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Intro To Limits
Intro To Limits
2.1
Up to now you have used algebra and
geometry to solve problems where
things are basically staying the same
or changing at the same rate.
Calculus is a branch of mathematics
that deals with things that are
changing.
y = f(x)
f(x) (x,f(x))
L
No matter how x approaches a,
f(x) (x,f(x))
f(x) approaches L.
x a x x
Left & Right Hand Limits
lim f ( x) lim f ( x)
x a x a
2
-5 5
lim x 3 0 -2 lim x 3 0
x 0 x 0
Theorem
10 50
40
5
30
The limit does
-10 -5 0 5 10
x 20 not exist for
-5 The limit exists this function.
10
for this function.
-10
0 5 10 15 20
x
lim f ( x) 2 lim f ( x) 2 lim f ( x) 2
x 1 x 1 x 1
x 2
lim x 4
2
x 2
lim x 2 4
x 2 2
lim x 2 4 -5 5
x 2
lim f ( x) DNE
x 4
lim f ( x) DNE
x 1 lim f ( x) 2
x 3
lim f ( x) 1
x 2
lim f ( x) DNE lim f ( x) 5 lim f ( x) 3
x 2 x 4
x 8