​--​ ​Limits & Continuity​ ​--  

Finding Limits
​​ Equation Graphing Table ​
.

x3 −1 3 x3 −1
limit as x → 1 of x−1 limit as x → 1 of xx−1
−1
limit as x → 1 of x−1
3
(1) −1
= 00 aka indeterminate form The graph ​approaches 3​ as
(1)−1 x .99 .999 1 1.001 1.01
(x−1)(x2 +x+1)
x approaches 1 from both
x−1 the right and left side. f(x) 2.97 2.99 ? 3.003 3.81
lim x → 1 of x3 −1
x−1 =​ ​lim as x→ 1 of x​2​+x+1 Therefore, the answer is 3.
Since the table shows that f(x)
(​1​)2​​ +(​1​)+1 approaches 3​ as x approaches 1, the
3 answer is 3

1. Plug in the number that x is approaching Simply try to determine what number the Attempt to decipher what number appears to
into the equation, the solution is the answer. graph is approaching by looking at the line. be “skipped over” at the x-value of the limit
If you receive 00 , see the next table. that you need to find.

​ Division Conjugate L’Hopital’s Rule ​

.

x3 −27 √x+1−1 x2 −9
limit as x → 3 of x−3 limit as x → 0 of x
limit as x→ 3 of x−3
(3)3 −27 √(0)+1−1 = 0 aka indeterminate form (3)2 −9
(3)−3 = 00 aka indeterminate form (3)−3 = 00 aka indeterminate form
(0) 0
x2 −9 2x
(x−3)(x2 +3x+9) √x+1−1
( √√x+1
x+1+1
) lim as x→ 3 x−3 =​ ​lim as x→ 3 1
x−3 x +1
x3 −27 1 2(3)
lim as x→3 x−3 =​ ​lim as x→3 (x​2​+3x+9) √x+1+1 6
√x+1−1
(3)​2​+3(3)+9 lim as x → 0 x =​ ​lim as x→ 0 √x+11 +1 *This is a rule that you will learn later on in the year. If
you are studying material specifically for this chapter,
27 1
=​.5 don’t worry about this box yet :)
√(0)+1+1
Continuity

f(x) is continuous at x=c if all of these conditions are

met
1​.​ f(c) exists
2.​ the limit as x→ c of f(x) exists
*make sure the right and left limit equal each other
​Removable Jump Infinite Oscillating 3​. ​f(c) = limit as x → c of f(x)
limit exists at x​0​ limit dne at x​0​ limit dne at x = 3 limit dne at x = 0

Other Types of Limits

​One-Sided Infinite ​
.

lim as x approaches 3​-​ of f(x) = 3 lim as x approaches -1​+​ of f(x) = -​∞

lim as x approaches 3​+​ of f(x) = 2
remember that the limit as x approaches
c​-​ of f(x) must equal the limit as x
approaches c​+​ of f(x) in order for the
limit as x approaches c of f(x) to exist
lim as x approaches -1​-​ of f(x) = ​∞
if you are given an equation: to solve from the left, plug in a number barely
smaller than the number that x is approaching (aka c). to solve from the right,
plug in a number barely larger than c. If the answer is positive, the final answer is
positive infinity. If the answer is negative, the final answer is negative infinity.

​ ​ ​Intermediate Value Theorem Squeeze Theorem ​

.

if ​f(x) = x​3​ + 2x - 1​, show that there exists a value c where if​ g(x) ≤ f(x) ≤ h(x)​, and the limit as x →c of g(x) = limit as x→c of
f(c) = 1 on the interval [0,1] h(x) = L, find the​ ​limit as x→c of f(x)
1.​ ​ f(x) is a polynomial, so it’s cont. [0,1] and differentiable (0,1) lim x →c of g(x) ≤ ​lim x →c of f(x)​ ≤ lim x →c of h(x)
2.​ ​f(0) = -1 f(1) = 2 L ≤ ​lim x →c of f(x)​ ≤ L
3.​ ​since f(0) < 1 < f(1), there exists a value c where f(c) equals 1 Therefore,​ ​lim x →c of f(x) ​= ​L