1 - Limits and Continuity

Calculus with Analytic Geometry I
(Limits and Continuity)
JULIUS V. BENITEZ, Ph.D.

julius.benitez@g.msuiit.edu.ph
Department of Mathematics and Statistics, College of Science and Mathematics

Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology
Iligan City 9200, Lanao del Norte, Philippines
email: csm.mathstat@g.msuiit.edu.ph
2nd Sem, 2019-2020

J.V. Benitez Calculus with Analytic Geometry I 2nd Sem, 2019-2020 1 / 41
Contents
1 Limits and Continuity

Limit of a Function
One-Sided Limits
Infinite Limits
Limits at Infinity
Continuity of a Function
Intermediate Value Theorem
Squeeze Theorem and Limits Involving Sine and Cosine Functions
DMS Department of
MATHEMATICS MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY
and STATISTICS
ILIGAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
1
Limits
Definition 1.1 (Limit of a Function at a)
Let f be a function which is defined for all x on the open interval I
containing a, except possibly at a itself. The limit of f(x) as x approaches
to a is L, written
lim f (x) = L
x→a
if for every > 0, however small, there exists a δ > 0 such that
|f (x) − L| < whenever 0 < |x − a| < δ.
DMS Department of
and STATISTICS
1
Limits
Theorem 1.2
1 If lim f (x) = L1 and lim f (x) = L2 , then L1 = L2 .
x→a x→a
2 If b and c are constants, then lim (bx + c) = ba + c.
x→a
3 If c is a constant, then for any real number a, lim c = c.
x→a
4 For any real number a, lim x = a.
x→a
5 If lim f (x) = L and lim g(x) = M then
x→a x→a
lim [f (x) + g(x)] = lim f (x) + lim g(x) = L + M.

x→a x→a x→a
DMS Department of
and STATISTICS
1
Limits
6 If lim f1 (x) = L1 and lim f2 (x) = L2 , then
x→a x→a
lim [f1 (x) · f2 (x)] = lim f1 (x) · lim f2 (x) = L1 · L2 .

x→a x→a x→a
7 If lim f (x) = L and n is any positive integer, then we have

x→a
h in
lim [f (x)]n = lim f (x) = Ln .
x→a x→a
p q √
n
8 If lim f (x) = L, then lim n f (x) = n lim f (x) = L, provided
√ x→a x→a x→a
n
L ∈ R.
DMS Department of
and STATISTICS
1
Limits
9 If lim f (x) = L and lim g(x) = M , M 6= 0, then
x→a x→a
f (x) lim f (x) L

lim = x→a = .
x→a g(x) lim g(x) M
x→a
10 If F and G are two functions such that F (x) = G(x) for all x 6= a,
and if lim G(x) exists, then lim F (x) exists. Moreover,
x→a x→a
lim F (x) = lim G(x).
x→a x→a
DMS Department of
and STATISTICS
1
Limits
Example 1.3
Evaluate the following limits.
x2 + 2x + 1
r
x3 − 8
3
1 lim 5 lim
x2 + 4
x − 2
x→−1 x→2
√
3

h+1−1 1 1
2 lim 6 lim √ −1
h→0 h h→0 h 1+h
√
x+2−2

1 1 1
3 lim 7 lim −
x→2 x−2 x→0 x h + x h
x3 + 1 2
2x − x − 3
4 lim 8 lim 3
x→−1 x + 1 x→−1 x + 2x2 + 6x + 5
DMS Department of
and STATISTICS
1
Limits
Example 1.4
(1 + a) 2 − 1
3
t+2
9 lim
13 lim √
a→0 a t→−2 8 + 2t2 − 4
x−1 √
10 lim p−3
x→1 1 − x2
14 lim p √
√ p→9 1+ p−2
1− 3x
11 lim 3(x − y)3 − 3x3
x→1 x − 1
1−x
15 lim
12 lim √ y→0 y
x→1 12 − 3x − 3
DMS Department of
and STATISTICS
1
One-Sided Limits
Definition 1.5 (Right-Hand Limit)
Let f be a function which is defined for every x in some open interval
(a, c). Then the limit of f (x) as x approaches a from the right is L,
written
lim f (x) = L,
x→a+
|f (x) − L| < whenever 0 < x − a < δ.
DMS Department of
and STATISTICS
1
One-Sided Limits
Definition 1.6 (Left-Hand Limit)
Let f be a function which is defined for every x in some open interval
(b, a). Then the limit of f (x) as x approaches a from the left is L, written
lim f (x) = L,
x→a−
|f (x) − L| < whenever 0 < a − x < δ.
DMS Department of
and STATISTICS
1
One-Sided Limits
Remark 1.7
The limit theorems discussed earlier still hold if “x → a” is replaced by
“x → a+ ” or “x → a− ”.
Theorem 1.8
lim f (x) exists if and only if lim f (x) and lim f (x) both exist and are
x→a x→a+ x→a−
equal. Moreover,
lim f (x) = lim f (x) = lim f (x).

x→a x→a+ x→a−
DMS Department of
and STATISTICS
1
One-Sided Limits
Example 1.9
|x| |x + 1|
1 lim 6 lim
x→0+ x x→−1− 2x + 2
2 lim (8 − 2x − x3 ) x2 |x + 2|
x→2+ 7 lim
√ x→−2− x+2
4 − x2 √
3 lim √ x−3
x→2− 6 − 5x + x2
8 lim
x→9− x − 9
6 − 2x x3 − x2 − 2x
4 lim 2 9 lim
x→3 x − 2x − 3
−
x→2− x3 − 2x2
9 − x2 x − 2x9
10
5 lim √ 10 lim
x→3− 3 + 2x − x2
.
x→2− x2 − 4
DMS Department of
and STATISTICS
1
One-Sided Limits
Example 1.10
In Problems 1 to 3, find (a) lim F (x) and (b) lim F (x). In each case,
x→1+ x→1−
determine if lim F (x) exists.
x→1
2
1 F (x) =
2x , −1 ≤ x < 1
3 − x, 1 ≤ x < 2

2 F (x) =
2x + 1, −1 ≤ x ≤ 1
1 2
2 x − 3, 1<x<4
 √
x−1
√ , x 6= 1

3 F (x) =
x − 2 − x
2, x=1

DMS Department of
and STATISTICS
1
One-Sided Limits
Example 1.11
 2
 x − 6, −∞ < x < −1
Given G(x) = −5, −1 ≤ x ≤ 10 . Find the following.
x − 15, 10 < x < +∞

1 lim G(x) 4 lim G(x)

x→−1+ x→10+
2 lim G(x) 5 lim G(x)
x→−1− x→10−
3 lim G(x) (if it exists) 6 lim G(x) (if it exists)
x→−1 x→10
DMS Department of
and STATISTICS
1
Infinite Limits
Definition 1.12 (+∞ Limit)
Let f be a function which is defined at every number in some open
interval I containing a, except possibly at the number a itself. We say
that f (x) increases without bound as x approaches a, written
lim f (x) = +∞,

x→a
if for every positive number K, there exists a δ > 0 such that f (x) > K
whenever 0 < |x − a| < δ.
DMS Department of
and STATISTICS
1
Infinite Limits
Definition 1.13 (−∞ Limit)
interval I containing a, except possibly at the number a itself. We say
that f (x) decreases without bound as x approaches a, written
lim f (x) = −∞,

x→a
if for every positive number K, there exists a δ > 0 such that f (x) < −K
whenever 0 < |x − a| < δ.
DMS Department of
and STATISTICS
1
Infinite Limits
Theorem 1.14
If r is a positive integer, then
1
1 lim r = +∞
x→0 x
+

1 −∞, if r is odd
2 lim r =
x→0 x
− +∞, if r is even.
DMSDepartment of
and STATISTICS
1
Infinite Limits
Theorem 1.15
If a ∈ R, and if lim g(x) = 0 and lim f (x) = c, where c is a constant not
x→a x→a
equal to zero, then
1 if c > 0 and if g(x) → 0 through positive values of g(x), then
f (x)
lim = +∞;
x→a g(x)
2 if c > 0 and if g(x) → 0 through negative values of g(x), then
f (x)
lim = −∞;
x→a g(x)
DMS Department of
and STATISTICS
1
Infinite Limits
3 if c < 0 and if g(x) → 0 through positive values of g(x), then
f (x)
lim = −∞;
x→a g(x)
4 if c < 0 and if g(x) → 0 through negative values of g(x), then
f (x)
lim = +∞.
x→a g(x)
Theorem 1.16
If lim f (x) = +∞ and lim g(x) = c, where c is a real number, then
x→a x→a
lim [f (x) + g(x)] = +∞.

. x→a
DMS Department of
and STATISTICS
1
Infinite Limits
Theorem 1.17
If lim f (x) = +∞ and lim g(x) = c, where c is a nonzero real number,
x→a x→a
then
1 if c > 0, then lim [f (x) · g(x)] = +∞.
x→a
2 if c < 0, then lim [f (x) · g(x)] = −∞.
x→a
Theorem 1.18
If lim f (x) = −∞ and lim g(x) = c, where c is a nonzero real number,
x→a x→a
then
1 if c > 0, then lim [f (x) · g(x)] = −∞.
x→a
2 if c < 0, then lim [f (x) · g(x)] = +∞.
. x→a
DMS Department of
and STATISTICS
1
Infinite Limits
Example 1.19
4 4
1 lim 5 lim
x→4+ |x − 4| t→1+ (t − 1)3
√ " #
x2 − 4 −7 4x
2 lim 6 lim +
x→2+ x − 2 x→− 12
− (2x + 1)2 x + 23

1 1
5 x+4

3 lim − 2 7 lim +
x→0+ x x
x→3+ (x − 3)2 x−4
1 2 " #
4 lim − 2 x − 34
x→−3− x + 3 x−3 8 lim ·
x→ 1
− (3x − 1)3 x
3
DMS Department of
and STATISTICS
1
Infinite Limits

1 3 (x − 3)(x + 2)x
9 lim − 2 13 lim
s→2− s − 2 s −4 x→−3− 2x + 6
2

4 x +1 π
10 lim · 14 lim
x→0+ x 2x2 − 1 t→−1+ (2t + 2)3

1 1
−2x

11 lim − 15 lim
x→−1− x + 1 (x + 1)2 + 3

x→−5− x + 5

q
x3 − 18
4t

12 lim 16 lim

x→ 21 + x − 12 t→1− t3 − 1

DMS Department of
and STATISTICS
1
Limits at Infinity
Definition 1.20 (Limit at +∞)
interval (a, +∞). The limit of f (x) as x increases without bound is L,
written lim f (x) = L, if for any > 0, there exists a number N > 0
x→+∞
such that |f (x) − L| < whenever x > N .
Definition 1.21 (Limit at −∞)

interval (−∞, a). The limit of f (x) as x decreases without bound is L,
written lim f (x) = L, if for any > 0, there exists a number N < 0
x→−∞
such that |f (x) − L| < whenever x < N .
DMS Department of
and STATISTICS
1
Limits at Infinity
Theorem 1.22
If r is a positive integer, then
1
1 lim r = 0 and
x→+∞ x
1
2 lim r = 0.
x→−∞ x
DMS Department of
and STATISTICS
1
Limits at Infinity
Example 1.23
√
3x4 − 7x2 + 2 3
8t3 + t2 − 1
1 lim 5 lim
x→−∞ 2x4 + 1 t→+∞ 1 − 5t
4t + 2t2 − 5
3
2 lim 1−x
t→+∞ 8t3 + t + 2 6 lim √
p x→−∞ x − x2 − 1
y2 + 1
3 lim p
y→+∞ 2y + 1 7 lim ( x2 + x − x)
q p √ x→+∞
x+ x+ x p
4 lim √ 8 lim [x( 4x(x3 − 2) − 2x2 )]
x→+∞ x+1 x→−∞
DMS Department of
and STATISTICS
1
Limits at Infinity
√
2x − x2
p
p+1+ p+1
9 lim 13 lim √
x→+∞ 3x + 5 p→+∞ p+1
4x − 1
10 lim √ (x + 3)(1 − x)
x→+∞ x2 + 2 14 lim
1 x→−∞ x+4
11 lim √
x→+∞
x x4 + 1 − x2 x6 + x3
15 lim
3
2x + x + 1 x→−∞ x4 (−2x2 + 5)
12 lim
x→+∞ 3x3 − 5
DMS Department of
and STATISTICS
1
Definition 1.24 (Continuity at a)
The function f is said to be continuous at the number a if the following
three conditions are satisfied
1 f (a) exists;
2 lim f (x) exists;
x→a
3 lim f (x) = f (a).
x→a
If one or two of these conditions fail to hold, then we say that function f
is discontinuous. If f is discontinuous at a number a but lim f (x) exists,
x→a
then either lim f (x) 6= f (a) or f (a) does not exist. If this happens, then
x→a
we say that the discontinuity is removable. If the discontinuity at a is not
removable, then it is called an essential discontinuity.
.
DMSDepartment of
and STATISTICS
1
Theorem 1.25
If f and g are two functions which are continuous at x = a, then f + g,
f
f − g and f g are continuous at a, If g(a) 6= 0, then is also continuous
g
at a.
Example 1.26
Determine if the given function is continuous at the indicated number a. If
it is discontinuous at a, determine if the discontinuity is removable or
essential. 
1+x , x ≤ −2
1 H(x) = 2 − x , −2 < x ≤ 2 (i) at x = −2, and (ii) at x = 2
2x − 1 ,x > 2

DMS Department of
and STATISTICS
1

√k + 5 , k < −3
2 F (k) = 2
9 − k , −3 ≤ k ≤ 3 (i) at k = −3, & (ii) at k = 3
5−k ,k > 3


 y ,y < 1
3 J(y) = 2 , y = 1 ; at y = 1
2y − 1 , y > 1


 (2x + 3)(x − 1)
, x 6= 1
4 F (x) = x−1 ; at y = 1
 2 ,x = 1

2y + 1 , −1 ≤ y ≤ 1
5 G(y) = 1 2 ; at y = 1
2y − 3 ,1 < y < 4
.
DMS Department of
and STATISTICS
1

 x2 − 16
, if x 6= 4
f (x) = ; at x = 4
 x−
6
4
6 , if x = 4

 x3 + 8
, if x 6= −2
7 f (x) = x + 2 ; at x = −2
 −12 , if x = −2
 2
x + 5x

 , if x < −5
 10x + 50


1
8 h(x) = − , if x = −5 ; at x = −5
 2
1


, if x > −5


x−5
.
DMS Department of
and STATISTICS
1
x−2
9 h(x) = ; at x = −1
(x + 1)(x − 2)
x2 − x − 2
10 g(x) = ; at x = 2
x2 − 4
4 − x2
11 f (x) = √ ; at x = 2
3 − x2 + 5
12 f (x) = |x + 1| − x; at x = −1
13 Let g be defined by
 √ √
 7x + 2 − 6x + 4
g(x) = , if x ≥ − 72 and x 6= 2
x−2
k , if x = 2.

For what value of k is g a continuous function at x = 2?

.
DMS Department of
and STATISTICS
1
14 Let h be defined by
1 + x3

, if x < −1


 1+x

h(x) = 3 , if x = −1
 +5
2x


, if x > −1.

k
For what value of k is h a continuous function at x = −1?
15 For what values of m and b is J, defined by

 −2 , if x≤3
J(x) = mx + b , if 3<x<5
4 , if 5≤x

.
DMS
continuous at x = 3 and x = 5?
Department of
and STATISTICS
1
Theorem 1.27 (Intermediate Value Theorem)
Suppose that f is continuous on the closed interval [a, b] and W is any
number between f (a) and f (b). Then there is a number c ∈ [a, b] such
that f (c) = W .
The Intermediate Value Theorem says that a function must take on every
value between its endpoints at least once provided the function is
continuous on a compact interval. It means that a continuous function f
on [a, b] cannot skip over any values between f (a) and f (b). Otherwise,
the graph of f would need to jump across the line y = W , something that
continuous functions cannot do. A function may take on a given value W
more than once.
.
DMS Department of
and STATISTICS
1
nd
arity and
Of course,
Of course,
a function
a function
may take
may on
take
a given
on a given W more
valuevalue W more
than once.
than once.
(See Figure
(See Figure
1.29b.)
1.29b.)
sown
a as a
Although
Although
these these
graphsgraphs
makemake
this result
this result
seem seem
reasonable,
reasonable,
the proof
the proof
is more
is more
complicated
complicated
ierstrass
ss was was
s of modern than you
odern thanmight
you might
imagine
imagine
and we
andmust
we must
refer you
refertoyou
an to
advanced
an advanced
calculus
calculus
text. text.
sis.
y y y y
f(b) f(b) f(b) f(b)

W f (c)
W f (c) y Wy W y Wy W
a a a a
x x x x
c bc b c1 c2 c1 c2 c3 bc3 b
f(a) f(a) f(a) f(a)
FIGURE
FIGURE
1.29a1.29a FIGURE
FIGURE
1.29b1.29b
AlthoughAnthese geometric
illustration
An illustration
of the of representations make
Intermediate
the Intermediate More the
More IVT
than one
than oneseem
value of c of reasonable,
value c
Value Value
TheoremTheorem
the proof is more complicated than one might imagine and an interested
reader may refer to an Advanced Calculus/Real Analysis text.
.
DMSDepartment of
MATHEMATICS
CONFIRMINGMINDANAO
CONFIRMING
PAGES
PAGESSTATE UNIVERSITY
and STATISTICS
1
The following result is a special case of the Intermediate Value Theorem. It
is also the basis of a Root-Finding algorithm called the Bisection Method.
Corollary 1.28
Suppose that f is continuous on [a, b] and f (a)f (b) < 0. Then there
exists c ∈ (a, b) such that f (c) = 0.
Example 1.29
Use the Intermediate Value Theorem to verify that the following functions
have zero/s in the given interval. Then use the method of bisections to
1
find an interval of length 32 that contains the zero.
1. f (x) = x2 − 7 , (a) [2, 3]; (b) [−3, −2] 3. f (x) = cos x − x, [0, 1]
2. f (x) = x3 − 4x − 2, (a) [2, 3]; (b) [−1, 0] 4. f (x) = ex + x, [−1, 0]
.
DMSDepartment of
and STATISTICS
1
Squeeze Thm & Limits Involving Sine & Cosine Functions
Theorem 1.30 (Squeeze Theorem)
Suppose that
g(x) ≤ f (x) ≤ h(x)
for all x in some interval (c, d), except possibly at the point a ∈ (c, d) and
that
lim g(x) = L = lim h(x),
x→a x→a
for some number L. Then it follows that
lim f (x) = L.
x→a
DMSDepartment of
and STATISTICS
1
Example 1.31
sin x
Show that lim = 1.
x→0 x
Solution : It can be seen that

x − 16 x3 ≤ sin x ≤ x , for all x ≥ 0 and
x ≤ sin x ≤ x − 16 x3 , for all x ≤ 0.
Since sin(−x) = − sin x, we have
sin x
1 − 16 x2 ≤ ≤ 1 , for all x 6= 0.
x
By Squeeze Theorem,
sin x sin x
1 = lim 1 − 61 x2 ≤ lim ≤ lim 1 = 1 ⇒ lim =1
.
x→0 x→0 x x→0 x→0 x
DMS Department of
and STATISTICS
1
Example 1.32
cos x − 1
Show that lim = 0.
x→0 x
Solution : For all x ∈ R,
1 − 21 x2 ≤ cos x ≤ 1 ⇒ − 12 x2 ≤ cos x − 1 ≤ 0.
Thus,
cos x − 1
− 12 x ≤ ≤ 0 , for all x > 0 and
x
cos x − 1
0≤ ≤ − 12 x , for all x < 0.
x
DMS Department of
and STATISTICS
1
Let ( x (
0 , x≥0
− , x≥0
g(x) = 2 and h(x) = x .
0 , x<0 − , x<0
2
Hence, for x 6= 0
cos x − 1
g(x) ≤ ≤ h(x).
x
Now,
lim g(x) = 0 = lim h(x).
x→0 x→0
By Squeeze Theorem,
cos x − 1
lim = 0.
x→0 x
DMS Department of
and STATISTICS
1
Example 1.33
sin 11x 1 − cos(x − 1)

1 lim 5 lim
x→0 x x→1 3x2 − 3x
sin 3(2x + 1) x
2 lim 6 lim
2x + 1 x→0 csc2 x
x→− 12
cot2 x
3 lim 3x(cot 3x) 7 lim
x→0 x→0 3x2
tan x tan3 2x
4 lim 8 lim
x→0 x x→0 x3
DMSDepartment of
and STATISTICS
1
cos2 θ − 1 1 − cos 2x sin 2x

9 lim 12 lim
θ→0 4θ x→0− x
2x 2
sin(π − x) 13 lim
10 lim
x→0 2x x→0+ 3 tan2 x
sin 4 x4 − 1

sin x cos x − sin x
11 lim 14 lim x
x→0 3x2 x→4
2 −2
DMSDepartment of
and STATISTICS
1

1 - Limits and Continuity

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

1 - Limits and Continuity

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Calculus with Analytic Geometry I

(Limits and Continuity)

JULIUS V. BENITEZ, Ph.D.

Department of Mathematics and Statistics, College of Science and Mathematics

2nd Sem, 2019-2020

1 Limits and Continuity

|f (x) − L| <  whenever 0 < |x − a| < δ.

lim [f (x) + g(x)] = lim f (x) + lim g(x) = L + M.

lim [f1 (x) · f2 (x)] = lim f1 (x) · lim f2 (x) = L1 · L2 .

7 If lim f (x) = L and n is any positive integer, then we have

f (x) lim f (x) L

lim f (x) = lim f (x) = lim f (x).

1 lim G(x) 4 lim G(x)

lim f (x) = +∞,

lim f (x) = −∞,

2 if c > 0 and if g(x) → 0 through negative values of g(x), then

lim [f (x) + g(x)] = +∞.

Definition 1.21 (Limit at −∞)

For what value of k is g a continuous function at x = 2?

f(b) f(b) f(b) f(b)

f(a) f(a) f(a) f(a)

for some number L. Then it follows that

Solution : It can be seen that

sin 11x 1 − cos(x − 1)

cos2 θ − 1 1 − cos 2x sin 2x

You might also like

|f (x) − L| < whenever 0 < |x − a| < δ.