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CHAPTER
Limits and Continuity
1
1.1 A BRIEF PREVIEW OF CALCULUS: TANGENT LINES
AND THE LENGTH OF A CURVE
1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT
1.3 COMPUTATION OF LIMITS
1.4 CONTINUITY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES
1.5 LIMITS INVOLVING INFINITY; ASYMPTOTES
1.6 FORMAL DEFINITION OF THE LIMIT
1.7 LIMITS AND LOSS-OF-SIGNIFICANCE ERRORS

Slide 2
 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT

The Limit: Informal Idea

In this section, we develop the notion of limit using some

common language and illustrate the idea with some
simple examples.

Slide 3
 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT

The Limit: Informal Idea

Suppose a function f is defined for all x in an open interval
containing a, except possibly at x = a.

If we can make f (x) arbitrarily close to some number L

(i.e., as close as we’d like to make it) by making x
sufficiently close to a (but not equal to a), then we say
that L is the limit of f (x), as x approaches a, written

Slide 4
 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT

The Limit: Informal Idea

For instance, we have

since as x gets closer and closer to 2, f (x) = x2 gets closer

and closer to 4.

Slide 5
 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT
EXAMPLE 2.1 Evaluating a Limit

Slide 6
 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT
EXAMPLE 2.1 Evaluating a Limit

Solution

Slide 7
 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT
EXAMPLE 2.1 Evaluating a Limit

Solution

Slide 8
 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT
EXAMPLE 2.1 Evaluating a Limit

Solution

Since the two one-sided limits

of f (x) are the same, we
summarize our results by saying
that

Slide 9
 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT
EXAMPLE 2.1 Evaluating a Limit

Solution
We can also determine the limit algebraically.

Slide 10
 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT
EXAMPLE 2.2 A Limit That Does Not Exist

Slide 11
 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT
EXAMPLE 2.2 A Limit That Does Not Exist

Solution

Slide 12
 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT

A limit exists if and only if both corresponding one-sided

limits exist and are equal. That is,

In other words, we say that

if we can make f (x) as close as we might like to
L, by making x sufficiently close to a (on either side of a),
but not equal to a.
Slide 13
 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT
EXAMPLE 2.3 Determining Limits Graphically
Use the graph to determine

Slide 14
 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT
EXAMPLE 2.3 Determining Limits Graphically

Solution

Slide 15
 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT
EXAMPLE Determining Limits Graphically
Use the graph of f(x) to answer the following questions. 

Slide 16
 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT
EXAMPLE Determining Limits Graphically
Solution
(a) 3
(b) 2
(c) Undefined
(d) 2

Slide 17
 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT
EXAMPLE Determining Limits Algebraically

Slide 18
 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT
EXAMPLE Determining Limits Algebraically
Solution
(a) 2
(b) 1
(c) 3
(d) DNE
(e) 0
(f) DNE

Slide 19
 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT
EXAMPLE 2.4 A Limit Where Two Factors Cancel

Slide 20
 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT
EXAMPLE 2.4 A Limit Where Two Factors Cancel

Solution
From the left:

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 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT
EXAMPLE 2.4 A Limit Where Two Factors Cancel

Solution
From the right:

Conjecture:
Slide 22
 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT
EXAMPLE 2.4 A Limit Where Two Factors Cancel

Slide 23
 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT
EXAMPLE 2.4 A Limit Where Two Factors Cancel

Solution
Algebraic cancellation:

Likewise:

Slide 24
 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT
EXAMPLE 2.5 A Limit That Does Not Exist

Slide 25
 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT
EXAMPLE 2.5 A Limit That Does Not Exist

Solution
From the right:

Conjecture:

Slide 26
 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT
EXAMPLE 2.5 A Limit That Does Not Exist

Solution
From the left:

Conjecture:

Slide 27
 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT
EXAMPLE 2.5 A Limit That Does Not Exist

Solution

Conjecture:

Slide 28
 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT

REMARK 2.1
Computer or calculator computation of limits is
unreliable.

We use graphs and tables of values only as (strong)

evidence pointing to what a plausible answer might be.

To be certain, we need to obtain careful verification of

our conjectures. We explore this in sections 1.3–1.7.

Slide 29