UNIVERSITY OF THE CORDILLERAS

College of Information Technology and Computer Science

Module in CC23 – Calculus

COURSE : CC23

COURSE TITLE : Calculus

COURSE CREDITS : 5 units

CONTACT HOURS/WEEK : 6 hours and 32 minutes

PREREQUISITE : CC24 – Probability Theory

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Calculus covers concepts of functions, limits, and continuity and continues with
the discussions on the derivatives of different types of functions, together with
applications of the derivatives. It also covers theories and techniques of
integration, definite integrals and their real-world applications.

COURSE OUTCOMES:
At the end of the trimester, the students are expected to:
1. Demonstrate problem solving skills, including the ability to interpret problem
situations by using appropriate differential and integral calculus methods to
present full and cogent solutions that include justifications of reasoning.
2. Explain the meaning of calculus term and concepts in connection to theory
and applications.
3. Communicate calculus concepts both orally and in well-written
mathematical statements to explain solutions to problems, interpret formulas,
and graphs.
4. Display a developed appreciation of calculus as a coherent body of
knowledge and as a human accomplishment.

UNIT 2
Limits and Continuity (Part 2)

OBJECTIVES:
At the end of unit 2, students are expected to:
1. define what is a limit of a function.
2. apply the theorems of functions to determine limits of functions.
3. determine one-sided limits.
4. solve infinite limits
5. evaluate continuity of functions.

MATERIALS/RESOURCES
Book references
Calculator

LESSON
One-sided Limits

The limit we discussed in the previous lesson, lim 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 𝐿 is said to be a two-

𝑥→𝑐
sided limit because it requires that 𝑓(𝑥) gets closer and closer to 𝐿 as the
values of 𝑥 are taken from either side of 𝑥 = 𝑐. But some functions exhibit
different behaviors on the two sides of an 𝑥-value, 𝑐. It is then necessary to
identify the behavior of the function as 𝑥 gets near 𝑐 on the left side or on the
right side of 𝑐.

Definition: If 𝑓(𝑥) approaches 𝐿 as 𝑥 gets closer and closer to 𝑐 from the left
(𝑥 < 𝑐 ), we write lim− 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 𝐿. Likewise, if 𝑓(𝑥) approaches as 𝑥 gets closer and
𝑥→𝑐
closer to 𝑐 from the right (𝑥 > 𝑐 ) , then lim+ 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 𝑀. The notation, lim− 𝑓 (𝑥 ) =
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
𝐿, is read “the limit of 𝑓(𝑥) as 𝑥 approaches 𝑐 from the left is 𝐿. While
lim+ 𝑓(𝑥 ) = 𝑀 is read as “the limit of 𝑓(𝑥) as 𝑥 approaches 𝑐 from the right is 𝑀.
𝑥→𝑐

Examples:
1 − 𝑥 2 𝑖𝑓 0 ≤ 𝑥 < 2
1. For the function 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = { , evaluate the following limits.
2𝑥 + 1 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 ≥ 2

a. lim− 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = −𝟑
𝑥→2
b. lim+ 𝑓(𝑥 ) = 𝟓
𝑥→2

1 − 𝑥 2 𝑖𝑓 0 ≤ 𝑥 < 2
See the graph of the function, 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = { .
2𝑥 + 1 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 ≥ 2
2. Evaluate the one- sided limits of the function 𝑓(𝑥) whose graph is

a) lim− 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 𝟏 (g) lim− 𝑓 (𝑥 )

𝑥→0 𝑥→3

(b) lim+ 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 𝟐 (h) lim+ 𝑓 (𝑥 )

𝑥→0 𝑥→3

(c) lim− 𝑓 (𝑥 ) (i) lim 𝑓 (𝑥 ) =

𝑥→1 𝑥→0

(d) lim+ 𝑓(𝑥 ) (j) lim 𝑓 (𝑥 ) =

𝑥→1 𝑥→1

(e) lim− 𝑓 (𝑥 ) (k) lim 𝑓 (𝑥 ) =

𝑥→2 𝑥→2

(f) lim+ 𝑓(𝑥 ) (j) lim 𝑓 (𝑥 ) =

𝑥→2 𝑥→3
Existence of a Limit. The two-sided limit of a function 𝑓(𝑥) exists at 𝑎 if and only
if both of the one-sided limits exists at 𝑐 and have the same value; that is
lim 𝑓(𝑥 ) = 𝐿 if and only if lim− 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = lim+ 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 𝐿
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐

𝑥+1 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 < 1
3. Determine whether lim 𝑓 (𝑥 ) exists, where 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = { 2
𝑥→1 −𝑥 + 4𝑥 − 1 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 ≥ 1

(a) lim− 𝑓 (𝑥 ) (b) lim+ 𝑓(𝑥 ) (c) lim 𝑓 (𝑥 )

𝑥→1 𝑥→1 𝑥→1

Limits at Infinity
Long-term behavior is often a matter of interest. The behavior of a function
𝑓(𝑥) as 𝑥 increases without bound or decreases without bound is sometimes
called the 𝑒𝑛𝑑 𝑏𝑒ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑜𝑟 of the function. As the value of the variable 𝑥 increase
without bound, then 𝑥 → +∞ and if the values of 𝑥 decrease without bound,
𝑥 → −∞.

1 1
Example: Illustrate numerically the lim and lim
𝑥→−∞ 𝑥 𝑥→+∞ 𝑥

Values Conclusion
𝑥 -1 -10 -100 -1000 -10000 As 𝑥 → −∞, the
1 -1 -0.1 -0.01 -0.001 -0.0001 value of 1⁄𝑥
𝑥 increases toward
zero.
𝑥 1 10 100 1000 10000 As 𝑥 → +∞, the
1 1 0.1 0.01 0.001 0.0001 value of 1⁄𝑥
𝑥 increases toward
zero.
1 1
From the table, the lim = and lim .
𝑥→−∞ 𝑥 𝑥→+∞ 𝑥

Limits at Infinity. If the values of the function 𝑓(𝑥) approach the number 𝐿 as 𝑥
increases without bound, we write
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐿
𝑥→+∞
and
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑀
𝑥→−∞
when the functional values 𝑓 (𝑥 ) approach the number 𝑀 as 𝑥 decreases
without bound.

The lines 𝑦 = 𝐿 and 𝑦 = 𝑀

are called horizontal
asymptotes.

Reciprocal Power Rules. If 𝐴 and 𝑘 are constants with 𝑘 > 0 and 𝑥 𝑘 is deferred
for all 𝑥, then
𝐴 𝐴
lim 𝑥𝑘 = 0 and lim 𝑥𝑘 = 0
𝑥→+∞ 𝑥→−∞

𝒑(𝒙)
Procedure for Evaluating a Limit at Infinity of 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒒(𝒙)
Step 1. Divide each term in 𝑓(𝑥) by the highest power 𝑥 𝑘 that appears in the
denominator polynomial 𝑞(𝑥).
Step 2. Compute lim 𝑓(𝑥) or lim 𝑓(𝑥) using the algebraic properties of limits
𝑥→+∞ 𝑥→−∞
and the reciprocal power rules.

Examples.

2𝑥 2 +3𝑥+1
1. Find lim .
𝑥→+∞ 3𝑥 2 −5𝑥+2

The highest power in the denominator is 𝑥 2 . Divide the numerator and

denominator by 𝑥 2 . We get

2𝑥 2 3𝑥 1
2
2𝑥 + 3𝑥 + 1 + 2+ 2
lim = lim 𝑥2 𝑥 𝑥
𝑥→+∞ 3𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 2 𝑥→+∞ 3𝑥 2 5𝑥 2
− 2+ 2
𝑥2 𝑥 𝑥
 3 1
lim (2+ + 2 )
𝑥→+∞ 𝑥 𝑥
= 5 2
lim (3− + 2)
𝑥→+∞ 𝑥 𝑥
3 1
lim 2+ lim + lim
𝑥→+∞ 𝑥→+∞𝑥 𝑥→+∞𝑥2
= 5 2
lim 3− lim + lim 2
𝑥→+∞ 𝑥→+∞𝑥 𝑥→+∞𝑥
2+0+0
=
3−0+0
2
= 3

4𝑥 2 −𝑥
2. lim
𝑥→−∞ 2𝑥 3 −5

A quick method for finding limits of rational functions as 𝒙 → −∞ or 𝒙 → +∞

The end of the behavior of a polynomial matches the end behavior of its
highest degree term, thus,
“𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑛𝑑 𝑏𝑒ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑜𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑎 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑓𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑛𝑑 𝑏𝑒ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑜𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑞𝑢𝑜𝑡𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓
𝑡ℎ𝑒 ℎ𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑑𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑑𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑒 ℎ𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑑𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑟.

Examples:
Find the limits.
3𝑥+5
1. lim 6𝑥−8
𝑥→+∞

4𝑥 2 −𝑥
2. lim
𝑥→−∞ 2𝑥 3 −5

5𝑥 3 −2𝑥 2 +1
3. lim
𝑥→−∞ 1−3𝑥

Infinite Limits

Sometimes one-sided or two-sided limits do fail to exist because the values of

the function increase or decrease without bound.

1
Examine the behavior of the function lim 𝑥
𝑥→0

𝑥 -1 -0.1 -0.01 -0.001 -0.0001 0.0001 0.001 0.01 0.1 1

1 -1 -10 -100 -1000 -10,000 10,000 1000 100 10 1
𝑥

1 1
lim− 𝑥 = −∞ and lim+ 𝑥 = −∞
𝑥→0 𝑥→0

𝑥−2
Example: 1. Find lim 𝑥−4 from the left and from the right.
𝑥→4
 𝑥−2
(a) lim− 𝑥−4 = −∞
𝑥→4
𝑥−2
(b) lim+ 𝑥−4 = +∞
𝑥→4

PRACTICE EXERCISE
Perform what is required.
1. Find the indicated one-sided limit. If the limiting value is infinite, indicate
whether it is +∞ or −∞.
a) lim+(3𝑥 2 − 9)
𝑥→4
b) lim+ √(3𝑥 − 9)
𝑥→3
𝑥+3
c) lim− 𝑥+2
𝑥→2
√𝑥+1−2
d) lim+
𝑥→3 𝑥−3

e)

2. Find the limits.

a) lim (3 − 𝑥 )
𝑥→−∞

1
b) lim (3 − 𝑥)
𝑥→+∞

2𝑥 2 +𝑥
c) lim (4𝑥2 −3)
𝑥→−∞

GRADED ACTIVITY (Assignment / Quiz)

A separate activity will be given in Canvas.

REFERENCES
Hoffman, L. & Bradley, G. (2010). Calculus, For Business, Economics, and the
Social and Life Sciences 10th ed., McGraw Hill Higher Education

Calaway, S., Hoffman, D., & Lippman, D. (2014). Applied Calculus, 1st ed.

Anton, H., Bivens, I., Davis, S. (2012). Calculus: Early Transcendentals 10 th ed.
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. USA