Basic Calculus Review

By Shaun Patrick P. Albao, RChT

Table of Contents for
Basic Calculus

• Introduction
• Definition of a Limit
• Theorems of Limits
• Special Limits
• Definition of a Continuity
• Definition of a Derivative
• Derivatives of Algebraic
Functions
Introduction

• The term “Calculus” was derived from a Latin word “calx” which
means “stone” and from a Greek word “chalis” which means
“limestone”.
• In 1634, a German mathematician and philosopher Gottfried
Wilhelm von Leibniz published his early work on calculus,
while an English astronomer, physicist and mathematician
Isaac Newton made an early study on the subject in 1665 but
did not publish his work until 1704. These two mathematicians
are now considered as founders of today’s calculus.
 Let f be a function that is defined in an open
interval containing a, but possibly not
defined at a itself. Let L be a real number.
Definition of The statement
lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝐿
a Limit 𝑥→𝑎
defines the limit of the function f(x) at a
point a. L is the value that the function has
as the point a is approached.
Definition of a Limit

The statement lim+ 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑅 means that as x approaches “a” from the right-
𝑥→𝑎
hand side or from positive infinity, the function f has the limit R.
Likewise, the statement lim− 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝐿 means that as x approaches “a” from
𝑥→𝑎
the left-hand side or from negative infinity, the function f has the limit L.
If f is defined in an open interval containing a, except possibly at a, then
lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝐿
𝑥→𝑎
𝑖𝑓 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑜𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑖𝑓 lim+ 𝑓 𝑥 = lim− 𝑓 𝑥
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
Theorems of Limits
Let lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝐿 and lim 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝐾
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
1. lim 𝑐 = 𝑐, 𝑐 = 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡
𝑥→𝑎
2. lim [𝑓 𝑥 + 𝑔(𝑥)] = lim 𝑓 𝑥 + lim 𝑔 𝑥 =
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
𝐿+𝐾
3. lim [𝑓 𝑥 − 𝑔(𝑥)] = lim 𝑓 𝑥 − lim 𝑔 𝑥 =
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
𝐿−𝐾
4. lim [𝑓 𝑥 ∙ 𝑔(𝑥)] = lim 𝑓 𝑥 ∙ lim 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝐿 ∙ 𝐾
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
𝑓 𝑥 lim 𝑓 𝑥 𝐿
𝑥→𝑎
5. lim 𝑔 𝑥 = lim 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝐾 , 𝐾≠0
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
Theorems of Limits

6. lim [𝑐𝑓 𝑥 ] = c lim 𝑓 𝑥

𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
𝑛
𝑛
7. lim 𝑓 𝑥 = lim 𝑓 𝑥
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
8. lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑓 𝑎 , 𝑓 𝑖𝑠 𝑎 𝑝𝑜𝑙𝑦𝑛𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑎𝑙
𝑥→𝑎

9. lim 𝑛 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑛
lim 𝑓 𝑥
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
Solved Problems

lim 𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 4
𝑥→4
𝑥2 − 1
lim 2
𝑥→1 𝑥 + 3𝑥 − 4

𝑥−4
lim 2
𝑥→4 𝑥 − 𝑥 − 12
𝑥3 − 8
lim
𝑥→2 𝑥 − 2
Solutions

lim 𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 4 = 4 2
+ 3 4 − 4 = 24
𝑥→4

𝑥2 − 1 𝑥+1 𝑥−1 𝑥+1 1+1 2

lim 2 = lim = lim = =
𝑥→1 𝑥 + 3𝑥 − 4 𝑥→1 𝑥 + 4 𝑥 − 1 𝑥→1 𝑥 + 4 1+4 5
𝑥−4 𝑥−4 1 1 1
lim 2 = lim = lim = =
𝑥→4 𝑥 − 𝑥 − 12 𝑥→4 𝑥 − 4 𝑥 + 3 𝑥→4 𝑥 + 3 4+3 7
𝑥3 − 8 𝑥 − 2 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 4 𝑥 − 2 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 4
lim = lim = lim
𝑥→2 𝑥 − 2 𝑥→2 𝑥−2 𝑥→2 𝑥−2
= lim (𝑥 2 +2𝑥 + 4) = 2 2 + 2 2 + 4 = 12
𝑥→2
Solved Problems

𝑥
lim
𝑥→0 𝑥+4−2

3𝑥 − 3
lim
𝑥→3 2𝑥 − 4 − 2
Solution
𝑥 𝑥 𝑥+4+2 𝑥 𝑥+4+2
lim = lim ∙ = lim = lim 𝑥+4+2
𝑥→0𝑥+4−2 𝑥→0 𝑥+4−2 𝑥+4+2 𝑥→0 𝑥+4 −4 𝑥→0

= 0+4+2= 4

3𝑥 − 3 3𝑥 − 3 2𝑥 − 4 + 2 3𝑥 + 3
lim = lim ∙ ∙
𝑥→3 2𝑥 − 4 − 2 𝑥→3 2𝑥 − 4 − 2 2𝑥 − 4 + 2 3𝑥 + 3
3𝑥 − 9 2𝑥 − 4 + 2 3 𝑥−3 2𝑥 − 4 + 2 3 2𝑥 − 4 + 2
= lim = lim = lim
𝑥→3 2𝑥 − 4 − 2 3𝑥 + 3 𝑥→3 2 𝑥−3 3𝑥 + 3 2 𝑥→3 3𝑥 + 3

3 2 3 −4+ 2 2
= =
2 3 3 +3 2
 1 𝑛
Special Limits 1.
sin 𝑥
lim 𝑥 = 1 1. lim 1 + =𝑒
𝑥→0 𝑥→∞ 𝑛
1−cos 𝑥 1
2. lim 𝑥 = 0 2. lim 1 + 𝑛 𝑛 =𝑒
𝑥→0 𝑥→0
𝑒 𝑥 −1
3. lim 𝑥 = 1
𝑥→0
Special Limits

For 𝑎 > 1, then: For 0 < 𝑎 < 1, then:

1. lim 𝑎𝑛 = +∞ 1. lim 𝑎𝑛 = 0
𝑥→+∞ 𝑥→+∞
2. lim 𝑎𝑛 = 0 2. lim 𝑎𝑛 = +∞
𝑥→−∞ 𝑥→−∞
3. lim log 𝑎 𝑥 = +∞ 3. lim log 𝑎 𝑥 = −∞
𝑥→+∞ 𝑥→+∞
4. lim+ log 𝑎 𝑥 = −∞ 4. lim+ log𝑎 𝑥 = +∞
𝑥→0 𝑥→0
Solved Problems
7𝑥 + 4
lim 2
𝑥→∞ 𝑥 + 2𝑥 + 4

2𝑥 + 4
lim
𝑥→∞ 3𝑥 − 4

3𝑥 4 − 2𝑥 2 + 7
lim
𝑥→∞ 5𝑥 3 + 𝑥 − 4
 Solution
1 7 4 7 4
7𝑥 + 4 7𝑥 + 4 2 + +
𝑥 𝑥 𝑥2 ∞ ∞2
lim 2 = lim 2 ∙ = lim = =0
𝑥→∞ 𝑥 + 2𝑥 + 4 𝑥→∞ 𝑥 + 2𝑥 + 4 1 𝑥→∞ 2 4 2 4
1+𝑥+ 2 1+∞+ 2
𝑥2 𝑥 ∞
1 4 4
2𝑥 + 4 2𝑥 + 4 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 2 + 2
lim = lim ∙ = lim = ∞ =
𝑥→∞ 3𝑥 − 4 𝑥→∞ 3𝑥 − 4 1 4 4
3−𝑥 3−∞ 3
𝑥→∞
𝑥
1 2 7 2 7
3𝑥 4 − 2𝑥 2
+7 −3𝑥 4 2𝑥 2
+ 7 𝑥4 3− 2+ 4 3− 2+ 4
lim = lim ∙ = lim 𝑥 𝑥 = ∞ ∞ = 𝐷𝑁𝐸
𝑥→∞ 5𝑥 3 + 𝑥 − 4 𝑥→∞ 5𝑥 3 + 𝑥 − 4 1 𝑥→∞ 5 1 4 5 1 4
𝑥4 𝑥 + 𝑥 3 − 𝑥 4 ∞ + ∞3 − ∞4
Definition of a Continuity

A function f is continuous at a point a if

lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑓 𝑎
𝑥→𝑎
The following are the three conditions being satisfied:
1. 𝑓 𝑎 𝑒𝑥𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑠, 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑖𝑠, 𝑓 𝑖𝑠 𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑡 𝑎
2. lim 𝑓 𝑥 exists
𝑥→𝑎
3. 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑤𝑜 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑙
Continuity test at a point 𝑥 = 𝑎
lim+ 𝑓 𝑥 = lim− 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑓 𝑎
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
Solved Problem

The graph of f(x) is given below.

Based on this graph determine
where the function is
discontinuous.
Solution
At 𝑥 = −4, 𝑓 −4 = 3, lim + 𝑓 𝑥 = −2, and lim − 𝑓 𝑥 = 3
𝑥→−4 𝑥→−4
Comment: Jump Discontinuity

At 𝑥 = 2, 𝑓 2 = −1, lim+ 𝑓 𝑥 = 5, and lim− 𝑓 𝑥 = −1

𝑥→2 𝑥→2
Comment: Jump Discontinuity

At 𝑥 = 4, 𝑓 4 = DNE, lim+ 𝑓 𝑥 = 2, and lim− 𝑓 𝑥 = 2

𝑥→4 𝑥→4
Comment: Removable Discontinuity
Solved Problem

The graph of f(x) is given below.

Based on this graph determine
where the function is
discontinuous.
Solution
At 𝑥 = −8, 𝑓 −8 = −3, lim + 𝑓 𝑥 = −6, and lim − 𝑓 𝑥 = −6
𝑥→−8 𝑥→−8
Comment: Removable Discontinuity

At 𝑥 = −2, 𝑓 −2 = 3, lim + 𝑓 𝑥 = 3, and lim − 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝐷𝑁𝐸

𝑥→−2 𝑥→−2
Comment: Infinite Discontinuity

At 𝑥 = 6, 𝑓 6 = 5, lim+ 𝑓 𝑥 = 2, and lim− 𝑓 𝑥 = 5

𝑥→6 𝑥→6
Comment: Jump Discontinuity
Definition of a Derivative

The derivative of a function expresses its rate of change with

respect to an independent variable. The first derivative of a
function is the slope of the tangent to that curve defined by the
function.
Let y be a continuous and differentiable function of x, that is 𝒚 =
𝒇(𝒙). The limit definition of the derivative is formulated as…
𝑑𝑦 𝑓 𝑥 + ∆𝑥 − 𝑓 𝑥
= lim
𝑑𝑥 ∆𝑥→0 ∆𝑥
Derivatives of Algebraic Functions

Let 𝑢 = 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑣 = 𝑔(𝑥)

𝑑 𝑑𝑣 𝑑𝑢
𝑑 𝑑𝑐 𝑢𝑣 = 𝑢 +𝑣
𝑐 = =0 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑢 𝑑𝑣
𝑑 𝑑𝑢 𝑑 𝑢 𝑣 −𝑢
𝑑𝑥
𝑐𝑢 = 𝑐
𝑑𝑥 = 𝑑𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑥 𝑣 𝑣
𝑑 𝑑𝑢 𝑑𝑣
𝑢+𝑣 = +
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
Derivatives of Algebraic Functions

𝑑𝑢 𝑑𝑢 𝑑𝑢 𝑑𝑣
𝑑 =
𝑢 = 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑣 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑥 2 𝑢
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑢 = 𝑓 𝑣 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑣
𝑑𝑢 = 𝑔 𝑥 (𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑅𝑢𝑙𝑒)
𝑑 1
= − 𝑑𝑥2
𝑑𝑥 𝑢 𝑢
𝑑 𝑛 𝑛−1
𝑑𝑢
𝑢 = 𝑛𝑢 (𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑅𝑢𝑙𝑒)
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
Solved Problems

𝑑 3
𝑥+1 − 𝑥3
𝑑𝑥
𝑑 2 1
𝑥 +2 2
𝑑𝑥
𝑑
2 − 3𝑥 2
𝑑𝑥
Solutions
𝑑 3 3
𝑑 3 2 3
𝑑
𝑥+1 −𝑥 = 𝑥 + 3𝑥 + 3𝑥 + 1 − 𝑥 = 3𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 1
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
= 6𝑥 + 3
𝑑 2 1 1 2 −
1 𝑑 2 1 2 −
1 𝑥
𝑥 +2 2 = 𝑥 +2 2 𝑥 +2 = 𝑥 +2 2 (2𝑥) = 1
𝑑𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥 2
𝑥2 + 2 2

𝑑 2
𝑑 2 − 3𝑥 −6𝑥 −3𝑥
2
2 − 3𝑥 = 𝑑𝑥 = =
𝑑𝑥 2 2 − 3𝑥 2 2 2 − 3𝑥 2 2 − 3𝑥 2
Solved Problems

𝑑 𝑥2
𝑑𝑥 𝑥 + 1

𝑑2 3 2
2
𝑥 − 5𝑥 +𝑥
𝑑𝑥
Solution

𝑑 2 2 𝑑
𝑑 𝑥2 𝑥+1 𝑥 − 𝑥 𝑥+1
= 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑥 𝑥 + 1 𝑥+1 2
𝑥 + 1 2𝑥 − 𝑥 2 1 2𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 𝑥 2 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥
= 2
= 2
=
𝑥+1 𝑥+1 𝑥+1 2
𝑑2 3 2
𝑑 𝑑 3 2+𝑥
𝑑
𝑥 − 5𝑥 + 𝑥 = 𝑥 − 5𝑥 = 3𝑥 2 − 10𝑥
𝑑𝑥 2 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
= 6𝑥 − 10
Solved Problems
Give the slope and the equation of the line tangent to the
𝑥3
curve at the point where 𝑥 = 1: 𝑦 = − 2𝑥 + 1
4
Solved Problems
Give the slope and the equation of the line tangent to the curve at the point
𝑥3
where 𝑥 = 1: 𝑦 = 4
− 2𝑥 + 1
𝑑𝑦 𝑑 𝑥3 3 2
= − 2𝑥 + 1 = 𝑥 −2
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 4 4
𝑑𝑦 3 5 1 3 3
𝑚= 2
= 1 −2=− , 𝑦𝑥=1 = −2 1 +1=−
𝑑𝑥 𝑥=1 4 4 4 4
𝑦 − 𝑦1 = 𝑚 𝑥 − 𝑥1 ⇒ 𝑦 = 𝑚 𝑥 − 𝑥1 + 𝑦1
5 3
𝑦 =− 𝑥−1 −
4 4
5 1
𝑦=− 𝑥+ 𝑜𝑟 5𝑥 + 4𝑦 − 2 = 0
4 2
Additional Reference

https://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/
That’s all. Have a good day!