Basic Calculus

TSU-LS Midterm Reviewer

LIMITS OF A FUNCTION

Outline
Limits of a Function
Limits from Tables and Graphs
Limit Laws
Limits of Polynomial, Rational, and Radical
Function
Infinite Limits
Limits as x Approaches 0
Limits at Infinity of Polynomials
Limits of Exponential and Logarithmic
Functions
Continuity of a Function at a Number
Continuity on an Interval
Discontinuity and its Types
Problem Involving Continuity

Consider a function 𝑓 of a single variable

𝑥. Consider a constant 𝑐 which the
variable 𝑥 will approach (𝑐 may or may
not be in the domain of 𝑓). The limit, to be
denoted by 𝐿, is the unique real value
that 𝑓(𝑥) will approach as 𝑥 approaches 𝑐.
In symbols, we write this process as:

Limits
Limits are the backbone of Calculus
Calculus is called the "Mathematics
of Change"
We will look at the functions of a single "The limit of f(x) as x approaches c is L"
variable and examine the function's
behavior as its variable approaches a
certain value (a constant).
The variable can only take values ​very, LIMITS FROM TABLES AND GRAPHS
very close to the constant, but it can't
be equal to the constant itself.
However, the limit can clearly describe
what happens to the function near that
constant. positive region/
negative region/left-hand limit right-hand limit

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LIMITS FROM TABLES AND GRAPHS

Left-Hand Table Right-Hand Table

x f(x) x f(x)

1 4 3 10

1.4 5.2 2.5 8.5

1.7 6.1 2.2 7.6

1.9 6.7 2.1 7.3

1.95 6.85 2.03 7.09

1.997 6.991 2.009 7.027

1.9999 6.9997 2.0005 7.0015

1.9999999 6.9999997 2.0000001 7.0000003

f(x) = 1 + 3x f(x) = 1 + 3x
f(1.4) = 1 + 3(1.4) f(3) = 1 + 3(3)
f(1.4) = 1 + 4.2 f(3) = 1 + 9
f(1.4) = 5.2 f(3) = 10

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LIMITS FROM TABLES AND GRAPHS

One Sided Limit

Left-Hand Limit
The function f(x) has a left-hand limit L if
x approaches a from the left side; from
the values less than a.

Right-Hand Limit
The function f(x) has a right hand limit L if
x approaches a from the right side; that
is from the value greater than a.

+
Example

x 2 2.5 3 3.5 3.999

f(x) 4 4.5 5 5.5 5.999

x 6 5.5 5 4.5 4.001

f(x) 8 7.5 7 6.5 6.001

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LIMIT LAWS

Limit Law 1 Limit Law 4

The limit of a constant is that constant The limit of the sum of two functions is
equal to the sum of the individual limit
provided that the limit of each function as
𝒙→𝒂 exists

a.

b.

a.
Limit Law 2
Limit of the identity function

a.
Limit Law 5
The limit of the difference of two functions
is equal to the difference of the individual
b. limit provided that the limit of each
function as 𝒙→𝒂 exists

Limit Law 3
The limit of a constant ctimes a function
is equal to the constant ctimes the limit of
the function provided that
lim 𝒇(𝒙) exists.
𝒙→𝒂
a.

a.

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LIMIT LAWS

Limit Law 6
The limit of the product of two functions is
the product of their limits provided that
the limit of each function as 𝒙→𝒂 exists.

a. a.

b.

b.

Limit Law 7
The limit of the quotient of two functions
is the quotient of their limits provided that
the limit of the divisor is not equal to 0
and the limit of each function exists.

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LIMIT LAWS

Limit Law 10
If f(x) is a polynomial function and ais a
real number, then

Limit Law 8
The limit of the nth power of a function is
equal to the power of the limit of that a.
function provided that nis a positive
integer and the limit of f(x) as x→a exists.

a.

b.

Limit Law 9
The limit of the nth root of a function is
equal to the principal nth root of the limit
of that function provided nis a positive
integer and z

a.

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LIMITS OF POLYNOMIAL, RATIONAL, AND RADICAL FUNCTIONS

Example: Evaluate
Limit of Polynomial Function
A polynomial is a special type of
algebraic expression that contains a
specific number of terms, each of which
is of the form ax n or bx my n, where a and
b are real numbers, and m and n are
(Division)
whole numbers,

Example: Determine

(Addition Theorem)

(Constant Multiple)

Example: Evaluate

Example: Determine

Limits of Radical Functions

A radical function is a function that
Limits of Rational Functions p(x) contains a square root.​
____
The general form of a rational function is
q(x)
Example: Evaluate
where p(x) and q(x) are polynomials and
q(x) ≠ 0.

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INFINITE LIMITS

3.4 5

3.1 20

3.01 200

3.001 2,000

Example: Evaluate 3.0001 20,000

3.00001 200,000

x f(x)

2 -2

2.1 -2.22

2.3 -2.8571

2.6 -5

2.9 -20

2.99 -200

2.999 -2,000
Infinite Limits
2.9999 -20,000

Example: Evaluate the following limits

x f(x)

4 2

3.7 3.7

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LIMITS AS X APPROACHES 0

Limits as x Approaches 0
Evaluate the Following:

Evaluate the Following:

x f(x)

-10 -0.1

-5 -0.2 x f(x)

-1 -1 10 0.1

-0.5 -2 5 0.2

-0.1 -10 1 1

-0.01 -100 0.5 2

-0.001 -1,000 0.1 10

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LIMITS AT INFINITY OF POLYNOMIALS

0.01 100

0.001 1,000

If r is a positive integer, then:

Limits as x Approaches 0

Find:

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LIMITS AT INFINITY OF POLYNOMIALS

Find the limit of each term in the

numerator and denominator and apply

the fact that if n is a

positive integer

Find:

Recall that:
If r is a positive integer, then:

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LIMITS OF EXPONENTIAL AND LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS

Limits of Exponential Function

Ex.
Limits of Exponential Function

Ex.
The Natural Exponential Function

Ex.

Remember:
Ex.
Euler's Constant is equivalent to

e = 2.71828182…

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CONTINUITY OF A FUNCTION AT A NUMBER

Limits of Logarithmic Function Continuity

Continuity means smoothness of the
graph; that is it has no holes, no bumps,
or discontinuous path.

Is the graph continuous at x = 1?

Ans. Yes

Remember:

Natural Logarithmic

"ln"
To Logarithmic

To Exponential

Is the graph continuous at x = 0?

Ans. No

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CONTINUITY OF A FUNCTION AT A NUMBER

The function f is said to be continuous at Determine if the function is continuous or

a number a iff the three conditions are not at x = 4:
satisfied.:

We will use the 2nd sub-function as x =

If one or more of these conditions fails to 4 is included in its domain which is x ≥ 4
hold at a, the function f is said to be
discontinuous.
a.
Example:
Determine if
is continuous or not at x = 1?

a.

b.

c.
b.

Getting the left and right hand limit:

We will use the 2nd sub-

LHL function as the left-hand
limit of this piecewise
function as it included on
c.
its domain (4 to the left)

Meaning that
is continuous at x = 1

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CONTINUITY ON AN INTERVAL
RHL
Remember:
" [ ] " - Inclusive

LHL ≠ RHL " ( ) " - Exclusive

Meaning that this piecewise function is

continuous at 4 on its Left-hand limit, a Using the given graph, determine if the
one-sided continuity. function f is continuous on the following
intervals:

One-sided Continuity
(a) A function f is said to be continuous
from the left at x = c if

(b) A function f is said to be continuous

from the right at x = c if

Continuity of Polynomial, Absolute (a) (-1, 1) Ans. Continuous

Value, Rational and Square Root (b) (-∞, 0) Ans. Continuous
Functions (c) (0, +∞) Ans. Continuous

(a) Polynomials functions are continuous

everywhere

(b) The absolute value function f(x) = |x| is

continuous everywhere

(c) Rational functions are continuous on

their respective domains

(d) The square root function f(x) = √x is

continuous on [0, ∞).

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CONTINUITY ON AN INTERVAL
Determine using the given graph if the Determine the largest interval over which
function f is continuous on the following the function is continuous
intervals:

(a) (-1, 1) Ans. Not Continuous

(b) [0.5, 2] Ans. Continuous

Example:
Discontinuity and its Types
Determine the largest interval over which
the function is 1. Point/Remove Discontinuity
continuous
When a function has a “hole” at a certain
point.
Most of the time, holes are removable by
redefinition
Exhibited by piecewise function
It is point removable discontinuity if:

Example:

[
What should be done to remove the
discontinuity?

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DISCONTINUITY AND ITS TYPES

Redefine the 2nd sub-function (1) to two

(2) to move it in order to patch the hole
The 2nd sub-function patches the hole
from the 2nd sub-function; in order to
that, we need to redefine the piecewise
function to:

Example:

2. Jump Discontinuity
This happens when the one-sided limits
of functions exist but are not equal.
One function has a part where the graph
Redefine: “jump” indicating discontinuity.
There is no remedy for this type of
discontinuity

Then f is said to have a jump essential

discontinuity at x = c

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DISCONTINUITY AND ITS TYPES

Meaning it satisfy the rule 1 and 2 but not
Example: in the rule 3

Example:

Is there a possible remedy for this?

Is there a possible remedy for this?

There is no remedy for this type of

discontinuity
FLOWCHART:
3. Infinite Discontinuity
This happens when the one-sided limits
of functions exists and are equal.
One function has a part where the graph
is “infinity swallowed” indicating
discontinuity.
Exhibited by rational function

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PROBLEM INVOLVING CONTINUITY

Problem Involving Continuity

Example:

Since:
determine if the following function is
continuous or discontinuous at:

does not exist

a.)
This make the piecewise function is
discontinues at x = 6

The piecewise function is continuous at

x=4

b.)

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