SECTION 1.

4 LIMITS AND CONTINUITY OF TRIGONOMETRIC,

EXPONENTIAL, AND LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS:
OBJECTIVES

Use the Squeeze Theorem to find a limit

Find limits involving trigonometric functions
Determine where the trigonometric functions are
continuous
Determine where an exponential or a logarithmic function
is continuous
 THE SQUEEZE THEOREM

THEOREM Squeeze Theorem

Suppose the functions 𝑓, 𝑔, and ℎ have the property that for all
𝑥 in an open interval containing 𝑐, except possibly at 𝑐,
𝑓 𝑥 ≤ 𝑔 𝑥 ≤ ℎ(𝑥)
If
lim 𝑓 𝑥 = lim ℎ 𝑥 = 𝐿
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐

then
lim 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝐿
𝑥→𝑐
 SQUEEZE THEOREM EXAMPLE
1
Use the Squeeze Theorem to find lim 𝑥 sin .
𝑥→0 𝑥

1
Solution: If 𝑥 ≠ 0, then 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑥 sin is defined. We need to
𝑥
1
find two functions that “squeeze” 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑥 sin near 0. We use
𝑥
the fact that −1 ≤ sin 𝜃 ≤ 1 for all 𝜃.
1
sin ≤1 𝑥≠0
𝑥
1
Since 𝑥 ≠ 0 and we want to squeeze 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑥 sin , we
𝑥
multiply both sides by |𝑥|. Since 𝑥 > 0, the direction of the
inequality doesn’t change.
SQUEEZE THEOREM EXAMPLE CONT.
1
𝑥 sin ≤ |𝑥|
𝑥
1
𝑥 sin ≤ 𝑥
𝑥
1
− 𝑥 ≤ 𝑥 sin ≤ |𝑥|
𝑥
Now use the Squeeze Theorem with 𝑓 𝑥 = −|𝑥|,
1
𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑥 sin 𝑥 and ℎ 𝑥 = |𝑥|. Since 𝑓 𝑥 ≤ 𝑔 𝑥 ≤
ℎ(𝑥) and

lim 𝑓 𝑥 = lim −|𝑥| = 0 and lim ℎ 𝑥 = lim |𝑥| = 0

𝑥→0 𝑥→0 𝑥→0 𝑥→0

1
it follows that lim 𝑔 𝑥 = lim 𝑥 sin 𝑥 = 0.
𝑥→0 𝑥→0
 LIMITS INVOLVING TRIGONOMETRIC
FUNCTIONS
THEOREM
lim sin 𝑥 = 0
𝑥→0
lim cos 𝑥 = 1
𝑥→0
sin 𝜃
lim = 1 if 𝜃 is measured in radians
𝜃→0 𝜃
𝜃
lim = 1 if 𝜃 is measured in radians
𝜃→0 sin 𝜃
cos 𝜃−1
lim = 0 if 𝜃 is measured in radians
𝜃→0 𝜃
 FINDING TRIGONOMETRIC LIMITS
EXAMPLES
sin(2𝜃) 2sin(2𝜃) sin(𝑡) sin(𝑡)
lim = lim = lim 2 = 2 lim =2⋅1=2
𝜃→0 𝜃 𝜃→0 2𝜃 𝑡→0 𝑡 𝑡→0 𝑡

sin(3𝜃) 3sin(3𝜃) 3sin(3𝜃)

sin(3𝜃) lim
𝜃 3𝜃 𝜃→0 3𝜃
lim = lim = lim =
𝜃→0 sin(4𝜃) 𝜃→0 sin(4𝜃) 𝜃→0 4 sin(4𝜃) 4sin(4𝜃)
lim
𝜃 4𝜃 𝜃→0 4𝜃

sin(3𝜃)
3 lim 3∗1 3
𝜃→0 3𝜃
sin(4𝜃) = =
4 lim 4∗1 4
𝜃→0 4𝜃
 CONTINUITY OF TRIGONOMETRIC
FUNCTIONS 1
THEOREM
The sine function 𝑦 = sin 𝑥 is continuous for all real numbers.
The cosine function 𝑦 = cos 𝑥 is continuous for all real
numbers.
 CONTINUITY OF TRIGONOMETRIC
FUNCTIONS 2
sin 𝑥
𝑦 = tan 𝑥 =
cos 𝑥
Using the continuity of a quotient, tan 𝑥 is
continuous for all real numbers except
those for which cos 𝑥 = 0.
That is, tan 𝑥 is continuous for all real
𝜋
numbers except odd multiples of .
2
 CONTINUITY OF EXPONENTIAL AND
LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS
THEOREM
An exponential function is continuous on its domain, all real
numbers.
A logarithmic function is continuous on its domain, all positive
real numbers.