MATH1021

Week 4 Lecture 2

Haotian Wu

The University of Sydney

2023 Semester 1
Reminder about weekly consultation

See “Unit Overview” on Canvas:

Lecture plan

Last time: him fix , = l

✗ → a

• Limits: intuition and rigorous definition

• Two sided limits and one sided limits (criteria for limit DNE)

Today:
• Limit laws
• Infinite limits
• Limits at infinity
• The squeeze law
• Continuity and discontinuity
Basic limit laws/facts
p
Question: Let f (x) = x2 + 1 + x3 2x + 5. How do we evaluate lim f (x) ?
x!1

Here are some limits that we can use without proof: Rmk the
:
Mig
formal
IE
1. lim c = c (c constant) definition
x!a
( E- g)
2. lim x = a
x!a HE is hard
p p .

3. lim x = a (a > 0)
x!a
4. lim sin x = sin a Rink : All fat's on the
x!a
5. lim cos x = cos a left a re
continuous
x!a
,

um

6. lim ex = ea intuitively
,
"
no break in graph
x!a
of f "

7. lim ln x = ln a (a > 0)
x!a
Limit laws

Limit laws allow us to compute complicated limits from basic building blocks.
Theorem (Limit laws): Let n be a positive integer.
If lim f (x) = ` and lim g(x) = m for `, m 2 R, then
x!a x!a

(1) lim (↵f (x)) = ↵` (↵ 2 R constant)

x!a
(2) lim (f (x) + g(x)) = ` + m
x!a
(3) lim (f (x)g(x)) = `m
x!a
f (x) `
(4) lim = (assuming m 6= 0)
x!a g(x) m
n
(5) lim [f (x)] = `n
x!a
1 1
(6) lim [f (x)] n = ` n
x!a
 p(d) IC ) Ib , cat

ex Let f (x) = x2 + 1 + x3 2x + 5. Evaluate lim f (x).

-
-
- .
x!1

' at him 5
¥ :
✗ → I
=

-
5

• him ✗ = I
✗ →
1

bull)
(b) him ( Tx ) him ✗ 1-2)
= 1- 2) =
. I = -2
✗→ I ✗ → I -

him 3 lewis , } '

(C)
✗→ ,
✗
= ( £1 ,
✗
)
=
I
=+
> law 4,4
(d) link +
1) him him
'

=
X + I =
IT 1 = 2
✗→ I ✗→ I ✗→ I

timtÉ -4=-16 '

)k
✗→ I ( him ✗ → I
✗2+1 =
-
I

•
'

By 4- (d) and law (2) him fix , =

I -11 -2ft =
4th
, ,
""
.

✗→ ,
 sin(2x) x2
ex Evauate lim⇡
x! 4 ☐ex + tan x
.
six ,

SEE him ""

⑦
sink) ""
"
"
"

✗→
I4
1TZ
him ✗
' =
T6
✗→
¥ am g↳=t¥_
e¥ E, +1
.

✗→
him e× =

✗→
¥
""

tin tent =
tank ) =/
✗ →
E
,
Infinite limits

• We say that lim f (x) = 1 if f (x) is unbounded from above as x ! a.

x!a
"[
> < >
him #
✗→ o
=•

• We say that lim f (x) = 1 if f (x) is unbounded from below as x ! a. > < >

x!a
7 Him ✗→ 0
-

¥, = - oo

• Warning: In both cases, limits DNE (do not exist) as 1, 1 2 / R.

Another way to see this is that “unbounded” (from above or below) means limit does
“not settle down” at a finite real number.

• The line x = a is called a vertical asymptote of the curve y = f (x) if at least one of
the following holds:

lim f (x) = 1, lim f (x) = 1, lim f (x) = 1,

x!a x!a x!a+
lim f (x) = 1, lim f (x) = 1, lim f (x) = 1.
x!a x!a x!a+
Vertical asymptotes illustrated

✓③
%%
him fix , =
oo

✗ → a-

him fix, = - oo

✗ → µ

Exercise :

, w, a

few more
Limits at infinity

• Informal definitions: KR
• lim f (x) = ` means f (x) approaches ` as x gets larger and larger.
x!1

•
=
lim f (x) = ` means f (x) approaches ` as x gets more and more negative.
x! 1

• Formal definitions1 :
• lim f (x) = ` means: for any ✏ > 0, there exists N > 0 (depending on ✏) such that
x!1

|f (x) `| < ✏ whenever x > N.

• lim f (x) = ` means: for any ✏ > 0, there exists N > 0 (depending on ✏) such that
x! 1

|f (x) `| < ✏ whenever x< N.

1
See Appendix A of course notes; formal definitions not examinable.
Evaluating limits at infinity

1 x2 +2x 3
ex Evaluate (a) lim (b) lim ex (c) lim 2
x!1 x x! 1 x!1 4x +x+1

#
(G)

him f- = 0

✗→ oo

#
Ib)
him e× =
0
✗→ - oo
" '
am
✗→ oo

= him ¥)
☒ It + I -

✗→ a
tI

= him '

✗ →

l-
4 to
to
=
+4 .
""
 Variations of (C) : Evaluate

'
'
✗ +2×-3
(C) him "
"
) him ✗ +2×-3

✗→ a 4×2 + ✗ + , ✗ → oo 4×3 + ✗ + I

sd (d) him
☒ It -1¥
-

¥ )

✗→ oo
¥+¥É

= am ×
.

✗ → •

if ✓ .

where him B = ¥ ,
him A
✗ → oo
= him
✗→
✗
oo
= oo
.

✗→ oo
 i. him " •
= .

✗→ .

"
1C ) him ¥lH2x"-
→
✗ → a
# (4 + ✗
-2
-
✗ )
✗

= him ± .

=
o
✗ →

I →

Since him A = 0 and him B =

+4 .

✗→ a
✗→ oo

""
Visualising limits at infinity

• Saying (a)

lim f (x) = `
x!1
or
(b)
lim f (x) = `
x! 1

means that the curve y = f (x) has a horizontal asymptote at y = `.

if
-

"
 x (exercise )
ex Consider f (x) = x 1.

plot f and write down vertical 4 horizontal asymptotes .

¥+1k ¥
50¥ :
fix , = ¥ ,
=
= It , .

of Y I
f- the graph
=

So graph of is

shifted to
right by 1 unit and shifted up by 1 unit .

h i
vertical asymptotes ☒ ,
I
• .
=

- -
i .
.
. . . .

i
,
s

horizontal atymptote :
Y =\
.

I %
Squeeze Law

• Question: How to evaluate lim sin x 1

x ? What about lim x sin x ?
x!0 x!0
✗ = 91×1
• We can use the Squeeze Law to evaluate both limits.

¥÷Éi
""
• Theorem (Squeeze Law): Suppose that
"
g(x)  f (x)  h(x)

for all x near a (not necessarily at x = a). Y =

fix )
If
lim g(x) = lim h(x) = `,
x!a x!a
! .

then lim f (x) exists and

x!a
lim f (x) = `.
x!a
 Remarks about squeeze Law :

¢
h' × )
To need find 91×1
apply
to ,
it we
•

for all ✗
fix , shh )
hear a

and fix ) I
.

show (a)

hix ) I c-
④ him fix ) = him =
.

✗→ a
✗ → a

him fix , him HH1 then

cannot conclude him f- 1×1=1
•

If =/
✗ → a
,
.

✗→ a

" "

↳ e.
g. gives room for f to
wiggle :

consider 81×1=-1 fix) = sink ) ,

hix , = 1 hear ✗ = 0
,
,
 1 sin x
ex Evaluate (a) lim x sin x (b) lim x
x!0 x!0
(
x, if x 2 Q
(c) lim f (x), where f (x) =
x!0 0, if x 2 R \ Q

(C) Exercise .
( 6h
You visualise the
graph of f ? )

1- A- him fix
useful fact him I fix , I 0
, =
: = 0

✗→ a
✗→ a
f-
Pf sfact :

Ith) /
Since / fix / fix ) for all ✗ near a
-
, E E

(in fact for ,

all ✗ in the domain of f.) ,
 with him / first = 0 ,
and

✗→ 0

him -
I fix , / = - him / fix I ,
= 0
,
✗→ o
✗→ 0

him 1-1×1=0
we have
✗ → 0
by Squeeze Law .
☒

(C)
{ Q
× C-
fix
✗
) =
.

O E / fix /
) E 1×1 for all ✗ hear 0
Soft
.
o .
✗ c- ☒,☒ ,

#
4=1×1

him 0 = him 1×1 = 0 s

since ,

✗ → 0 ✗→ o

then him 11-1×11=0 by squeeze Law .

✗ → 0

him fix , by the useful fact

Hence = 0
µ,
.

,
✗→ o
(b) Assume
SEE bit tricky 0
✗ >
A : .

Area (sector OAC ) E Area ( OOCD )

Area (001-13) E

A
•
D

x ) +.
f. ! t.sinx.com E IT .

¥ E I '

l -
tah x XX)

O B C

multiply ☒) by 2 and divide by sin ✗ 1×1=0 )

¥
also holds
unit circle
¥×
←
↳ ✗ = £
for ✗ < 0

(even functions )
¥ E si¥- s cos ✗

& as ✗→ o
as ✗→ of
1
I

Rmk : Appa
i. BY Sfheye Them Lin since see B
,
= 1
✗ → 0 ✗
.
µ of course notes
.
 (a) him ✗ sink ) .

✗→ 0

all 1=0 have

5¥ : For ✗ ,
we

0 Elx sin (E) I = 1×1 Isin (E) I E 1×1 ,

since
/ sink / E1 .

him him 1×1 = 0

Now 0 = ,
since
✗ → o
✗→ o

e
'

,
him / ✗ sink ) / = 0
by Squeeze law
,
✗ → 0

0
and hence him ✗ sink ) =.

✗ → o
µ,
A method solve
slightly different to (a) :

since -

I E Sin (f) E 1 for all ✗ =/ 0

,

we have

1×1 E ✗ sink E 1×1 ( ← convince yourself )

as ✗ →

of 1 as ✗ → o

O O

i. him ✗ sink ) = 0
by Squeeze Law .

✗→ 0
%
Continuity

• Definition (continuity at a point): f (x) is continuous at x = a if

lim f (x) = f (a).

x!a

• Remarks: The condition lim f (x) = f (a) means

x!a

1. lim f (x) exists, so lim f (x) = ` for some ` 2 R;

x!a x!a

2. f (x) is defined at x = a, so we have the functional value f (a) 2 R;

3. ` = f (a), i.e. lim f (x) = f (a).

x!a
Some pictures for continuity or discontinuity

4 Continuous
(a)
I
cts at ✗ = a

i. >
a

(b)
hot cts at ✗ = a
,

i.
since f- (a) undefined
: .
a
Some pictures for continuity or discontinuity

(C)
not its at ✗ = a
,

fie ,
- - - - t• as
him fix , = l =/ f- (a)
' ✗→ a
>
a

[
(d)
9 not at at ✗ = a
,

,
'
as him fix , DNE .

I ✗ → a

: ,
Variations of the theme of continuity

(1) f (x) is left continuous at x = a if lim f (x) = f (a).

x!a

(2) f (x) is right continuous at x = a if lim f (x) = f (a).

x!a+

:\
^

I
i

i. ,
a
a

right -
its life -
its
Variations of the theme of continuity

(3) f (x) is continuous on the interval [a, b] if

(a) f (x) is continuous at each point x = c with c 2 (a, b), and
(b) f (x) is right continuous at x = a, and
(c) f (x) is left continuous at x = b.

Fr
•

:ir
P

:[
'

> [ I >

b a b
a

Ct [ a ,b ] not ct on
[ a ,b ]
on

(4) f (x) is continuous on the interval (a, b] if

(a) f (x) is continuous at each point x = c with c 2 (a, b), and
(b) f (x) is left continuous at x = b.

Remark: Similar definitions for intervals [a, b), (a, b).

Limits of continuous functions

• If f (x) is continuous at x = a, then lim f (x) = f (a) by direct substitution of x = a

x!a
into f (x).

• Many familiar functions are continuous on their natural domains, including:

• polynomials
• trig functions
• inverse trig functions
• exponential functions
• logarithmic functions
• hyperbolic trig functions and their inverses
p
• x, x1/n
..
.
Composition Law

• Theorem (Composition Law): If

f (x) is continuous at x = a, and g(x) is continuous at x = f (a),

then (g f )(x) = g(f (x)) is continuous at x = a. That is,

lim g(f (x)) = g(f (a)).

x!a
 p
ex Evaluate lim x + ln x. ( = Jz+hT )
x!2

50¥ . Since ✗ and lnx are its functions ,

continuity
1

him ✗ = 2 and him lnx = b. 2

by cty .

✗→ 2
X→z

him him lnx

Hence
,
him IX + lnx ) = ✗ +

✗ → z
✗→ z
✗→ 2

= 2-1 lnz = f- (2) .

So fix , is cts at ✗ = 2
.
 Since Gtx ) =
JI is its at ✗ = 2+42>0
,

then
( g. f) (× , =|×+① at ✗ =2

by composition law .

Therefore , limjxtlnx = J2ttT .

#

✗→ 2
Rmt : We worked a bit to show th ) = ✗ + lnx is its at ✗ =z
,

that
as we have not
proved
the fact
"
"

fix ) and fix ) its at ✗ = a f- Hit fix , is its at ✗ = a

.

Fact : Functions formed by adding ,

multiplying , dividing
and composing continuous functions a re continuous
,

provided we exclude division by zero .

Types of discontinuities

Suppose f (x) is not continuous at x = a, then we say f (x) is discontinuous at x = a.

Discontinuities come in various types:

(1) Jump discontinuity: when lim f (x) and lim f (x) both exist, but are not equal.
x!a x!a+

- - i

i
jump dirty at ✗ = a

'←__.
a
Types of discontinuities

(2) Infinite discontinuity (vertical asymptotes): when lim f (x) or lim f (x) is (or both
x!a x!a+
are) unbounded.

fix , = ¥ has infinite dirty at ✗ = 0

>
Types of discontinuities

(3) Removable discontinuity: when lim f (x) = ` exists, but ` 6= f (a).

x!a
(3a) f (a) is undefined.

④ fix him si¥

) =
si- undefined at ✗ = 0
,
✗→ o
=\ .

si¥
Defining text
{ =/
✗ 0
the
dirty
=
✗ =
, removes at o
.

1 ,
✗ = ☐

(3b) f (a) is defined but f (a) 6= `.

I Can this
{
✗ =/
fix ) diary
✗ removable
④
remove
= ,

0 ✗ =
1
by
,
=L
modifying
at ✗
the definition

¥ of f :

f- ( ×, = ✗ for all ✗ C- ☒ .
Lecture summary

After today’s lecture, you should be able to:

• Relate limits at infinity to vertical asymptotes
• Evaluate limits at infinity, relate to horizontal asymptotes
• Evaluate limits using the squeeze law
• Evaluate limits of continuous functions (e.g. direct substitution, composition law)
• Determine the continuity of a given function
• Understand discontinuities in functions
• Remove removable discontinuities