1.

LIMITS AND CONTINUITY

(Follows from [1] Anton, …)
1.1 Limits
 The tangent line problem
 The area problem
Tangent Lines and Limits

Figure 1.1.4 ( [1] Anton, …)

Example 1 Find an equation for the tangent line to the

parabola 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 at P(1, 1).

𝑦 − 1 = 𝑚tan (𝑥 − 1)
Slope of the secant PQ,
𝑥2 − 1
𝑚𝑠𝑒𝑐 =
𝑥−1

For Q → P, i.e. for 𝑥 → 1, 𝑚𝑠𝑒𝑐 = 2, 𝑚tan = 2

=> 𝑦 = 2𝑥 − 1
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Areas and Limits
Decimals and Limits

1
= 0.333333 ⋯ = 0.3 + 0.03 + 0.003 + ⋯
3

LIMITS
𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 + 1

lim 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 + 1 = 3
𝑥→2

Figure 1.1.8 ( [1] Anton, …)

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Definition 1.1.1 Limit of a Function
lim 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 𝐿
𝑥→𝑎
𝑓(𝑥 ) → 𝐿 as 𝑥 → 𝑎

Example 3
sin 𝑥
lim =1
𝑥→0 𝑥

Figure 1.1.10: Two sided limit ( [1] Anton, …)

ONE-SIDED LIMITS
|𝑥 | 1 ;𝑥 > 0
𝑓(𝑥 ) = ={
𝑥 −1 ; 𝑥 < 0

Figure 1.1.12 ( [1] Anton, …)

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Definition 1.1.2 (One Side Limit)
L. H. L. lim 𝑓(𝑥 ) = 𝐿 R. H. L. lim 𝑓(𝑥 ) = 𝐿
𝑥→𝑎− 𝑥→𝑎+

Definition 1.1.3 (Existence of two-sided limit)

lim 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 𝐿 <=> lim 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 𝐿 = lim 𝑓(𝑥 )

𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎+ 𝑥→𝑎−

Example 5

Figure 1.1.13 ([1], Anton,…)

1 1
INFINITE LIMITS lim = +∞, lim = −∞,
𝑥→0+ 𝑥 𝑥→0− 𝑥

Figure 1.1.15 ([1], Anton,…)

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Example 7

Figure 1.1.16 ([1], Anton,…)

EXERCISE 1.1 (1 – 10) Odd number problems

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1.2 Computing Limits

SOME BASIC LIMITS

Figure 1.2.1 ([1], Anton, …)

SOME BASIC PROPERTIES OF LIMITS: 1.2.2 Theorem

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1.2.3 Theorem For a polynomial

𝑝(𝑥 ) = 𝑐0 + 𝑐1 𝑥 + 𝑐2 𝑥 2 + ⋯ + 𝑐𝑛 𝑥 𝑛

and for any real number 𝑎, lim 𝑝(𝑥) = 𝑝(𝑎)

𝑥→𝑎

Example 5 Find lim (𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 3)

𝑥→5

Example 6 Find lim (𝑥 7 − 2𝑥 5 + 1)35

𝑥→1
Solution.
35 35
7 5 )35 7 5
lim (𝑥 − 2𝑥 + 1 = (lim (𝑥 − 2𝑥 + 1)) = (𝑝(1)) =0.
𝑥→1 𝑥→1

5𝑥 3 +4 lim (5𝑥 3 +4) 44

𝑥→2
Example 7 lim = = = −44
𝑥→2 𝑥−3 lim (𝑥−3)
𝑥→2
−1

Example 8

2−𝑥 2−𝑥
(a) lim = −∞, (b) lim = +∞,
𝑥→4+ (𝑥−4)(𝑥+2) 𝑥→4− (𝑥−4)(𝑥+2)

2−𝑥
From (a) and (b), we find that (c) lim doesn’t exit.
𝑥→4 (𝑥−4)(𝑥+2)

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 Figure 1.2.2 ([1], Anton,…)

𝑥 2 −3𝑥−10 (𝑥−5)(𝑥+2) (𝑥+2)

Example 9 (c) lim = lim = lim
𝑥→5 𝑥 2 −10𝑥+25 𝑥→5 (𝑥−5)(𝑥−5) 𝑥→5 (𝑥−5)

(𝑥+2) (𝑥+2)
As lim = +∞ and lim = −∞,
𝑥→5+ (𝑥−5) 𝑥→5− (𝑥−5)

𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 10 (𝑥 + 2)
∴ lim 2 = lim doesn′ t exit.
𝑥→5 𝑥 − 10𝑥 + 25 𝑥→5 (𝑥 − 5)

1
, 𝑥 < −2
𝑥+2
Example 11 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = {𝑥 2 − 5, −2<𝑥 ≤3
√(𝑥 + 13), 𝒙>𝟑

Find (a) lim 𝑓 (𝑥 ) , (b) lim 𝑓 (𝑥 ), (c) lim 𝑓(𝑥 )

𝑥→2− 𝑥→0 𝑥→3

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Exercise Set 1.2
3 – 32, odd number problems

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1.5 CONTINUITY

The graph of a function can be describe as a

“continuous curve” if it has no holes or breaks. The
following properties of a function can cause breaks or
holes.
(a) The function is undefined at a point c (Fig. (a))
(b) lim 𝑓 (𝑥 ) Doesn’t exist. (Fig. (b), (c))
𝑥→𝑐
(c) lim 𝑓 (𝑥 ) ≠ 𝑓(𝑐), (Fig. (d)).
𝑥→𝑐

Figure 1.5.1 ([1], Anton,….)

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1.5.1 DEFINITION A function 𝑓(𝑥) is said to be continuous at a
point 𝑥 = 𝑐 if the following conditions are satisfied.

1. 𝑓(𝑥) is defined.
2. lim 𝑓(𝑥) exists.
𝑥→𝑐

3. lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑐 ).

𝑥→𝑐

Example 1 Determine whether the following functions are

continuous at 𝑥 = 2.

𝑥2 − 4 𝑥2 − 4 𝑥2 − 4
𝑓(𝑥 ) = , 𝑔(𝑥 ) = { 𝑥 − 2 , 𝑥 ≠ 2 , ℎ(𝑥 ) = { 𝑥 − 2 , 𝑥 ≠ 2
𝑥−2
3, 𝑥=2 4, 𝑥=2

Solution: f and g are not continuous but h is continuous.

Figure 1.5.2 ([1], Anton, …)

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Example 3, 4
1.5 Exercise Set: 11 – 22, Odd number problems, 29 – 30.

REFERENCES
1. Anton, Bivens and Davis, Calculus (Tenth edition), Wiley Publishing Company.
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