The limit of a function, continuity

Mathematics, winter semester 2016/2017

18.10.2017

Material from the handbook “Calculus Early Tran-

scendentals” by J. Steward, 6th edition.
Recommended reading: Sections 2.2, 2.3, 2.6. Additional material: Sections
2.4, 2.5.

Material from the e-book “MATHEMATICS”

Recommended reading: Sections 4.1, 4.2.

Slant asymptotes
Some curves have asymptotes that are obligue, that is neither horizontal nor
vertical. If
lim [f (x) − (ax + b)] = 0, (1)
x→+∞

where a 6= 0 then the line y = ax + b is called a slant asymptote of the curve

y = f (x) at +∞. Relation (1) is true iff

f (x)
a = lim and b = lim [f (x) − ax] .
x→+∞ x x→+∞

Similarly,if
lim [f (x) − (ax + b)] = 0, (2)
x→−∞

where a 6= 0 then the line y = ax + b is called a slant asymptote of the curve

y = f (x) at −∞. Relation (2) is true iff

f (x)
a = lim and b = lim [f (x) − ax] .
x→−∞ x x→−∞

Useful link
https://www.desmos.com/calculator

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Problems
1. Evaluate the limit if it exists
√
x2 −9 x2 −9 x2 +x−6 x+6−3
(a) limx→3 x−3 ; (b) limx→−3 x+3 ; (c) limx→2√ x−2 ; (d)limx→3 x−3 ;
4 1
t +1 100+h−10
(e) limt→1 1−t
1−t3 ; (f) limt→−1 t+1 ; (g) limh→0 h .
2−x 2−x ex
2. Determine the infinite limit (a) limx→3+ x−3 ; (b) limx→3 (x−3)2
; (c) limx→5− x−5 ;
√
x+6
(d)limx→3 |x−3| .

3. Find the limit if it exists. If the limit does not exists, explain why. (a)
2−|x|
limx→3 (2x + |x − 3|) ; (b) limx→−6 2x+12 ; (c) limx→0.5− |2x2x−1
3 −x2 | ; (d)limx→−2 2+x ;
  |x+6| 
1 1 1 1
(e) limt→0− t − |t| ; (f) limt→0+ t − |t| .

4. Explain why the function f is discontinuous at the given number a. Sketch

1
the graph of the function. (a) f (x) = x+2 , a = −2; (b) f (x) =
( (
1 x
x+2 if x 6= −2, e if x < 0,
a = −2; (c) f (x) = a = 0; (d)
1 if x = −2, x2 if x ≥ 0,

cos x
 if x < 0,
f (x) = 0 if x = 0, a = 0.

1 − x2 if x > 0,


5. How would you “remove the discontinuity of f ”, in other words, how

would you define f (2) in order to make f continuous on R. (a) f (x) =
√
ex−2 if x < 2,

x+2−2 x3 −8
x−2 ; (b) f (x) = x4 −16 ; (c) f (x) = 2 if x = 2 ; (d) f (x) =
x − 1 if x > 2


cos (x − 2) if x < 2,

0 if x = 2,

 2
x − x − 1 if x > 2.
(
0 if x is rational,
6. For what values of x is f continuous? (a) f (x) = ;
2 if x is irrational,
( (√
0 if x is rational, 2 if x is rational,
(b) f (x) = (c*) f (x) =
x if x is irrational, x if x is irrational.

7. Find the limit (finite or infinite) if it exists. If the limit does not exists,
explain why. (a) limx→+∞ (x + |x − 3|) ; (a’) limx→−∞ (x + |x − 3|) ; (b)
limx→+∞ |2x2x−1 2x−1
3 −x2 | ; (b’) limx→−∞ |2x3 −x2 | ; (c)limx→−∞ cos x; (c’) limx→+∞ cos x;

(d) limx→−∞ |x+7| ; (d’) limx→+∞ |x+7| ; (e) limx→−∞ sin

2x+12 2x+12 x sin x
x+6 ; (e’) limx→+∞ x+6 ;
2−|x| 2−|x|
(f) limx→−∞ 2+x ; (f’) limx→+∞ 2+x .

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 3
8. Find asymptotes and sketch the grapf of a function f. (a) f (x) = x2x+1 ;
2 |2x2 −1|
(b) f (x) = x x+1
3 ; (c) f (x) = (x + |x − 3|) ; (d*) f (x) = |2x−1| ; (e)
√ √
2 2
f (x) = x + 4x; (f) f (x) = x + 4.