Limits and Continuity Chapter 1

1 LIMITS AND
CONTINUITY

1.1 FUNCTIONS
1.2 LIMITS
1.3 CONTINUITY

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 Limits and Continuity Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1: LIMITS AND CONTINUITY

1.1 FUNCTIONS

At the end of this topic students should be able to:

 Understand the concepts of function
 Identify the domain and range of functions
 Identify the graph of function of x

1.1.1 PROPERTIES OF FUNCTIONS

DEFINITION
A function is a rule or formula that associates each element in the set X (an input) to
exactly one and only one element in the set Y (the output).

Rule
X: Input Y: Output
Function

Example 1: *Example 2:
Given f ( x )  x  4 . Find Given f ( x )  2  x  1 . Find
a) f (3) a) f (2)
b) f (10) b) f (4)
c) f (6) c) f (6)
Solution: d) f (0)
a) f (3)  3  4  1
Solution:
b) f (10)  10  4  6
c) f (6)  6  4  10

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 Limits and Continuity Chapter 1

DEFINITION
Domain: The set of all possible inputs which is in x - values ( x - axis)
Range: The set of all outputs which in y – values ( y - axis)

Example 3: *Example 4:
Find the domain and range of f ( x )  x  4 . Find the domain and range of
Solution: f (x)  2  x  1
Domain: ( ,) or x   Solution:
Range: ( ,) or f (x )  

1.1.2 OPERATIONS OF FUNCTIONS

Addition (f  g )( x )  f ( x )  g( x ) Subtraction (f  g )( x )  f ( x )  g( x )

Multiplication (fg )( x )  f ( x )g( x ) Division f  f (x)

 ( x )  , g( x )  0
g g( x )

Power f n  f ( x )n Composition of (f  g )( x )  f (g( x ))

f ( x ) to the power of n function

Example 5: Let f ( x )  x  x 2  4 and g( x )  x  3 . Find

a) (f  g )( x ) b) (f  g )( x )
Solution: Solution:
(f  g )( x )  f ( x )  g ( x ) (f  g )( x )  f ( x )  g ( x )
 ( x  x 2  4)  ( x  3)  ( x  x 2  4)  ( x  3)
 x 2  2x  7  x2 1

c) (fg )( x ) f 
d)  (x )
g 
Solution: Solution:
(fg )( x )  f ( x )g ( x ) f  f (x)
 ( x ) 
 ( x  x  4).( x  3)
2
g g( x )
 x 2  3 x  x 3  3 x 2  4 x  12 x  x2  4

 x 3  2 x 2  7 x  12 x 3

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 Limits and Continuity Chapter 1

*Example 6: Let f ( x )  x  1 and g ( x )  x 2  2 x . Find

a) (f  g )( x ) b) (f  g )( x )
Solution: Solution:

c) (fg )( x ) f 
d)  (x )
g 
Solution: Solution:

e) (f  g )( x ) f) (f  g )( x ) when x  2
Solution: Solution:

*Example 7: f ( x )  x 2  x  1 and g( x )  x  1. Find the value for

a) f  g x  b) g  f x 
Solution: Solution:

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 Limits and Continuity Chapter 1

1.1.3 GRAPH (FAMILY) OF FUNCTIONS

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 Limits and Continuity Chapter 1

Exercise 1.1

1. Let f ( x )  x  2 and g ( x )  2 x 2  1. Find

a) Domain for f (x )
b) The range of g(x )
c) (g  f )( x )
d) (f  g )( x )

2. Let f ( x )  ( x  1) and g ( x )  2 x  1 . Find

2 2

a) (f  g )( x )
b) (f  g )(3)

(f  g )(1)
c)
f (1)
3
3. Given f ( x )  2( x  2) and g ( x )  . Find
x 1
a) (fg )( x )
b) (f  g )( x )
c) (f  g )( x )

4. Given f ( x )  x  1and g ( x )  x  2 x . Find

2

f 
a) The domain of  (x )
g 
b) (f  g )( x ) when x  2

5. Given f ( x )  x  1 and g( x )  x  2 . Find

a) Domain of f (x ) and g(x )
b) (f  g )( x ) and (f  g )( x )
x
c) The value(s) if (f  g )( x ) 
2

6. If f ( x )  3 x  5  x and g ( x )  2 x  1 , determine
2 2

a) (f  g )( x )

f 
b)  (2)
g 
c) (f  g )( x )

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 Limits and Continuity Chapter 1

1.2 LIMITS

At the end of this topic, students should be able to:

 Understand some basic concepts and definitions concerning limits
 Identify the existence and the value of the left-hand limits, right-hand limits, one
sided limits and two sided limits of the functions.
 Use the basic properties and rules of limits to solve limit of the functions.
 Explain the concept of a limit and evaluate elementary examples of indeterminate
forms
 Evaluate finite limits of polynomial ,rational functions, radicals as x  a
 Evaluate Infinite limits of polynomial ,rational functions, radicals as x  

1.2.1 INTRODUCTION

Limit is used to describe how a function behaves as the independent variables x

approaches a given value.

DEFINITION
Suppose f (x ) is defined when x is near the number a . This means that f is defined on
some open interval that contains a , except possibly at a itself. Then we write
lim f ( x )  L
x a

And say “the limit of f (x ) , as x approaches a , equals L ”

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 Limits and Continuity Chapter 1

1.2.2 ONE-SIDED LIMITS AND TWO-SIDED LIMITS

DEFINITION
One sided limits,
The notation lim f ( x ) often called a left-hand limit since x approaches a along the x axis
x a 

from left of a and lim f ( x ) is called a right-hand limit since x approaches a along the
x a 

x-axis from the right of a . The expression lim f ( x ) and lim f ( x ) are called the one sided
x a  x a 

limits of f (x ) at a and the expression lim f ( x ) is called the two-side limit of f (x ) at a .

xa

DEFINITION
Two sided limits,
The two sided limits of a function f (x ) exists at a if and only if both of the one-sided limits
exist at a and have the same value that is
lim f ( x )  L if and only if lim f ( x )  L  lim f ( x )
x a x a  x a 

The graph below clearly illustrates the situation

Case 1 Case 2

x2 1
LHS: lim 2
x 1 x 1
x2 1 LHS: lim 1  x  1  1  0
RHS: lim 2 x 1
x 1 x 1
RHS: lim f ( x )  x 2  1  1
2

lim f (x)  lim f (x) x 1
x 1 x 1
lim f ( x )  lim f ( x )
x 1 x 1
 lim f ( x ) exist
x1  lim f ( x ) does not exist
x1

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 Limits and Continuity Chapter 1

1.2.3 FINITE LIMITS

There are 3 cases for finite limits:

1) Polynomial functions
2) Rational functions
3) Radical

BASIC PROPERTIES AND RULES FOR FINITE LIMITS

The following theorems tell how to calculate limits of functions. Let n be a positive integer, a
and k be a real number then, f (x ) and g(x ) be functions which have limits at a . Then

Properties Examples

1. lim k  k lim 2  2
x a x 3

2. lim x  a lim ( 2 x )  2(2)  4

x a x 2

lim x n  a n lim x 4  (3) 4  81

3. x a x 3

4. lim f ( x )  g ( x )  lim f ( x )  lim g ( x ) lim ( x 4  2 x )  ( lim x 4  lim 2 x )

x a x a x a x 3 x 3 x 3

 (3)  2(3)  87
4

5. lim f ( x ).g ( x )  lim f ( x )  lim g ( x ) lim x 2 .(3  x )  lim x 2 . lim 3  x

x a x a x a x 1 x 1 x 1

 (1) (3  1)  4
2

lim f ( x )
 f ( x )  x a
if lim g ( x )  0
6. lim 2(2)
lim    2x x 2 4
x a  g ( x )  lim g ( x ) x a lim  
x a x 2 x 32
lim (2)  3
2 7
x 2

7. lim n f ( x )  n lim f ( x ) lim 4 2 x 3  7 x  51  n lim 2(2) 3  7(2)  51

x a x a x 2 x 2

 4 81  3

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 Limits and Continuity Chapter 1

 CASE 1: POLYNOMIAL FUNCTIONS

THEOREM
For any polynomial;

p( x )  c0  c1x    cn x n and any real number a, lim p(x)  c 0  c1x    c n xn  p(a)

x a

Example 8: Evaluate the following limits:

a) lim x 2  4x  3 b) lim (x 3  1)(x 2  1)

x 5 x 3

Solution: Solution:
 lim x 2  lim 4x  lim 3  lim x 5  x 3  x 2  1
x 5 x 5 x 5 x 3

 (5)  4(5)  3
2
 (3)  (3)3  (3) 2  1
5

8  280

*c) lim 2x 4  4x 3  2x  7 *d) lim 3 x 2  x  2

x 2 x -2

Solution: Solution:

*e) lim 1  x 2  x 3 *f) lim (2x 3  3x 2  2) 5

x 4 x 2

Solution: Solution:

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 Limits and Continuity Chapter 1

 CASE 2: RATIONAL FUNCTIONS

THEOREM
p( x )
Let f ( x )  be a rational function and let a be any real number.
q( x )
a) If q(a)  0 then lim f ( x )  f (a )
x a

b) If q(a)  0 and p(a)  0 then lim f(x) does not exist.

xa

c) If q(a)  0 and p(a)  0 then numerator and denominator must have one or more

p( x )
common factors of ( x  a) . The lim can be found by cancelling all common factors
xa q ( x )

of ( x  a) .
Notes: When the numerator and denominator both have limit of zero as x  a is called an
0
indeterminate form of type .
0

Example 9: Evaluate the following limits:

2x 3  1  3 x 3  2x 
a) lim *b) lim 25 
x 2 3 x  4 x 1  8x 2  3x 
 
Solution: Solution:
2( 2 )  1
3
 lim
x 2 3( 2 )  4

15

2

Special Factorization:

1. a 2  b 2  a  b  a  b 


2. a 3  b 3  a  b  a 2  ab  b 2 
3. a 3  b 3  a  b  a 2
 ab  b 2 

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 Limits and Continuity Chapter 1

x2  4 x 2  49
c) lim *d) lim
x 2 x  2 x 7 x 7
Solution: Solution:

( 2) 2  4 0
 lim 
x 2 2  2 0
Find the common factor and cancel its
( x  2)( x  2)
 lim  lim x  2
x 2 x2 x 2

 22  4

z3  8 x 3  27
e) lim *f) lim
z 2 z  2 x 3 x2  9
Solution: Solution:
z 3  8 ( 2 )3  8 0
 lim  
z 2 z  2 22 0

( z  2)( z 2  2z  4)
 lim
z 2 z2

 lim ( z 2  2z  4)
z 2

 ( 2)2  2( 2)  4
 12

x 2  4 x  12 2x  8
g) lim *h) lim
x 2 x 2  2x  8
x 4 x 2
 x  12

Solution: Solution:

x 2  4 x  12 ( 2) 2  4( 2)  12 0
 lim  
x 2 x  2x  8
2
( 2)  2( 2)  8
2 0

Find the common factor and cancel its

( x  6)( x  2) x 6
 lim  lim
x 2 ( x  4)( x  2) x 2 x  4

26

24
8

6
4

3

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 Limits and Continuity Chapter 1

 CASE 3: INVOLVING RADICALS

THEOREM
p( x )
Let f ( x )  be a rational function and a be any real number where p(x ) or q(x )
q( x )
involving radical. When the numerator and denominator both have limit of zero as x  a is
0 p( x )
called an indeterminate form of type . The lim can be found by multiplying with the
0 x  a q( x )

conjugate and cancelling all the common factors.

Example 10: Evaluate the following limits:

 x  2  x5  5
a) lim   b) lim  
x  4 x  4  x 0 x 
   
Solution: Solution:
 4 2 0  05  5 0
 lim   Indeterminate form  lim  
x  4 4  4  x 0  0
  0  0 
Multiplying with the conjugate, find the common Multiplying with the conjugate, find the
factors and cancel its. common factors and cancel its.
 x  2  x  2  x 5  5  x5  5
 lim     lim   
x  4 x  4   x  2  x 0 x   x5  5
       

 x4   ( x  5)  5 
 lim    lim  

x 4 ( x  4)( x  2) 
  
x 0 x x  5  5
  

 x 
   lim  
 
1
 lim   x 0 x x  5  5 
x  4 ( x  2)   
 
 1   1 
    lim  

 ( 4  2)  x 0
  
x  5  5 
1  
  lim 
1 
4 x 0
  
0  5  5 

 1 
  
 5 5
1

2 5

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 Limits and Continuity Chapter 1

 1 x   1 x 
*c) lim   *d) lim  
x 1 x  1 
 x 1 x  1 

Solution: Solution:

2x  t2  8  3
*f) lim  
*e) lim
x 2 x  2  3x  2 t 1  t 1 
Solution:  
Solution:

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 Limits and Continuity Chapter 1

1.2.4 INFINITE LIMITS

There are 3 cases for infinite limits:

1) Polynomial functions
2) Rational functions
3) Radical
 Limit at infinity: End Behavior of a functions, lim f ( x )
x 

End behavior of a function when

1) lim ,values of variable x increase without bound

x  

2) lim , values of variable x decrease without bound

x  

Example 11:
1
Refer to the graph of y 
x

1 1
lim lim
x   x x   x

1 1
x x x x
-1 -1 1 1
-10 -0.1 10 0.1
-100 -0.01 100 0.01
-1000 -0.001 1000 0.001
-10,000 -0.0001 10,000 0.0001
1 1
As x   the value of As x   the value of
x x
increases toward zero. decreases toward zero.

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 Limits and Continuity Chapter 1

LAWS OF INFINITE LIMIT

1. lim k  k 2. lim x   , lim x  
x   x   x  

3. lim kf ( x )  k lim f ( x )
x   x   4. lim f ( x )n  [ lim f ( x )] n
x  x 

 1 1
n 6. lim f ( x )  g ( x )  [ lim f ( x )  lim g ( x )]
5. lim n   lim   0 x  x  x 
x   x  x  x 

7. lim f ( x )  g ( x )  [ lim f ( x )  lim g ( x )]

x  x  x 

lim f ( x )
 f ( x )  x  L
8. lim     where M  0
x   g ( x )  lim g ( x ) M
x 

9. lim n f ( x )  n lim f ( x )  n L provided L  0 if n is even

x   x  

LIMITS OF x n AS x   
1. lim x n  , n  1,2, 3   , n  1,3,5
x  2. lim x n  
x    , n  2,4,6

Example 12: Evaluate the following limits:

a) lim (3 x 5 ) *b) lim ( 2 x 6 )

x  x  

Solution: Solution:

 3 lim ( x 5 )
x 
 3( )  

c) lim ( 4 x 5 ) *d) lim ( 7 x 6 )

x  x  

Solution: Solution:

 4 lim ( x 5 )
x 
 4( )  

 2x 3  *f) lim ( 2 x 8 )
*e) lim   x 
x   3 
 
Solution:
Solution:

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 Limits and Continuity Chapter 1

 CASE 1: POLYNOMIAL FUNCTIONS

There is a useful principle about polynomial matches the end behavior of its highest degree
term.

THEOREM

For any polynomial p(x)  c 0  c1x    c n x and a is any real number

n

lim c 0  c 1x    c n x n  lim c n x n
x  x 

lim c 0  c1x    cn xn  lim cn xn

x   x  

Example 13: Evaluate the following limits


a) Find lim 7 x 5  4 x 3  2 x  9
x  
 
*b) Find lim 3 x 9  7 x 3  3 x  2
x  

Solution: Solution:

 lim 7 x 5  lim 4 x 3  lim 2 x  lim 9

x   x   x   x  

 7 lim ( ) 5
x 
 7( )  


*c) Find lim  4 x 8  17 x 3  5 x  1
x 
 
*d) Find lim x  2 x 2  7 x 3
x  

Solution: Solution:


*e) Find lim 9 x 15  4 x 4  3 x  8
x 
 
*f) Find lim  59 x 11  3 x
x  

Solution: Solution:

17
 Limits and Continuity Chapter 1

 CASE 2: RATIONAL FUNCTIONS

THEOREM
p( x )
In determining the limits of rational functions f ( x )  as x   , divide the numerator
q( x )
and denominator by the highest power of x that occurs in the denominator q(x).

Notes: When the numerator and denominator both have limit of infinity as x   is called

an indeterminate form of type .


Example 14: Evaluate the following limits

4x 5  x  1 x2  x - 2
a) Find lim *b) lim
x  3x 4  2x 2 x   4x 3  1
Solution: Solution:

4x 5  x  1 
 lim  Indeterminate form
x  3x  2x
4 2 
Dividing each term in numerator and
denominator by x 4

4x 5 x 1
4
 4

 lim x x x4
x   3x 4 2x 2

x4 x4
1 1
4x  3

 lim x x4
x   2
3
x2
1 1
4( )  
( ) ( )4 3
 lim
x   2
3
( )2

4(  )  0  0
 lim
x   30
4(  )
 lim
x   3
 

18
 Limits and Continuity Chapter 1

x2  x  2 3  2x
*c) lim *d) lim
x  4x  1
3 8  10x 2
x 

Solution: Solution:

4x 5  2x 2  4x *f) lim
2x - 1
*e) lim
x   2x  7 3x 2 - 4x
x  
Solution: Solution:

19
 Limits and Continuity Chapter 1

CASE 3: INVOLVING RADICALS

Example 15: Evaluate the following limits:

3x  5 2x 2  1
a) lim 3 *b) lim
x   6x  8 x   3x 2  x
Solution: Solution:
3x  5
 3 lim Dividing each term by x
x   6 x  8

3x  5
 3 lim x
x   6 x  8
x

5
3
3 lim x
x   8
6
x

30
 3
60
1
 3
2

x5 x2  3
*c) lim 3
d) lim
x   8x  7 x   3x  4
Solution: Solution:
Dividing the numerator and denominator by x

where x 2  x . As x   , the values of x

under consideration are positive, replace x by

x.

x2  3 x2  3
x x2
 lim  lim
x  3x  4 x  3x  4
x x

3 3
1 lim 1 
2
x x  x2
 lim 
x   4 4
3 lim 3 
x x  x

1 0 1
 
30 3

20
 Limits and Continuity Chapter 1

x2  3 x2  9
*e) lim *f) lim
x  3x  4 x  3x  5
Solution: Solution:
Dividing the numerator and denominator

x where x  x . As x   , the
2
by

values of x under consideration are

negative, replace x by  x .

g) lim x6  2  x3 *h) lim x 6  2x 3  x 3

x   x  

Solution: Solution:
Multiply with conjugate Multiply with conjugate
 x6  2  x3 
 lim  x 6  2  x 3    
x    x6  2  x3 
 

( x 6  2)  x 6 2
 lim  lim
x  x 
x 6
2x 3
x 6
 2  x3

 lim x3 x 6  x 3 for x  0
x  
x 6
2 x 3

x6 x3

0

1 0  1
0

21
 Limits and Continuity Chapter 1

Exercise 1.2

1. Evaluate the following

x 2  3x e 2x
a) lim b) lim
x 5 4x  5 x 0 xe x  e x

4e 2 x  2e x  6 x3  1
c) lim d) lim
x 0 3e x  3 x 1 x 2 1

x2  5  3  x 1 x 1 
e) lim f) lim   
x 2 x 2  2x x 1 x  1 2
 
 x 1 

2. Find the limit of

4x 5  1 4x  1
a) lim b) lim
x  
x  3x  7
3
x 2 2

x2  2 x2  2
c) lim d) lim
x   3x  6 x   3x  6

x2  9 f) lim x6  5  x3
e) lim x  
x  3x  5

3. Given f ( x )  x 3  2 x 2 and g ( x )  2 x 2  8 . Evaluate:

f (x)
a) lim
x 2 g(x )
f (x)
b) lim
x   g ( x )

4  x2  7
4. Evaluate lim
x 3 3x
5. Evaluate each of the following limits

e 2x  e x
a) lim
x 0 1 e x

x4  3
b) lim
x  x 2  8x
6. Evaluate each of the following limits
x 1
a) lim
x 1 x 1

2x 2  3
b) lim
x  x2

22
 Limits and Continuity Chapter 1

7. Evaluate the following limits

x 2  2x  1 2y
a) lim b) lim
y 
x 1 x 2  3x  2 16 y 2  7

4h 2 5y 2  2
c) lim d) lim
h 0 h y y 3

8x5  x3 3x 2  5x  2 x 9
e) lim f) lim  lim
x  x  x3 x
1 3x  1 x 9 x 3
3

x5 2 3x 2  5x  2 x2
g) lim  lim h) lim
x  1 x 1 x
1 3x  1 x  
5x 2  3
3

x2  3 x 1
i) lim j) lim
x   5x  2
x  1 x5 2

8. Given that lim f ( x )  3 , lim g ( x )  5 , lim h( x )  0 . Find the limits that exist
x   x   x  

a) lim f ( x )  3g ( x ) b) lim h( x )  4g ( x )  1

x   x  

c) lim f ( x )g ( x ) d) lim g ( x )2

x   x  

e) lim  5  f (x)
3
f)
 3 
lim  
x    
x  
 g( x ) 
3h( x )  4 6f ( x )
g) lim h) lim
x   x 2 x    5f ( x )  3g ( x )

9. Find the following limits

lim x 3  3x  2 3x  2
a) b) lim
x 3 x  2x  3

x2  4 5x 2  2
c) lim d) lim
x 2 x 2  4 x  12 x   x4

x 2  16 x 2  3 x  10
e) lim f) lim
x 4 4x x 5 x 5

23
 Limits and Continuity Chapter 1

1.3 CONTINUITY

At the end of this topic, students should be able to:

 Understand some basic concepts of continuity.
 Use the theorem to identify the continuous of the given functions.
 Identify discontinues of a function.

1.3.1 CONTINUITY AT A POINT

Plane curve can be divided into 2 categories those that have breaks or holes and those do
not breaks or holes in a curve are called discontinues, a curve with no breaks or holes a
called continuous.

y y

Hole

Break
x x

a continuous function a discontinuous function

DEFINITION

A function f is said to be continuous at x  a provided the following conditions are

satisfied:
i. f (a) is defined

ii. lim f ( x ) exists

xa

iii. lim f ( x )  f (a )
x a

If one or more of the conditions of this fails to hold, we say that f has a discontinuity at
x a

24
 Limits and Continuity Chapter 1

Example 16:

 x 2  1 , x0

Given f(x)   2x  1 , 0  x  3
 6 , x3


Determine whether f (x ) is continuous at

a) x  0
b) x  3

Solution:

Number line:
0 3

a) x  0

i. f (0)  (0) 2  1  1

ii. LHS: lim f(x)  lim  x 2  1  (0) 2  1  1

x 0- x 0-

RHS: lim f(x)  lim 2x  1  2(0)  1  1

x 0  x 0 

 lim f(x)  1
x 0

iii. Since f(0)  lim f(x)  1

x 0

 f(x) is continuous at x  0

b) x  3
i. f (3)  2(3)  1  7

ii. LHS: lim f(x)  lim 2x  1  2(3)  1  7

x 3  x 3 

RHS: lim f(x)  lim 6  6

x 3  x 3 

LHS  RHS
 lim f(x) does not exist
x3

iii. f(3)  lim f(x)

x3

 f(x) is not continuous at x  3

25
 Limits and Continuity Chapter 1

*Example 17:
Given
x  5 if x  -2

g x    x 2  4 if -2 x  2
8 if x2

a) Determine if gx  is continuous at x  2
b) Sketch the graph of g(x)

Solution:

26
 Limits and Continuity Chapter 1

Example 18:

Given

 x2 , x3

g(x)  kx  3 , 3  x  4
 10 , x4


a) Find the value of k if g(x) is continuous b) Find the limits:

at x  3 i. lim g(x)
x  2
Solution:
ii. lim g(x)
x 
LHS: lim g(x)  lim x 2  (3) 2  9
x 3  x 3  Solution:
and
i. lim x  (2)  4
2 2

RHS: lim g(x)  lim kx  3  3k  3 x  2

 
x 3 x 3
ii lim 10  10
LHS=RHS x 

9  3k  3
k2
*Example 19: Determine whether the given function below is continuous or not

x 2 , x  3
x  4 2 b) f ( x )  
 
3 x , x  3
a) h( x )   x  2 , x  2
 4 , x2
at x=3
at x=2
Solution:
Solution:

27
 Limits and Continuity Chapter 1

*Example 20:
 x
 1 2 , x0

Let g(x)   x 2 , 0x2
- 2x  k , x2


a) Find the value of k such that g(x) is continuous at x  2
b) Determine whether g(x) is continuous at x  0
Solution:

28
 Limits and Continuity Chapter 1

*Example 21:
 5x  7 , x  -1
 2
Given that f(x)  2x  kx  1 , - 1  x  3
 28 , x3

a) Find the value of k such that f(x) is continuous at x  1
b) Using the value of k in (a), determine whether the function is continuous at x  3

Solution:

29
 Limits and Continuity Chapter 1

*Example 22:

Given that
x 2  1, for x  0
f(x)  
 x 2  1, for x  0

a) Determine whether f(x) is continuous at x  0 . Show your working

b) Sketch the graph of f(x)

Solution:

30
 Limits and Continuity Chapter 1

*Example 23:

3x 2  1, x  0

Let f(x)  cx  d , 0  x  1

 x  8, x  1

Determine the value of c and d , so that f(x) is continuous everywhere.

Solution:

31
 Limits and Continuity Chapter 1

*Example 24:


 ax - 1 , x 1

Given f(x)   3x  b , 1 x  4
 x 2  5x  4
 , x4
 x4
if lim f(x)  4
x 1

a) find the values of a and b

b) determine whether f(x) is continuous at x=4

Solution:

32
 Limits and Continuity Chapter 1

Exercise 1.3.1

3x  2 , x 1

1. Given that f(x)   5 , 1 x  3
x2  1 , x3


a) Find lim f ( x )
x 1

b) Determine whether f(x) is continuous at x  1

c) Sketch the graph of f(x)

 3x 3  2x  8 , x  2
 3
2. Let f(x)   2x  2  k ,  2  x  0
2
 2x 2  6 , x0

a) Find the values of k such that lim f x  exists.

x  2

b) Determine whether the function is continuous at x  0

3. The function f(x) is defined as follows


 kx  1 , x2
 2
f(x)   kx  3 , 2  x  4
 3x 2
 5 , x4
 2
a) Compute the value of k so that lim f x  exists.
x 2

b) Hence, determine whether f is continuous at x  4

4. The function f(x) is defined as follows

 1
 3x , x
2
 2
 x  4x  5 1
f(x)   , x5
 x  5 2
 x  2k x5
2
,



a) Find the values of k such that lim f x  exist.

x5

1
b) Determine whether the function is continuous at x 
2

33
 Limits and Continuity Chapter 1


x 2  4x  5 , x 1
5. Let f(x)  

 2bx  3 , 1 x  3

Use the definition of continuity to find the value of b so that f(x) is continuous at x=1.

 x 1 , x0

6. Let g(x)   2x 2
, 0x2
- 2x  k , x2

a) Determine whether g(x) is continuous at x  0
b) Find the value of k such that g(x) is continuous at x  2
 1 - 3x , x4
 2
7. Let f(x)  mx  2x  3 , 4  x  6
 - x2  9 , x6

a) Find the value of m such that lim f x  is exist
x 4

b) Determine whether the function is continuous at x  6

8. The function g(x) is defined as follows:

- 2x , x  1
 2
g(x)  3x , - 1  x  1
 3 , x 1


a) Find lim gx  and lim gx 

x0 x  1

b) Determine whether g(x) is continuous at x  -1 and x  1

9. The function f(x) is defined as follows:

 kx , x5

f(x)  20 - 2x , 5  x  6
 x3 , x6


a) Determine whether f(x) is continuous at x  6

b) Compute the value of k so that lim f x  exists.
x5

x2  9
10. Determine whether the f ( x )  functions are continuous at x  3
x 3
x2  9

11. Determine whether the f ( x )   x  3 , x  3 functions are continuous at x  3
 4 , x 3

34
 Limits and Continuity Chapter 1

1.3.2 LIMITS AND CONTINUITY OF TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS

LIMITS OF TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS

1. lim sin x  sin c 2. lim cos x  cos c
x c x c

lim tan x  tan c lim csc x  csc c

3. x c 4. x c

lim sec x  sec c lim cot x  cot c

5. x c 6. x c

THEOREM
If lim g ( x )  L and the function f is continuous at L , then lim f g ( x )  f L  or we can write
x 1 x c

lim f g ( x )  f lim g x 
x c x c

Example: If the function is continuous, the limit symbol can be moved through a function
sign.

lim cos g ( x )  cos  lim g ( x )

x 1  x 1 

Example 25: Evaluate the following limits:

 x 2  1  1
a) lim cos  *b) lim sin 
x 1  x 1  x  x
 
Solution:
Solution:

 cos lim
x  1x  1
x 1 x  1
 cos lim x  1
x 1
 cos(1  1)
 cos(2)
 0.9994

2  1
*c) lim cos  *d) lim cos 
x  x x 0 x
Solution: Solution:

35
 Limits and Continuity Chapter 1

THEOREM: SQUEEZING THEOREM

Let f , g and h be the functions satisfying g( x )  f ( x )  h( x ) for all in x some open interval
containing the number c . If g and h have the same limit as x approaches , say

lim g( x )  lim h( x )  L
x c x c

then f also has this limit as x approaches , that is lim f ( x )  L

x c

sin x 1 - cos x
1. lim 1 2. lim 0
x 0 x x 0 x

BASIC PYTHAGOREAN IDENTITIES

sin x 1
1. tan x  2. csc x 
cos x sin x

1 1
3. sec x  4. cot x 
cos x tan x

Example 26: Evaluate the following limit

sin 2t tan x
a) lim b) lim
t 0 t x 0 x

Solution: Solution:
sin 2t 2 sin x
 lim   lim
t 0 t 2 x 0
x cos x
sin x 1
 lim 2
sin 2t  lim . lim
x 0 x x 0 cos x
t0 2t
1
 2 (1)  2  (1) lim
x 0 cos(0 )

 (1)(1)  1

sin  tan 2 x
*c) lim *d) lim
 0 9 x 0 x
Solution: Solution:

36
 Limits and Continuity Chapter 1

sin 5 x sin 6 x
*e) lim *f) lim
x0 sin 10x x0 tan 5x

Solution: Solution:

*g) lim
1 x 3  4 sin7x
*h) lim
t0 csc 5t x 0 x
Solution: Solution:

37
 Limits and Continuity Chapter 1

x 2  5x *j) lim
sin 5x x cos x

*i) lim x 0 3x
x 0 sin x tanx
Solution: Solution:

EXERCISE 1.3.2

1. Find the limits of the following functions

sin x cos x x
a) lim b) lim
x 0 x x 0 cos x

k sin x
sin d) lim
2 x 0 x
c) lim
k 0 k
sin y x ( x  2)
e) lim f) lim
y 0 y ( y  5) x 0 sin x

sin x  2 x x 2  3 sin x
g) lim h) lim
x 0 x x 0 x
x cos x  3 sin x sin 2x
i) lim j) lim
x 0 x x0 xcosx

tan 6x sin 3x x2  1
k) lim l) lim  lim
x0 sin3x x 0 2x x 1 x 2  x

3t 2  sin 4t n) lim
sinx
 lim
2x
m) lim x 0
t 0 t 3x x 0 3 sin x

sin t 3x
o) lim p) lim cos x  lim
t 0 t 2  5t x 0 x 0 2

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