x

= =
Calculators
Mika Seppl: Limits and Continuity
Limits by Rewriting
Problem 7
( ) ( )
0
sin sin
lim
x
x
x

Solution
( )
( )
( ) ( )
( )
0
0
sin
since lim 1. In the above, that fact
was applied first by substituting sin .
sin sin
Hence lim 1.
sin
x
x
x
x
o
o
o
o

=
=
=
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
( )
( )
0
sin sin sin sin
sin
1
sin
x
x x
x
x x x

=
Rewrite:
Calculators
Mika Seppl: Limits and Continuity
Limits by Rewriting
Problem 8
( )
( )
2
0
sin
lim
sin
x
x
x x

Solution
( )
( )
( )
( )
2 2
0 2
sin sin
1
sin sin
x
x x
x
x x x x

=
Rewrite:
Calculators
Mika Seppl: Limits and Continuity
Limits by Rewriting
Problem 9
( )
( ) ( )

+
+ + +
2 2 0
2sin
lim
2sin 1 sin 1
x
x x
x x x x
Solution
( )
( ) ( )
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
( )
( ) ( )
( )
( ) ( )
( )
+
=
+ + +
+ + + + +
+ + + + + + +
2 2
2 2
2 2 2 2
2sin
2sin 1 sin 1
2sin 2sin 1 sin 1
2sin 1 sin 1 2sin 1 sin 1
x x
x x x x
x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x
Rewrite
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
( )
( ) ( )
+ + + + +
=
+ + +
+ + + + +
=
+ +
2 2
2 2
2 2
2 2
2sin 2sin 1 sin 1
2sin 1 sin 1
2sin 2sin 1 sin 1
sin 2sin
x x x x x x
x x x x
x x x x x x
x x x x
Calculators
Mika Seppl: Limits and Continuity
Limits by Rewriting
Problem 9
( )
( ) ( )

+
+ + +
2 2 0
2sin
lim
2sin 1 sin 1
x
x x
x x x x Solution
(contd)
( )
( ) ( )
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
( )
( ) ( )
+
+ + +
+ + + + +
=
+ +
2 2
2 2
2 2
2sin
2sin 1 sin 1
2sin 2sin 1 sin 1

sin 2sin
x x
x x x x
x x x x x x
x x x x
Rewrite
( )
( ) ( )
( )
( )
( ) ( )
| |
+ + + + +
|
\ .
=
+ +
2 2
sin
1 2 2sin 1 sin 1
sin sin
sin 2 1
x
x x x x
x
x x
x x
x x

=
+
0
3 2
2.
2 1
x
Here we used the fact that all sin(x)/x terms approach 1 as x 0.
Next divide by x.
Calculators
Mika Seppl: Limits and Continuity
One-sided Limits
Problem 10
( )
tan x
2
lim e
x
t
+
Solution
( ) ( )
( )
2
tan
2
For , tan 0 and lim tan .
2
Hence lim e 0.
x
x
x
x x x
t
t
t
t
+
+
< < < =
=
Calculators
Mika Seppl: Limits and Continuity
Continuity
Problem 11 ( )
Where the function tan is continuous? y x =
Solution
( )
( )
( )
( )
( )
sin
The function tan is continuous whenever cos 0.
cos
Hence tan is continuous at , .
2
x
y x x
x
y x x n n
t
t
= = =
= = + e
Calculators
Mika Seppl: Limits and Continuity
Continuity
Problem 12 ( )
2
1
Where the function f sin is continuous?
1
|
|
| |
=
|

\ .
Solution
( )
2
1
The function f sin is continuous at all points
1
where it takes finite values.
|
|
| |
=
|

\ .
2 2
1 1
If 1, is not finite, and sin is undefined.
1 1
|
| |
| |
=
|

\ .
2 2
1 1
If 1, is finite, and sin is defined and also finite.
1 1
|
| |
| |
=
|

\ .
2
1
Hence sin is continuous for 1.
1
|
|
| |
=
|

\ .
Calculators
Mika Seppl: Limits and Continuity
Continuity
Problem 13
( )
( )
2
How must f 0 be determined so that the function
f , 0, is continuous at 0?
1
x x
x x x
x

= = =

Solution
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
( )
( )
0
0
0
0
2
0 0 0
Condition for continuity of a function f at a point is:
limf f . Hence f 0 must satisfy f 0 limf .
1
Hence f 0 lim lim lim 0.
1 1
x x x
x x x
x
x x x
x x
x x
x
x x


= =

= = = =

Calculators
Mika Seppl: Limits and Continuity
Continuity
( )
( )
0
0
A number for which an expression f either is undefined or
infinite is called a of the function f . The singularity is
said to be , if f can be defi
singularity
removab ned in such a way le that
x x
x
0

the function f becomes continous at . x x =
Problem 14
( )
( )
( )
2
0
0
0
Which of the following functions have removable
singularities at the indicated points?
2 8
a) f , 2
2
1
b) g , 1
1
1
c) h sin , 0
x x
x x
x
x
x x
x
t t t
t

= =
+

= =

| |
= =
|
\ .
Answer
Removable
Removable
Not removable
Calculators
Mika Seppl: Limits and Continuity
Continuity
( )
Show that the equation sin e has
inifinitely many solutions.
x
x =
( )
Observe that 0 e 1 for 0, and that sin 1 , .
2
n
x
x n n
t
t
| |
< < < + = e
|
\ .
( )
( )
Hence f 0 for if is an odd negative number
2
and f 0 for if is an even negative number.
2
x x n n
x x n n
t
t
t
t
< = +
> = +
Problem 15
Solution ( ) ( ) ( )
sin e f sin e 0.
x x
x x x = = =
By the intermediate Value Theorem, a continuous function takes
any value between any two of its values. I.e. it suffices to show
that the function f changes its sign infinitely often.
( )
We conclude that every interval 2 , 2 1 , and 0, contains
2 2
a solution of the original equation. Hence there are infinitely many solutions.
n n n n
t t
t t
| |
+ + + e <
|
\ .