Limits and Continuity

•Definition
•Evaluation of Limits
•Continuity
•Limits Involving Infinity
 Limit
We say that the limit of f ( x) as x approaches a is L and write
lim f ( x)  L
x a

if the values of f ( x) approach L as x approaches a.

y  f ( x)
L

a
 Limits, Graphs, and Calculators
 x 1 
1. a) Use table of values to guess the value of lim  2 
x 1 x  1
 

x 1
b) Use your calculator to draw the graph f ( x)  2
x 1
and confirm your guess in a) Graph 1
2. Find the following limits
 sin x 
a) lim   by considering the values
x 0
 x 
x  1, 0.5, 0.1, 0.05, 0.001. Thus the limit is 1.
sin x
Confirm this by ploting the graph of f ( x) 
x
Graph 2
b) limsin 
x 0
 x  by considering the values
(i) x  1,  1 ,  1 , 1
10 100 1000

(ii) x  1,  2 ,  2 , 2
3 103 1003
This shows the limit does not exist.

 x
Confrim this by ploting the graph of f ( x)  sin 

Graph 3
 3x if x  2
c) Find lim f ( x) where f ( x)  
x 2
1 if x  2

lim f ( x) = lim  3x
x2 x2
6  3 lim x
x 2

Note: f (-2) = 1  3(2)  6

is not involved -2
 3) Use your calculator to evaluate the limits

 4( x 2  4)  Answer : 16
a. lim  
x 2
 x  2 

1, if x  0 Answer : no limit

b. lim g ( x), where g ( x)  
x 0
1, if x  0
1
c. lim f ( x), where f ( x)  2 Answer : no limit
x 0 x
 1  x 1 
d. lim   Answer : 1/2
x 0 x
 
 The  - Definition of Limit
We say lim f ( x)  L if and only if
x a
given a positive number  , there exists a positive  such that
if 0 | x  a |  , then | f ( x)  L |  .

L 
L
L 
a
y  f ( x)
a  a 
This means that if we are given a
small interval ( L   , L   ) centered at L,
then we can find a (small) interval (a   , a   )

such that for all x  a in (a   , a   ),

f ( x) is in ( L   , L   ).
Examples
1. Show that lim(3x  4)  10.
x 2
Let   0 be given. We need to find a   0 such that
if | x - 2 |  , then | (3 x  4)  10 |  .
But | (3x  4)  10 || 3 x  6 | 3 | x  2 | 
 
if | x  2 | So we choose   .
3 3
1
2. Show that lim  1.
x 1 x

Let   0 be given. We need to find a   0 such that

if | x  1|  , then | 1  1|  .
x
x 1 1
But | 1  1|| | | x  1| . What do we do with the
x x x
x?
 1
If we decide | x  1| , then 1  x  3 . 1/2 1 3/2
2 2 2
1
And so <2.
x
1
Thus | 1  1| | x  1| 2 | x  1| .
x x

 1 
Now we choose   min  ,  .
3 2
One-Sided Limit
One-Sided Limits
The right-hand limit of f (x), as x approaches a,
equals L
written: lim f ( x)  L
x a
if we can make the value f (x) arbitrarily close
to L by taking x to be sufficiently close to the
right of a.
y  f ( x)
L

a
The left-hand limit of f (x), as x approaches a,
equals M
written: lim f ( x)  M
xa

if we can make the value f (x) arbitrarily close

to L by taking x to be sufficiently close to the
left of a.
y  f ( x)

M
a
Examples

Examples of One-Sided Limit

 x 2 if x  3
1. Given f ( x)  
2x if x  3

Find lim f ( x)
x3

lim f ( x)  lim 2 x  6
x3 x3

Find lim f ( x)
x3

lim f ( x)  lim x2  9
x3 x3
 More Examples
 x  1, if x  0
2. Let f ( x)  
 x  1, if x  0. Find the limits:

a) lim f ( x)  lim ( x  1)
x 0 x 0
 0 1  1
b) lim f ( x)  lim ( x  1)  0 1  1
x 0 x 0

c) lim f ( x)  lim(

x  1)  11  2
x 1
x 1

d) lim f ( x)  lim( x  1)  11  2

x 1 
x 1
 A Theorem
lim f ( x)  L if and only if lim f ( x)  L and lim f ( x)  L.
x a x a x a

This theorem is used to show a limit does not

exist.
 x  1, if x  0
For the function f ( x)  
 x  1, if x  0.
lim f ( x) does not exist because lim f ( x)  1 and lim f ( x)  1.
x 0 x 0 x 0

But
lim f ( x)  2 because lim f ( x)  2 and lim f ( x)  2.
x 1 x 1 x 1
 Limit Theorems
If c is any number, lim f ( x)  L and lim g ( x)  M , then
x a x a

a) lim  f ( x)  g ( x)   L  M b) lim  f ( x)  g ( x)   L  M
x a x a

c) lim  f ( x)  g ( x)   L  M
x a
d)
x a 
lim f ( x)
g ( x)   L , ( M  0)
M

e) lim  c  f ( x)   c  L f) lim  f ( x)   Ln
n
x a x a

g) lim c  c h) lim x  a
x a xa

i) lim xn  an j) lim f ( x)  L , ( L  0)
x a x a
Examples Using Limit Rule
Ex. lim  x  1  lim x  lim1
2
x 3
2
x 3
x3

   lim1
2
 lim x
x 3 x 3

 32  1  10

2x 1 lim  2 x  1 2 lim x  lim1

x 1
Ex. lim   x 1 x 1
x 1 3 x  5 lim  3x  5  3lim x  lim 5
x 1 x 1 x 1

2 1 1
 
35 8
 More Examples
1. Suppose lim f ( x)  4 and lim g ( x)  2. Find
x 3 x 3

a) lim  f ( x)  g ( x)   lim
x 3
f ( x)  lim g ( x)
x 3
x3
 4  (2)  2

b) lim  f ( x)  g ( x)   lim f ( x)  lim g ( x)

x 3
x 3 x 3

 4  (2)  6
 2 f ( x)  g ( x)  lim 2 f ( x)  lim g ( x) 2  4  (2) 5
c) lim    x 3 x 3
 
x 3
 f ( x) g ( x)  lim f ( x)  lim g ( x) 4  (2) 4
x 3 x 3
 Indeterminate Forms

Indeterminate forms occur when substitution in the limit

results in 0/0. In such cases either factor or rationalize the
expressions.
0
x5 Notice form
Ex. lim 2
x 5 x  25 0
x5
 lim Factor and cancel
x5  x  5  x  5 
common factors
1 1
 lim 
x5  x  5 10
 More Examples
 x 3  ( x  3)( x  3) 
a) lim  
 = lim  
 x 9   ( x  9)( x  3) 
x 9 x 9

 x 9   1  1
 lim   6
x 9 
 lim
x 9 ( x  9)( x  3)
   x 3

 4  x2   (2  x)(2  x) 
b) lim  2  = lim 
x 2 2 x  x3
  x2  x 2 (2  x) 

 2 x
= lim  
 x 
x 2 2

2  (2) 4
  1
(2) 2
4
 The Squeezing Theorem
If f ( x)  g ( x)  h( x) when x is near a, and if
lim f ( x)  lim h( x)  L, then lim g ( x)  L
x a x a x a

Example: Show that lim x2 sin   0.  

 x  DNE!
x 0 x
Note that we cannot use product rule because lim sin 
x 0

 
But  1  sin 
x  
 1 and so  x2  x2 sin   x2 .
x
Since lim x2  lim( x2 )  0, we use the Squeezing Theorem to conclude
x 0 x 0

 x   0.
lim x 2 sin 
x 0
See Graph
 Continuity

A function f is continuous at the point x = a if

the following are true:
i ) f (a) is defined
ii) lim f ( x) exists
xa

f(a)

a
A function f is continuous at the point x = a if
the following are true:
i ) f (a) is defined
ii) lim f ( x) exists
xa
iii) lim f ( x)  f (a)
xa f(a)

a
Examples At which value(s) of x is the given function
discontinuous?
x 9
2

1. f ( x)  x  2 2. g ( x) 
x3
Continuous everywhere
Continuous everywhere
lim( x  2)  a  2
x a
except at x  3

and so lim f ( x)  f (a) g (3) is undefined

x a
4

6 2

4 -6 -4 -2 2 4

-2

2
-4

-6
-4 -2 2 4

-2 -8

-10
  x  2, if x  1 1, if x  0
3. h( x)   4. F ( x)  
1, if x  1 1, if x  0
lim F ( x)  1 and lim F ( x)  1
lim h( x)  1 and lim h( x)  3

x 0 x 0
x 1 x 1
Thus F is not cont. at x  0.
Thus h is not cont. at x=1.
F is continuous everywhere else
h is continuous everywhere else
5

3
4

3 2

2
1

-10 -5 5 10

-2 2 4
-1
-1

-2
-2

-3 -3
 Continuous Functions
If f and g are continuous at x = a, then

f  g , fg , and f
g  g (a)  0  are continuous
at x  a

A polynomial function y = P(x) is continuous at

every point x.

A rational function R( x)  p( x) q( x) is continuous

at every point x in its domain.
 Intermediate Value Theorem
If f is a continuous function on a closed interval [a, b]
and L is any number between f (a) and f (b), then there
is at least one number c in [a, b] such that f(c) = L.

y  f ( x)
f (b)
f (c) = L
f (a)

a c b
Example

Given f ( x)  3 x  2 x  5,
2

Show that f ( x)  0 has a solution on 1, 2.

f (1)  4  0
f (2)  3  0

f (x) is continuous (polynomial) and since f (1) < 0

and f (2) > 0, by the Intermediate Value Theorem
there exists a c on [1, 2] such that f (c) = 0.
 Limits at Infinity
1 1
For all n > 0, lim n  lim n  0
x x x x

1
provided that n is defined.
x
3x  5 x  1
2 3  5  1
 lim
x x 2 Divide
Ex. xlim 2
 2  4x 2 x  2 4 by x
x2


lim 3  lim 5
x  x 
 x   lim  1 x   3  0  0   3
x 
2

lim 2
x 
 x2  lim 4
x 
04 4
 More Examples
 2 x3 3x 2 2 
 2 x3  3x 2  2   3
 3  3 
1. lim  3
x  x  x 2  100 x  1


  lim  3 x 2 x x 
x  x
  x  100 x  1 
 3 
x x 3
x 3
x 3


 3 2 
 2  x  x3 
 lim 
x  1 100 1 
 1  2  3 
 x x x 

2
 2
1
  4 x  5 x  21 
2  x2  2 x  4 
2. lim  3  3. lim  
x  7 x  5 x 2  10 x  1
 
x 
 12 x  31 
 x2 2 x 4 
 4 x 2 5 x 21
 3 3
    
 3   lim  x x x
 lim  3 x x x 
2
x 
 12 x  31 
x  7 x
 5 x 10 x 1   x x 
 3  3  3  3 
 x x x x 
 4 5 21   4
 lim 
 x  x 2  x3 

 x2 x 
 lim 
31 
x  5 10 1
7  2  3  x 
 x x x   12  
0  x 
 2
7 
12
0 
 4. lim
x 
 x 1  x
2


 lim 
 x2  1  x  x 1  x 
2


x 
 1 x2  1  x 
 

 x2  1  x2 
 lim  
x 
 x 1  x 
2

 1 
 lim  
x 
 x 1  x 
2

1 1
  0
 
 Infinite Limits 20

For all n > 0, 15

10

1 5

lim 
 x  a
n
x a
-8 -6 -4 -2 2
-5

-10

-15

-20
40

30
1
lim   if n is even 20

 x  a
n
xa 10

-2 2 4 6

-10

-20
20
1
lim   if n is odd 15

 x  a
n
x a 10

-8 -6 -4 -2 2
-5

More Graphs -10

-15
 Examples
Find the limits
 3x 2  2 x  1   3 2  1 2  3   
1. lim   = lim 
x x   
x 0
2 x 0 
  2
 2x  
2


 2x 1 
2. lim    = lim
 2x 1 
x 3  2 x  6  x3  2( x  3) 
 
 
40

20

-8 -6 -4 -2 2

-20
 Limit and Trig Functions
From the graph of trigs functions
f ( x)  sin x and g ( x)  cos x
1
1

0.5 0.5

-10 -5 5 10 -10 -5 5 10

-0.5 -0.5

-1
-1

we conclude that they are continuous everywhere

lim sin x  sin c and lim cos x  cos c
x c x c
 Tangent and Secant
Tangent and secant are continuous everywhere in their
domain, which is the set of all real numbers
x  
2
,  3
2
,  5
2
,  7
2
, y  sec x
15
30

y  tan x 20
10

5
10

-6 -4 -2 2 4 6
-6 -4 -2 2 4 6
-5
-10
-10
-20

-15
-30
 Examples
a) lim  sec x   b) xlim sec x 
 2

x   2 

c) lim  tan x  

x  3 
d) lim  tan x 

x  3 

2 2

e) lim cot x   f) lim tan x  1

x  x 
4

cos x 0
g) lim cot x  xlim  0
x  3   3 2  sin x 1
2
 Limit and Exponential Functions
y  a , a 1
x

10
10
y  a , 0  a 1
x

8
8
6
6

4
4

2
2

-6 -4 -2 2 4 6 -6 -4 -2 2 4 6

-2 -2

The above graph confirm that exponential

functions are continuous everywhere.
lim a  a
x c
x c
 Asymptotes

The line y  L is called a horizontal asymptote

of the curve y  f ( x) if eihter
lim f ( x)  L or lim f ( x)  L.
x  x 

The line x  c is called a vertical asymptote

of the curve y  f ( x) if eihter
lim f ( x)   or lim f ( x)  .
x c x c
 Examples
Find the asymptotes of the graphs of the functions

x 1
2
1. f ( x)  2 (iii) lim f ( x)  1.
x 1 x 
(i) lim f ( x)   Therefore the line y  1
x 1

Therefore the line x  1

is a horizonatl asymptote.
10

is a vertical asymptote. 7.5

(ii) lim f ( x)  . 2.5

x 1 -4 -2 2 4

Therefore the line x  1

-2.5

-5

-7.5
is a vertical asymptote. -10
 x 1
2. f ( x)  2
x 1
 x 1  (iii) lim f ( x)  0.
(i) lim f ( x)  lim  2  x 
x 1 x 1
 x 1  Therefore the line y  0
 x 1   1  1
= lim    lim    . is a horizonatl asymptote.
x 1
 ( x  1)( x  1)  x 1  x  1  2
Therefore the line x  1 10

7.5

is NOT a vertical asymptote. 5

2.5

(ii) lim f ( x)  . -4 -2 2 4

x 1 -2.5

Therefore the line x  1

-5

-7.5

-10
is a vertical asymptote.