Function, Limit of a Function

Function
Let and be two non-empty sets. A function (or mapping) from
to is a rule of correspondence that assigns to each element in
X, a unique in and is denoted by

The set is called domain and is called co-domain of the function.

The set * ( ) + is said to be the range of is denoted by
( )
Throughout this text we use accepted notations for some familiar
sets of numbers
* +, the set of integers,

{ }, the set of all rational

numbers,
ℝ the set of real numbers.
Different types of interval
(i) , - * ℝ + is said to be closed interval.
(ii) ( ) * ℝ + is called open interval.
(iii) , ) * ℝ + is called half open (or half
closed) interval.
Example:
Let : defined by ( ) , then is a function.

Ex. 1 If ( ) , find ( ) ( ) ( )

Solution: ( ) 1
Hence ( ) 1 ,
( ) 1 ,
and ( ) ( ) ( ) 1 .

Ex.2 If the function ( ) is defined by ( ) , show that

. /

Solution: ( )

⇒ . / .

Ex.3 If the function ( ) is defined by ( ) , show that

( ) . /

Solution: ( ) ⇒ . /

Hence ( ) . /
Ex. 4
If the function ( ) is defined as follows

( ) ={

Find ( ) ( ) ( ) and ( ).

Solution:

( ) ={

⇒ ( ) & ( )
Where ( ) & ( )

Classification of functions

(i) Polynomial function:

A function of the form ( )
where is a positive integer or zero and
are constants, is known as polynomial of degree .

(ii) Exponential Function:

, ( )

(iii) Logarithm Function:

( )
Logarithms
If ( ) then the index is called the logarithm of
with respect to base ‘ ’ and is written as

Results:
(i) ( )
(ii) ( )
(iii) ( )
(iv) . /
(v)

Ex. 5 If ( ) , show that ( ) ( ) . /

Solution:

( )

Hence

( ) and ( ) ,

Now,
( )( )
( ) ( )
( )( )

…………….(i)

Again

. / …………… (ii)

From (i) & (ii), we have:

( ) ( ) ( )
Ex. 6 If ( ) , show that . / ( )

Solution:

( )

Hence

( )
( )
( )

{ } ( )
Odd and Even function:
A function ( ) is said to be an odd function if ( ) ( ) For
example ( ) is an odd function.
A function ( ) is said to be an even function if ( ) ( )
For example ( ) is an even function.

Example: Show that following are odd:

(i) ( ) (ii) ( ) (√ )

Solution:

(i) ( )

⇒ ( )

( ) ( )

Hence ( ) is an odd function of

(ii) ( ) (√ )
⇒ ( ) .√ ( ) / .√ /
(√ )(√ )
(√ )
( )
(√ ) (√ )
.√ / ( )

Hence ( ) is an odd function of

Example: Find the domain of definition of the following function:

(i) (ii)
√

Solution:

(i) Let ( )
⇒ ( ) will be undefined if
⇒( )( )
⇒ or
Thus the domain of definition is any real number except 2
and 3, i.e., ℝ * +

(ii) Let ( )
√
( ) will be defined when

⇒( )( )
Case I: ( ) and ( ) i.e., and
This implies .
Case II: ( ) and ( ) i.e., and
This implies .
Thus the domain of definition is and

i.e., ℝ * ℝ + ℝ , -

Limit of a function
Let ( ) be a function of . Then if ( ) approaches a fixed
quantity , when approaches from either side, we say that the
limit of ( ) is as This is denoted by
( ) .

Mathematical definition of limit

The number will be called the limit of ( ) as tends to if, for
every positive number , however small, there exists another
positive quantity depending upon such that
| ( ) | for all satisfying | | .
Left hand limit of a function

If ( ) tends to a definite finite number as tends to the number

from the left- hand side, i.e., , then is known as the left
hand limit of ( ) and we write
( )

Example: If the function ( ) is defined as follows

( ) {

Find ( ).

Solution: ( ) {

Hence
( ) ( )
Example
If the function ( ) is defined as follows

( ) {

Find ( ).

Solution: ( ) {

Hence
( )

Right hand limit of a function

If ( ) tends to a definite finite number as tends to the number

from the right- hand side, i.e., , then is known as the right
hand limit of ( ) and we write
( )

Example: If the function ( ) is defined as follows

( ) {
Find ( ).

Solution: ( ) ={

Hence
( ) ( )

Example
If the function ( ) is defined as follows

( ) {

Find ( ).

Solution: ( ) {

Hence
( ) ( )
Existence of Limit of a function
A function ( ) will have the limit as tends to i.e.,
( ) if
( ) ( )

Thus ( ) does not exist if

(i) ( ) does not exist
or
(ii) ( ) does not exist
or
(iii)
( ) ( ).
 Example: If the function ( ) is defined as follows

( ) {

Find ( )

Solution: ( ) ={

Hence
( ) ( )

Also
( ) ( )

We have ( ) .

Theorems on Limits
1. * ( ) ( ) + ( ) ( )

2. * ( ) ( )+ ( ) ( )

( ) ( )
3. { } , provided ( )
( ) ( )
Example 1

Find . /

Solution:
( )
. / ( )
.

Example 2
Find ( )( )

Solution:

( )( ) . ( )/ . ( )/
Example 3

Find . /

Solution:

Here ( )( ) and ( )

( )( ) ( )
. / .
( )

Example 4
Discuss the existence of the limit of the following function as

( ) {

Solution:

Here
( ) ( )

Also
( ) ( )

We have
( ) ( )

Hence ( ) does not exist.

Example 5

( ) {
 ( ) exist?

Solution:

Here
( ) ( )

Also
( ) ( )

Since
( ) ( )

Hence ( ) does not exist.

Example 6

Find . /

Solution:

We have ( )( )
and ( )( )
Now
 ( )( ) ( )
( )
( )( ) ( )

Example 7

Find . /

Solution:

We have ( )( )
and ( )( )
Now
( )( ) ( )
. / .
( )( ) ( )

Example 8
√ √
Find

Solution:
 √ √ (√ √ )(√ √ )
(√ √ )
( ) ( )
(√ √ ) (√ √ )

(√ √ ) √ √

Example 9
√ √
Find

Solution:

√ √ (√ √ )(√ √ )
(√ √ )
( )
(√ √ ) (√ √ )

(√ √ ) (√ √ ) √
Some Standard Limits

1. , where is a rational number and

.

2. , ( )

3.

( )
4.

Example 10

Find

Solution:
Example 11

Find

Solution: Let . Therefore, as , .

We have .

.
Example 12

Find

Solution:
( ) ( )

Example 13

Find ( )

Solution: Let Therefore, as , .

We have ⇒
 ( )

( )
( )

Example 14
( ) ( )
If ( ) show that
Solution:
( )

We have
( ) ( ) { ( ) ( ) } { }

{ } { }