Limits and Continuity

Of Functions (Part 1)
Catherine I. Merca
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
College of Science and Mathematics
 Outline:
(Part 1)
Definition of Limits and Limit Theorems
Intuitive idea of the limit
Definition of the limit
Proving limits using definition (optional)
Limit theorems
(Part 2)
One-sided Limits, Infinite Limits and Limits at Infinity
Continuity of a Function and the Intermediate Value Theorem
The Squeeze Theorem and Limits involving Sine and Cosine Functions
The Squeeze Theorem
Limits involving sine and cosine functions

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 Objectives:
• At the end of this module, you are expected to:
• Illustrate the intuitive idea of the limit and present its formal definition
• Evaluate limits of functions using the important limit theorems
• Discuss one-sided limits, infinite limits, and limits at infinity and
demonstrate how these concepts are being used to evaluate limits of
functions
• Discuss the continuity of a function and identify an important property
of continuous functions as stated in the Intermediate Value Theorem
• Evaluate limits of functions using the Squeeze Theorem
• Evaluate limits involving sine and cosine function

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 Limits and Continuity of Functions
Intuitive Idea of Limit
 Let 𝑓 be a function given by 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥). Further, suppose that 𝑓 is defined
at each 𝑥 on some open interval 𝐼 containing 𝑎, except possibly at 𝑎 itself.
When we say that “𝐿 is the limit of 𝑓(𝑥), as 𝑥 approaches 𝑎” or “𝑓(𝑥)
approaches 𝐿 as 𝑥 approaches 𝑎” (written 𝑓 𝑥 → 𝐿 𝑎𝑠 𝑥 𝑎) we
roughly say that 𝑓(𝑥) gets close to 𝐿 as 𝑥 gets close to 𝑎.

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 Example 1

Let 𝑓 be defined by 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 3 and 𝑎 = 0. Observe that 𝑓 is

defined for all real number 𝑥 (and hence, for every interval 𝐼 containing 𝑎 =
0). We shall now investigate the function value 𝑓(𝑥) when 𝑥 is close to zero
but not equal to zero (see Table1 and Table 2)

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 Slide Title

Table 1: Values of 𝑓 𝑥 = 2𝑥 + 3, 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑥 > 0

Table 2: Values of 𝑓 𝑥 = 2𝑥 + 3, 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑥 < 0

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 From table 1 and table 2,
we see that the value of f(x) = 2x +3,
gets close to 3 as x gets close to 0.
This happens because 3 is the limit of f(x) as x
approaches 0.

In symbols we write:

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 Example 2
Texts/paragraph.

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 Texts/paragraph.
Slide Title Tables showing the values of the
function

as x approaches 2.

Here we can see that as x gets closer

to 2, x gets closer and closer to 4.

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Figure 1
Graph of Function
𝑥2 − 4 A hole or a skip
𝑓 𝑥 =
𝑥−2

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 Formal Definition of a Limit
 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 a is L, written
lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝐿
𝑥→𝑎
if for every ϵ > 0, however small, there exists a δ > 0 such that
f x − L < ϵ whenever 0 < x − a < δ.

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 Example 1
Prove that the

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 Example 2
Prove that the lim 2𝑥 + 3 = 3.
𝑥→0
 Proof : We need to show that for every 𝜖 > 0 there exists a δ > 0 such that
2𝑥 + 3 − 3 < 𝜖 whenever 0 < 𝑥 − 0 < 𝛿.
Now, 2𝑥 + 3 − 3 = 2𝑥 = 2 𝑥 − 0 .
Hence, we must show that
2 𝑥 − 0 < 𝜖 whenever 0 < 𝑥 − 0 < 𝛿.
or equivalently,
𝜖
𝑥−0 < whenever 0 < 𝑥 − 0 < 𝛿
2
1
Choose 𝛿 = 𝜖. Then we have for every 𝜖 > 0 there exists a δ > 0 such that
2
2 𝑥 − 0 < 2𝛿 whenever 0 < 𝑥 − 0 < 𝛿.
or equivalently, 2𝑥 + 3 − 3 < 𝜖 whenever 0 < 𝑥 − 0 < 𝛿.
This proves that lim 2𝑥 + 3 = 3
𝑥→0

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  Limit Theorems:
Texts/paragraph.

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  Limit Theorems
T

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  Limit Theorems
Texts/paragraph.

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  Limit Theorem
Texts/paragraph.

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  Limit Theorem
Texts/paragraph.

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 Example: Evaluate the following limit
Texts/paragraph.

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 Example: Evaluate the following limit
Texts/paragraph.

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 continuation

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 Slide Title
Texts/paragraph.

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 Exercises: Evaluate the following limits

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 References :
1. Basic Calculus (Basic Guide for Senior High School)
Commission on Higher Education
in Collaboration with the Philippine Normal University
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9Eg9DdzmSYCc3FLX2xwZTAzOW8/view?fbclid=IwAR1eEFtgHv-
LD4iGebi_3cs1iDlKbkAIOZRsz2-N2xpwxscG3BKr7jMki7M

2. Analytic Geometry and Calculus I

Department of Mathematics and Statistics
College of Science and Math 2002

3. The Calculus with Analytic Geometry 6th edition

by Louis Leithold
Lecture Notes on
4. Calculus with Analytic Geometry I ( Integration and some Applications)
by Julius V. Benitez, Ph.D.
5. Limits and Continuity
by Catherine I. Merca, MSc
6. Limits and Continuity
by Gina A. Malacas, Ph.D.
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 Some Helpful Links
1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iltuEGuXmpQ

2.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riXcZT2ICjA&list=PLSQl0a2vh4HBReS9_
V4QYOnqP2aguahxS

3. https://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/classes/calci/TheLimit.aspx

4. https://www.desmos.com/calculator

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