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Unit #2 - Limits, Continuity, and The Derivative
Unit #2 - Limits, Continuity, and The Derivative
Continuity
• f (2).
Coming from the left side,
We note that f (2) will equal lim+ f (x), because the
x→2 lim f (x) = lim− 7x − 8 since x is less than 3
second branch of the function is defined for x = 2 for x→3− x→3 | {z }
f (x)
f (2), and x > 2 for the limit lim+ f (x). This means
x→2 = 21 − 8 = 13.
that we just need both one-sided limits to equal each
other.
1
Coming from the right • the limit from the left and right both to exist and
be equal, and
2
lim+ f (x) = lim> since x is larger than 3
x→3 x→3 x+4 • the limit and the value at x = 5 to be equal.
| {z }
f (x)
Looking at the limit from the left, only the formula for
2 2
= = x < 5 applies:
3+4 7
4x3 − 20x2 + 9x − 45
lim− f (x) = lim−
x→5 x→5 x−5
Since the two one-sided limit values do not have equal
0
values, we would say that the function has a jump dis- = or indeterminate: needs more work
continuity at x = 3. It would also be true to say that 0
the function is discontinuous at x = 3.
2
x + 3x + 8, if x < 9
Factoring can help resolve these limit questions:
4. Let f (x) = 5, if x = 9
4x3 − 20x2 + 9x − 45 (x − 5)(4x2 + 9)
−8x + 3, if x > 9
lim = lim
Show that f (x) has a jump discontinuity at x→5− x−5 x→5− x−5
x = 9 by calculating the limits from the left = lim (4x + 9) = 4(5)2 + 9 = 10
2
x→5−
and right at x = 9.
We then look at the limit from the right, which depends
Coming from the left side,
only on the formula 6x2 + 6x + a.
lim f (x) = lim− x2 + 3x + 8 since x is less than 9
x→9− x→9 | {z } lim f (x) = lim+ 6x2 + 6x + a
f (x) x→5+ x→5
= 81 + 27 + 8 = 116. = 6(5)2 + 6(5) + a = 180 + a
2
Both pieces of the function, y 2 − c and cy + 3, are con- Both pieces of the function, cy + 4 and cy 2 − 4, are con-
tinuous on their domain. The only possible problem tinuous on their domain. The only possible problem
point is at the transition y = 9. point is at the transition y = 8.
Check the left and right limits: Check the left and right limits:
lim f (y) = lim y 2 − c
y→9− y→9−
lim f (y) = lim− cy + 4
y→8− y→8
= 81 − c
= 8c + 4
= 9c + 3
lim f (y) = lim+ cy 2 − 4
y→8+ y→8
For both of these to be equal,
= 64c − 4
lim f (y) = lim f (y)
y→9− y→9+
3
Limits
9. Let F be the function whose graph is shown be- (a) 4. Because the limit requested is x → 7− , then
low. Evaluate each of the following expressions. x < 7, so we use the function f (x) = 4 that applies
for x < 7.
(a) lim F (x)
x→−1− (b) 17. Because the limit requested is x → 7+ , then
(b) lim F (x) x > 7, so we use the function f (x) = 10 + x.
x→−1+ lim+ 10 + x = 10 + 7 = 17.
x→7
(c) lim F (x)
x→−1 (c) −21. We are evaluating the function exactly at
(d) F (−1) x = 7, so use the function f (x) = −3x. At x = 7,
(e) lim− F (x) f (7) = −3(7) = −21.
x→1
(f) lim F (x) 11. Evaluate the limit
x→1+
11x + 2
(g) lim F (x) lim
x→1 x→∞ 4x2 − 4x + 9
(h) lim F (x)
x→3
The limit’s value is zero.
(i) F (3)
Trying to ‘sub in’ the infinite values gives the indeter-
∞
minate form , so we need to do more work.
∞
We can divide top and bottom of the ratio by the high-
est power, x2 :
All the 1/x and 1/x2 terms converge to zero, while the
4 term remains. Thus the limit tends towards → 40 = 0.
12. Evaluate the following limits.
2 + 10x
(a) lim
(a) lim F (x) = −1 - approach from the left. x→∞ 9 − 4x
x→−1− 2 + 10x
(b) lim
(b) lim F (x) = −1 - approach from the right. x→−∞ 9 − 4x
x→−1+
(c) lim F (x) = −1 - both one-sided limits agree on
x→−1 (a) −2.5.
this value. Trying to ‘sub in’ the infinite values gives the in-
(d) F (−1) = 0 - filled-in dot. ∞
determinate form , so we need to do more work.
(e) lim− F (x) = −1 - approach from the left. ∞
x→1 Dividing top and bottom by x will transform some
(f) lim+ F (x) = 0 - approach from the right. of our infinite quantities into zeros, which will help:
x→1
2
(g) lim F (x) DNE - the one-sided limits exist, but do (2 + 10x)/x + 10
x→1 lim = lim x9
x→∞ (9 − 4x)/x
not agree in their value. x −4
x→∞
4
(a) 0. 17. Evaluate the following limits.
Trying to ‘sub in’ the infinite values gives the in- 10x3 − 7x2 − 4x
∞ (a) lim
determinate form , so we need to do more work. x→∞ 3 − 10x − 3x3
∞ 10x3 − 7x2 − 4x
Dividing top and bottom by x will transform some (b) lim
x→−∞ 3 − 10x − 3x3
of our infinite quantities into zeros, which will help:
14. Evaluate the following limits. 18. Evaluate the following limit.
7
(a) lim x
x→∞ e + 2 x4 − 3x2 + 4
7 lim
(b) lim x x→∞ x5 + 3x3
x→−∞ e + 2
(b) 3.5.
After working with polynomials, you need to be (a) For large values of x, the term that dominates the
careful with this exponential limit! polynomial will be highest power, here the cubic
If we ‘sub in’ x → −∞, we note that ex → 0 (not term. As x → ∞, the term +30x3 → ∞ as well, so
infinity)! This is like an exponential decay in the the overall limit is → ∞.
long run, or the extreme left side of the y = ex (b) For large values of x (even negative), the term that
graph. dominates the polynomial will be highest power,
7 7 here the cubic term. As x → −∞, the term
lim = = 3.5 +30x3 → −∞ as well, so the overall limit is
x→−∞ ex + 2 0+2
→ −∞.
15. Evaluate the limit 20. Evaluate the following limits, given f (x) =
|x−5|
(5 − x)(11 + 7x) x−5 .
lim
x→∞ (3 − 11x)(7 + 6x)
(a) lim− f (x)
x→5
The limiting value is ≈ 0.106. (b) lim+ f (x)
This can be found by expanding/multiplying out the x→5
factors in the numerator and denominator, then divid- (c) lim f (x)
x→5
ing top and bottom by x2 , and finally evaluating the
limit. Recall that the absolute value function is a piecewise
16. Evaluate the limit function, which keeps positive values unchanged, but
flips the sign of any negative values:
4x3 − 5x2 − 4x
lim (
x→∞ 10 − 8x − 2x3 (x − 5) if (x − 5) > 0, or x > 5
|x − 5| =
−(x − 5) if (x − 5) < 0, , or x < 5
The limiting value is −2.
(a) The limit value is -1.
This can be found by dividing top and bottom by x3 We first note that a naive ‘subbing in’ of the limit
before evaluating the limit. 0
x → 5 gives the form , which is indeterminate.
0
5
We thus need to go back to the original function (b) 0
and do a more careful analysis. (c) 0
When we evaluate the limit from the left,
lim f (x), then the x values are below 5, so we 22. Find all values of the constant k such that the
x→5−
use the second branch of the function above (with limit shown below exists.
the negative sign). 5kx + 5
lim
x→∞ 54x + 7
|x − 5| −(x − 5)
lim = lim
x→5− x−5 x→5− x−5
= lim− −1 5kx + 5 ∞
x→5 lim =
x→∞ 54x + 7 ∞
= −1.
which is an indeterminate form.
(b) The limit value is 1. 5kx /54x + 5/54x
When we evaluate the limit from the right, Divide top & bottom by 54x : = lim
x→∞ 1 + 7/54x
lim+ f (x), then the x values are above 5, so we
x→5 In this new form, the denominator always approaches
use the first branch of the function above (with no a single value, regardless of k:
sign change, because x − 5 is already positive).
lim (1 + 7/54x ) = 1 + 0 = 1
|x − 5| (x − 5) x→∞
lim+ = lim+
x→5 x−5 x→5 x−5
We are therefore more concerned with the numerator,
= lim +1
x→5+ and consider the following cases:
= +1.
• If k > 4, then 5kx /54x = 5(k−4)x will give
(c) DNE. In parts (a) and (b), we found two differ- 5(positive coef.)·x → ∞ as x → ∞. in the numera-
ent limiting values, so the two-sided limit does not tor, the limit will continue to grow unboundedly,
exist. so the limit is not finite/does not exist.
21. Evaluate the following limits, given f (x) = • If k = 4 then 5kx /54x = 54x /54x = 1 an overall
|x−2| 1
x . limit of = 1 so the limit exists.
1
(a) lim f (x) (b) lim f (x) (c) lim f (x)
x→2− x→2+ x→2 • If k < 4 then 54x /54x will give
5 (negative coef.) ·x
→ 0 as x → ∞ overall limit
For each of these, we try a naive ‘subbing in’ of the converges to 01 = 0, so the limit exists.
value x = 2, and find no issues with continuity or lim-
0 5kx + 6
its: we simply get = 0 for each limit. Thus, the limit lim exists if k ≤ 4 and does
2 x→∞ 54x + 4
(a) 0 not exist for k > 4.
1. 2. 3.
4. 5. 6.
6
Because the car is driven at a decreasing speed, the dis- 26. Consider the function shown in the graph be-
tance traveled for different time intervals of the same low.
length must decrease as time goes on. Therefore the
slope of the graph of distance traveled must decrease
with increasing time, and must be 3.
24. A car is driven at a constant speed, starting at
noon. Which of the following could be a graph
of the distance the car has traveled as a function
of time past noon?
1. 2. 3.
slope -3 -1 -1/2 0 1 2
label
7
We obtain this by ordering the slopes from 29. Let f (x) be the function whose graph is shown
below.
• A. f 0 (6.5)
• B. f 0 (5.5)
(3+h)2 −9
Thus, as h → 0 we have h → 6.
8
32. Suppose y = f (x) graphed in the figure be- 33. Consider the function y = f (x) graphed below.
low represents the cost of manufacturing x kilo-
grams of a chemical.
f (x)/x represents the average cost of producing (a) The derivative of the function is positive.
1 kilogram of the chemical when x kilograms are (b) The value of the function is positive.
made. This problem asks you to visualize these (c) The derivative of the function is largest.
averages graphically.
(d) The derivative of the function is zero.
(a) We can represent f (4)/4 as the slope of a (e) The derivative of the function is approxi-
line. Through what points does this line mately the same as the derivative at x =
extend? 3.25.
(b) Which is larger, f (3)/3 or f (4)/4?
9
34. Consider the graph of the function f (x) shown (a) Since f is increasing, f (8) < f (10).
below. (b) From the figure, it appears that f (8) − f (6) >
f (6) − f (4).
(c) The quantity f (6)−f
6−4
(4)
represents the slope of the
secant line connecting the points on the graph at
x = 4 and x = 6. This is less than the slope of
the secant line connecting the points at x = 4 and
x = 8, which is f (8)−f
8−4
(4)
10