MATH6082 -

CALCULUS I
Topic 2
Limits
 Acknowledgement

These slides have been

adapted from:
Dale Varberg, Edwin Purcell,
Steve Rigdon. 2007.
Calculus. Prentice Hall.
ISBN: 978-0132306331.

Chapter 1

2
 Learning Objectives

LO 1:
Explain the basic concepts and principle of
differential and integral calculus of real functions
of one variable.

3
 Content

1 • Introduction to Limits

2
• Limits Theorem

3 • Limits at Infinity; Infinite Limits

4 • Continuity of functions

4
Introduction to limits
 Limit problem
Consider the function defined by

Suppose that we are required to determine the value that approaches as

approaches the (fixed) number 2.

6
 vs
•The limit function problem is a problem of determining the
"value trend the function ", when the independent variable, 𝑥,
approaches a certain point 𝑐.

•If , then
 vs

• does not exist

•If , then
 vs

•If , then
and

• does not exist

 vs

•If , then
and

• does not exist

 Intuitive Definition of A Limit
DEFINITION
Let f be a function defined on an open interval containing a,
with the possible exception of a itself. Then the limit of f(x) as x
approaches a is the number L, written

if f(x) can be made as close to L as we please by taking x to be

sufficiently close to a.

11
 Example 1(1/1)
• Find
• Examine the value of when approaches 1

•,
 Example 1(1/2)
• Find
• Examine the graph of
when approaches 1
•,
 Exercise 1
Use the graph of the function shown in Figure to find the given limit, if it exists.

14
 Right-Hand and Left-Hand Limit
of a Function
Let f be a function defined for all
values of x close to but greater
than a. Then the right-hand limit
of f(x) as x approaches a is equal
to L, written
if f(x) can be made as close to L as
we please by taking to be
sufficiently close to but greater
than a.
Let f be a function defined for
all values of x close to but
less than a. Then the left-
hand limit of f(x) as x
approaches a is equal to L,
written
if f(x) can be made as close
to L as we please by taking
to be sufficiently close to but
less than a.
15
 Relationship Between One-Sided
and Two-Sided Limits
THEOREM

Let fbe a function defined on an open interval containing a,

with the possible exception of a itself. Then

16
 Example 2
Sketch the graph of the function defined by

Use your graph to find

17
 Precise Definition of a Limit
DEFINITION (Precise)
Let f be a function defined on an open interval containing a with the possible
exception of a itself. Then the limit of as approaches is the number , written

if for every number , we can find a number such that

18
Rigorous Study of Limits
 Illustration
• Given the function , with
• For every number find such that

0,01
0,001
0,0001
 Exercise
• Prove that

• Prove that

22
Limits theorem
Limit Laws

24
Limit Laws

25
Limit Laws

26
Limit Laws

27
Example 3

28
 Example 4
Find

Solution :
Notice that both the numerator and the denominator of the
quotient approach 0 as x approaches -3, so Law 6 is not
applicable. Instead, we proceed as follows:

29
 Example 5 (1/2)
Let

Find limx→2 f(x) if it exists.

Solution :
The function f is defined piecewise. For x ≥ 2 the rule for f is

. Letting x approach 2 from the right, we obtain

30
 Example 5 (2/2)
For x < 2, f(x) = -x + 3, and

The right-hand and left-hand limits are equal. Therefore, the limit exists and

31
Limits of
Trigonometric Functions

32
 Example 6
Find

33
 Example 7
Find

Solution : The first rewrite

34
 The Squeeze Theorem
Suppose that f(x) ≤ g(x) ≤ h(x) for all x in an open interval
containing a, except possibly at a, and

Then

35
 Example 8
Find

Solution
Since for every real
number t, we have
Since,
the Squeeze Theorem implies that

36
Limits At Infinity; infinite limits
 Limits at Infinity
• Consider the function
• What happens to as get larger and larger?

10 0,099
100 0,010
1000 0,001
10000 0,0001

?
The graph of
 Limits at Infinity
• Definition
Let be defined on for some number . We say that

if for each there is corresponding number such that

lim 𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) = 𝐿
𝑥→∞
 Limits at Infinity
• Definition
Let be defined on for some number . We say that

if for each there is corresponding number such that

lim 𝑓 ( 𝑥 )= 𝐿
𝑥 → −∞
 Main Limit Theorem
Let be a positive integer, be a constant, and and be functions that
have limits at with or . Then
1.
2.
3.
 Main Limit Theorem
4.
5.
6. , provided
7.
 Limit at Infinity Theorem
Theorem
If be a positive integer, then
 Example
• Prove that
• Divide the numerator and denominator by the highest power of
• Use Theorem of limits
 Infinite Limits
• Consider the function
 Infinite Limits
• Definition
We say that if for every positive number , there exists corresponding
such that
The corresponding infinite limits
 Example
• Find

• As , we see that ,
•,

•
Continuity of functions
 Discontinue at a point

0 1 Does not exist

1 1 Does not exist
2 2 1
3 2 2
4 0,5 Does not exist
 Continuity at a Number
Let f be a function defined on an open interval containing all values of x close to a.
Then f is continuous at if

54
 Guidance to check the continuity at
1. Find
2. Find and (or )
3. The value in 1 and 2 must equal
 Example 10
Use the graph of the function
shown in Figure to determine
whether f is continuous at 0, 1,
2, 3, 4, and 5.

Solution
The function f is continuous at 0 because
It is discontinuous at 1 because f(1) is not defined.
It is discontinuous at 2 because
It is continuous at 3 because
It is discontinuous at 4 and 5 because and
does not exist.
56
 Continuity at an Endpoint

A function f is continuous from the right

at a if

A function f is continuous from

the left at a if
57
 Continuity on an Interval
A function f is continuous on an open interval (a,b) if it is continuous at every
number in the interval.

A function f is continuous on a closed interval [a,b] if it is continuous on (a,b) and

is also continuous from the right at a and from the left at b.

A function f is continuous on a half-open interval [a,b) or (a,b] if f is continuous

on (a,b) and f is continuous from the right at a or f is continuous from the left at b,
respectively.

58
 Continuity of a Sum,
Product, and Quotient
If the functions f and g are continuous at a, then the following functions are also
continuous at a.

59
 Other Continuity Theorem
THEOREM
Continuity of Polynomial and Rational Functions
a. A polynomial function is continuous on (-∞, ∞).
b. A rational function is continuous on its domain.

THEOREM
Continuity of Trigonometric Functions
The functions sin x, cos x, tan x, csc x, sec x, and cot x are continuous at every
number in their respective domain.

60
 Example 12
Find the values of x for which the function

is continuous.

Solution
We can think that f(x) = g(x) + h(x), where g(x) = x8 – 3x4 + x + 4 and h(x) = (x+1) /
[(x+1)(x-2)].
We see that g(x) is continuous on (-∞, ∞), whereas h(x) is continuous everywhere
except at -1 and 2. Therefore, f is continuous on (-∞,-1), (-1,2), and (2,∞).

61
 Example 13
Find the values at which the following functions are continuous

Solution
a. Since the functions x and cos x are continuous
everywhere, we conclude that f is continuous on (-∞, ∞).

b. The function √x is continuous on [0, ∞). The function sin x is

continuous everywhere and has zeros at nπ, where n is an
integer. Then, g is continuous at all positive values of x that
are not integral multiples of π; that is, g is continuous on (0,
π), (π, 2π), (2π, 3π),.......
62
 Continuity of
Composite Functions
THEOREM
Limit of a Composite Function
If the function f is continuous at L and limx→ag(x)=L, then

THEOREM
Continuity of Composite Functions
If the function g is continuous at a and the function f is continuous at g(a), then the
composition f ◦ g is continuous at a.

63
 The Intermediate Value
Theorem
If f is a continuous function on a closed interval [a,b] and M is any number between
f(a) and f(b), inclusive, then there is at least one number c in [a,b] such that f(c) =
M.

64
 Example
• Prove that have a real root between and
• Consider the function on the interval
• and
• Hence
• continuous on the interval
• There exist such that
 References
Dale Varberg, Edwin Purcell, Steve Rigdon. 2007. Calculus. Prentice Hall.
ISBN: 978-0132306331.

Soo.T.Tan. Calculus. 2010. Brooks/Cole. ISBN-13: 978-0-534-46579-7

66
67