Using tables to approximate limit values

Limits are a tool for reasoning about function behavior, and tables are a tool
for reasoning about limits. One nice thing about tables is that we can get
more precise estimates of limits than we'd get by eyeballing graphs.

When using a table to approximate limits, it's important to create it in a way

that simulates the feeling of getting "infinitely close" to some desired xxx-
value.

Example
Imagine we're asked to approximate this limit:
\displaystyle{\lim_{x \to 2}{\dfrac{x-2}{x^2-4}}}x→2lim
x2−4x−2limit, start subscript, x, \to, 2, end subscript, start fraction, x, minus,
2, divided by, x, squared, minus, 4, end fraction

Note: The function is actually undefined at x=2x=2x, equals, 2 because the

denominator evaluates to zero, but the limit as xxx approaches 222 still
exists.

Step 1: We'd like to pick a value that's a little bit less than x=2x=2x, equals,
2 (that is, a value that's "to the left" of 222 when thinking about the
standard xxx-axis), so maybe start with something like x=1.9x=1.9x, equals,
1, point, 9.

xxx 1.91.91, point, 9 222

f(x)f(x)f, left parenthesis, x, 0.25640.25640, point,
right parenthesis 2564 undefined
Step 2: Try a couple more xxx-values to simulate the feeling of getting
infinitely close to x=2x=2x, equals, 2 from the left.

1.91.91, 1.991.991, 1.99991.9999

xxx point, 9 point, 99 1, point, 9999 222
f(x)f(x)f,
left
parenthesi
0.25640.25
s, x, right 0.25060.25 0.250010.250
parenthesi 640, point, 060, point, 010, point, undefin
s 2564 2506 25001 ed
Notice how our xxx-values \{1.9, 1.99, 1.9999\}{1.9,1.99,1.9999}left brace,
1, point, 9, comma, 1, point, 99, comma, 1, point, 9999, right brace really
"zoom in" around x=2x=2x, equals, 2. A worse choice of xxx-values would
have been constant increments like \{-1,0,1\}{−1,0,1}left brace, minus, 1,
comma, 0, comma, 1, right brace, which aren't very helpful for thinking about
getting infinitely close to x=2x=2x, equals, 2.

Step 3: Approach x=2x=2x, equals, 2 from the right just like we did from the
left. We want to do this in a way that simulates the feeling of getting
infinitely close to x=2x=2x, equals, 2.

1.991. 1.99991 2.00012 2.012.

1.91.9 991, .99991, .00012, 012, 2.12.1
1, point, point, point, point, 2,
xxx point, 9 99 9999 0001 01 point, 1
f(x)f 0.2564 0.2506 0.25001 0.24999 0.2494 0.2439
(x)f, 0.2564 0.2506 0.25001 0.24999 0.2494 0.2439
left 0, point, 0, point, 0, point, 0, point, 0, point, 0, point,
 1.991. 1.99991 2.00012 2.012.
1.91.9 991, .99991, .00012, 012, 2.12.1
1, point, point, point, point, 2,
xxx point, 9 99 9999 0001 01 point, 1
paren
thesis
, x,
right
paren
thesis 2564 2506 25001 24999 2494 2439
(Note: We've removed x=2x=2x, equals, 2 from the table to save space, and
also because it isn't necessary for reasoning about the limit value.)

Looking at the table we've created, we have very strong evidence that the
limit is 0.250.250, point, 25. But, if we're honest with ourselves, we must
admit that what we have is only a reasonable approximation. We can't say for
sure that this is the actual value of the limit.
PROBLEM 1

Three students were given a function fff and asked to

estimate \displaystyle\lim_{x\to 2}f(x)x→2limf(x)limit, start subscript, x, \to,
2, end subscript, f, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis. Each student created
a table (shown below).

Each table is accurate, but which one is the best for approximating the
limit?
Choose 1 answer:
Choose 1 answer:

(Choice A)
 A

-
1−1min
A xxx us, 1 000 111 222 333 444
f(x)f(x)f,
left
parenthes
is, x, 1.31. 2.92. 3.253.2 2.92. 1.31.
right 31, 92, 53, 92, 31,
parenthes 0.20.20, point, point, point, point, point,
is point, 2 3 9 25 9 3


(Choice B)

1.91. 1.991.9 1.9991. 2.0012. 2.012.0 2.12.1

91, 91, 9991, 0012, 12, 2,
point, point, point, point, point, point,
B xxx 9 99 999 001 01 1
f(x)f(x)
f, left
parenth
esis, x, 3.323 3.2643. 3.2513. 3.2493. 3.2423. 3.313.
right .323, 2643, 2513, 2493, 2423, 313,
parenth point, point, point, point, point, point,
esis 32 264 251 249 242 31

 (Choice C)

2.0012. 2.012.0 2.12.1 2.252. 2.52.5

0012, 12, 2, 252, 2,
point, point, point, point, point,
C xxx 001 01 1 25 5 333
f(x)f(x)f
, left
parenth
esis, x, 3.2493. 3.2423. 3.313. 3.23.2 3.053. 2.92.
right 2493, 2423, 313, 3, 053, 92,
parenth point, point, point, point, point, point
esis 249 242 31 2 05 ,9
CheckExplain

Want more practice? Try this exercise.

Common mistakes when creating tables to

estimate limits
Here are a several things to watch out for as you create your own tables to
approximate limits:

Assuming the function value is the limit value: The example above

highlights a case where function is undefined, yet the limit still exists. Avoid
jumping to conclusions about the limit value based on the function value.

Not getting infinitely close: Getting infinitely close means we’re trying to

get so close to a desired xxx-value that there’s very little room left between
where we are and where that value is—close enough to convince us that the
estimate we’re getting is most likely what the limit is.

Avoid picking xxx-values in constant increments like \{-1,0,1\}{−1,0,1}left

brace, minus, 1, comma, 0, comma, 1, right brace or even \{1.91, 1.92,
1.93\}{1.91,1.92,1.93}left brace, 1, point, 91, comma, 1, point, 92, comma, 1,
point, 93, right brace because those values don't really get us infinitely close
—they only get us kind of close. To get infinitely close, we want to keep
reducing our increments, using xxx-values like \{1.9, 1.99, 1.999\}
{1.9,1.99,1.999}left brace, 1, point, 9, comma, 1, point, 99, comma, 1, point,
999, right brace, so that we’re shrinking the space between where we are
and where we’d like to be.

Not approaching from both sides: Remember to approach your

desired xxx-value from both the left and the right. Remember, for the limit to
exist, the left- and right-hand limits must be equal. Avoid jumping to
conclusions about the limit value after only approaching your desired xxx-
value from one side.

Assuming "left side" means "negative": Some students mistakenly believe

that when approaching from the left they must use negative numbers. In the
example above, we approached x=2x=2x, equals, 2 from the left by using
positive values that were just a little bit less than 222, such as 1.91.91, point,
9 and 1.991.991, point, 99. Don't assume you must use negative xxx-values
when approaching from the left.
PROBLEM 2

The function ggg is defined over the real numbers. This table gives select
values of ggg.
 xxx g(x)g(x)g, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis
444 3.373.373, point, 37

4.94.94, point, 9 3.53.53, point, 5

4.994.994, point, 99 3.663.663, point, 66

4.9994.9994, point,
999 3.683.683, point, 68

555 6.376.376, point, 37

5.0015.0015, point,
001 3.683.683, point, 68

5.015.015, point, 01 3.73.73, point, 7

5.15.15, point, 1 3.843.843, point, 84

666 3.973.973, point, 97

What is a reasonable estimate for \displaystyle \lim_{x\to 5}g(x)x→5lim
g(x)limit, start subscript, x, \to, 5, end subscript, g, left parenthesis, x,
right parenthesis?
Choose 1 answer:
Choose 1 answer:

(Choice A)

3.683.683, point, 68


(Choice B)
 B

444


(Choice C)

555


(Choice D)

6.376.376, point, 37


(Choice E)

The limit doesn't exist

CheckExplain

Want more practice? Try this exercise.

Common mistakes when estimating limits from

tables
Confusing the limit value with the function value: Remember that the limit
of a function at a certain point isn't necessarily equal to the function's value at
that point. For example, in Problem 2, g(5)=6.37g(5)=6.37g, left parenthesis,
5, right parenthesis, equals, 6, point, 37 but \displaystyle\lim_{x\to
5}g(x)x→5limg(x)limit, start subscript, x, \to, 5, end subscript, g, left
parenthesis, x, right parenthesis is about 3.683.683, point, 68.

Thinking a limit value is always an integer: Some limits are "nice" and

have integer values or nice fraction values. For example, the limit in our first
example here was 0.250.250, point, 25. Some limits are less nice, like the
limit in Problem 2 which is somewhere around 3.683.683, point, 68.

Summary questions
PROBLEM 3

A student created a table to help them reason about \displaystyle \lim_{x\to

7}g(x)x→7limg(x)limit, start subscript, x, \to, 7, end subscript, g, left
parenthesis, x, right parenthesis.

6.996.9 6.99996. 7.00017. 7.017.0

96, 99996, 00017, 17,
point, point, point, point,
xxx 666 99 9999 777 0001 01 888
g(x)g
(x)g,
left
paren - - - - -
thesis 3.41−3 1.94−1 1.9252−1 1.9248−1 1.91−1 0.46
, x, .41min .94min .9252min .9248min .91min 0.46
right us, 3, us, 1, us, 1, und us, 1, us, 1, 0,
paren point, point, point, efin point, point, poin
thesis 41 94 9252 ed 9248 91 t, 46
Based on the table, what can you reasonably conclude about the limit?
Choose 1 answer:
Choose 1 answer:

(Choice A)

The value -1.925−1.925minus, 1, point, 925 is a reasonable estimate

of \displaystyle \lim_{x\to 7}g(x)x→7limg(x)limit, start subscript, x, \to,
7, end subscript, g, left parenthesis, x, right parenthesis.


(Choice B)

The limit doesn't exist because the function is undefined at x=7x=7x,

equals, 7.


(Choice C)

As we approach x=7x=7x, equals, 7, the value of g(x)g(x)g, left

parenthesis, x, right parenthesis definitely approaches -
1.925−1.925minus, 1, point, 925 exactly.


(Choice D)

D
 There appears to be an asymptote at x=7x=7x, equals, 7.
Check
PROBLEM 4

The table gives a few values of function fff. The function is increasing

everywhere except at x=5x=5x, equals, 5, and \displaystyle\lim_{x\to
5}f(x)x→5limf(x)limit, start subscript, x, \to, 5, end subscript, f, left
parenthesis, x, right parenthesis exists.

xxx 222 333 444 555 666 777 888

f(x)f(x)f,
left
parenthesi 3.73.7 4.34.3 4.94.9 4.84.8 5.65.6 6.26.2 6.96.9
s, x, right 3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 6, 6,
parenthesi point, point, point, point, point, point, point,
s 7 3 9 8 6 2 9
Which is a reasonable estimate for \displaystyle\lim_{x\to 5}f(x)x→5lim
f(x)limit, start subscript, x, \to, 5, end subscript, f, left parenthesis, x,
right parenthesis?
Choose 1 answer:
Choose 1 answer:

(Choice A)

4.64.64, point, 6


(Choice B)
 B

4.84.84, point, 8


(Choice C)

5.35.35, point, 3


(Choice D)

5.65.65, point, 6