Functions, Basic

Limits and the

Indeterminate Form
LECTURE 1
Functions
PART 1
 Functions
•A relation is a function provided there is exactly
one output for each input.

•It is NOT a function if one input has more than

one output
In order for a relationship to be a function…
EVERY INPUT MUST HAVE AN OUTPUT
TWO DIFFERENT INPUTS CAN HAVE THE
SAME OUTPUT
ONE INPUT CAN HAVE ONLY ONE
OUTPUT
INPUT
(DOMAIN)
Functions
FUNCTION
MACHINE

OUTPUT (RANGE)
 Which of the following relations are
functions?
R= {(9,10), (-5, -2), (2, -1), (3, -9)}
S= {(6, a), (8, f), (6, b), (-2, p)}
T= {(z, 7), (y, -5), (r, 7), (z, 0), (k, 0)}

No two ordered pairs can have the same

first coordinate
(and different second coordinates).
Identify the Domain and Range. Then tell if the
relation is a function.
Input Output

-3 3

1 1

3 -2

4
Function?
Yes: each input is mapped
Domain = {-3, 1,3,4} onto exactly one output

Range = {-2,1,3}
Identify the Domain and Range. Then
tell if the relation is a function.

Input Output

-3 3

1 -2

4 1

4
Notice the set notation!!!

Domain = {-3, 1,4} Function?

No: input 1 is mapped onto
Range = {3,-2,1,4} Both -2 & 1
1. {(2,5) , (3,8) , (4,6) , (7, 20)}

2. {(1,4) , (1,5) , (2,3) , (9, 28)}

3. {(1,0) , (4,0) , (9,0) , (21, 0)}

 The Vertical Line Test
If it is possible for a vertical line to
intersect a graph at more than one
point, then the graph is NOT the
graph of a function.
Use the vertical line test to visually check if the
relation is a function.

(4,4)
(-3,3)

(1,1)

(1,-2)

Function?
No, Two points are on
The same vertical line.
Use the vertical line test to visually check if the
relation is a function.

(-3,3)
(1,1) (3,1)

(4,-2)

Function?
Yes, no two points are
on the same vertical line
#1 Function?
#2 Function?
#3 Function?
#4 Function?
#5 Function?
Function Notation
f (x)
“f of x”
Input = x
Output = f(x) = y
Before… Now…

y = 6 – 3x f(x) = 6 – 3x
x y x f(x)
-2 12 -2 12
-1 9 (x, y) -1 9 (x, f(x))
0 6 0 6
1 3 1 3
2 0 2 0

(input, output)
Example.
f(x) = 2x2 – 3
Find f(0), f(-3), f(5).
 Finding the Domain of a Function
• When a function is defined by an equation and the domain of
the function is not stated, we assume that the domain is
All Real Numbers
• There will be certain cases where specific numbers cannot be
included in the domain or a set of numbers cannot be included
in the domain
 Examples…
• f(x) = 2x – 5
*there would be no restrictions on this, so the
domain is All Real Numbers

• g(x) = 1
x–2
*a denominator cannot equal 0, so x ≠ 2. The
domain is {x | x ≠ 2}

• h(x) = √x + 6
*you cannot take the square root of a negative
number, so x must be ≥ -6. The domain is {x | x ≥ -6}
 Find the domain of each function
• 1. f(x) = x2 + 2
• 2. g(x) = √x – 1
• h(x) = 1
x+5

1. All real numbers

2. {x / x ≥ 1 }

3. { x / x ≠-5}
• Combining Functions
 Combining Functions
– Different ways to combine functions to make new
functions.

• Sums, Differences, Products and Quotients

• Two functions f and g can be combined to form new
functions
f + g, f – g, fg, f/g
in a manner similar to the way we add, subtract,
multiply, and divide real numbers.
 Sum of Functions
• For example, we define the function f + g
by: (f + g)(x) = f(x) + g(x)
– The new function f + g is called the sum of the functions f
and g.
– Its value at x is f(x) + g(x).
• Similarly, we can define the difference
f – g, the product fg, and the quotient f/g
of the functions f and g.

– However, in the case of the quotient,

we must remember not to divide by 0.
• Let f ( x )  1 and g ( x )  .x
x 2
(a) Find the functions f + g, f – g, fg, and f/g
(b) Find (f + g)(4), (f – g)(4), (fg)(4), and (f/g)(4).
• Thus, we have:
(f  g )( x )  f ( x )  g ( x )
1
  x Domain { x | x  0 and x  2}
x 2

(f  g )( x )  f ( x )  g ( x )
1
  x Domain { x | x  0 and x  2}
x 2
 x
(fg )( x )  f ( x )g ( x )  Domain { x | x  0 and x  2}
x 2

f  f (x) 1
 (x)   Domain { x | x  0 and x  2}
g g ( x ) ( x  2) x

Note that, in the domain of f/g,

we exclude 0 because g(0) = 0.
• Each of these values exist because x = 4
is in the domain of each function.
1 5
(f  g )(4)  f (4)  g (4)   4
42 2

1 3
(f  g )(4)  f (4)  g (4)   4 
42 2

 1 
(fg )(4)  f (4)g (4)    4 1
 42

f  f (4) 1 1
  (4)   
g g (4) (4  2) 4 4
• Composition of Functions
• Now, let’s consider a very important way
of combining two functions to get a new function.

– Suppose f(x) = x and g(x) = x2 + 1.

– We may define a function h as:

h( x )  f (g ( x ))  f ( x 2  1)  x 2  1

• The function h is made up of the functions f and

g in an interesting way:

– Given a number x, we first apply to it

the function g, then apply f to the result.
• Given two functions f and g, the composite function
f ◦ g (also called the composition
of f and g) is defined by:
(f ◦ g)(x) = f(g(x))
 • Let f(x) = x2 and g(x) = x – 3.
(a) Find the functions f ◦ g and g ◦ f.
(b) Find (f ◦ g)(5) and (g ◦ f )(7).
(a)
(b)

• You can see that, in general, f ◦ g ≠ g ◦ f.

– Remember that the notation f ◦ g means
that the function g is applied first and then
f is applied second.
• If f(x) = x and g(x) = 2  x , find
the following functions
(a) f ◦ g (b) g ◦ f
(c) f ◦ f (d) g ◦ g

(a)
(b)

– For to be defined, we must have x ≥ 0.

– For to be defined, we must have

, that is or
(c)

(d)

– This expression is defined when both and

– The first inequality means x ≤ 2, and the second

is equivalent to , or , or .
 A Composition of Three Functions
• It is possible to take the composition of three or
more functions.
– For instance, the composite function f ◦ g ◦ h is
found by first applying h, then g, and then f as
follows:
(f ◦ g ◦ h)(x) = f(g(h(x)))

• Find f ◦ g ◦ h if:
f(x) = x/(x + 1) , g(x) = x10 , h(x) = x + 3
• Find f ◦ g ◦ h if:
f(x) = x/(x + 1) , g(x) = x10 , h(x) = x + 3

•  

•  
 
Basic Limits and the
Indeterminate Form
PART 2
Definition of Limits
If f(x) is a function and becomes arbitrarily close to a single
number L as x approaches c from either side, then the limit
of f(x) as x approaches c is L. This limit is written
mathematically as

and is read as “the limit of f(x) as x approaches c is L”

Definition of Limits
To illustrate this
definition, let’s take for
example the function
whose graph is shown
Definition of Limits
For values other than x = 1, you
can use standard curve-
sketching techniques. At x = 1,
however, it is not clear what to
expect.
Definition of Limits
To get an idea of the behavior
of the graph of f(x) near x =
1, we can use two sets of x-
values—one set that
approaches 1 from the left
and one set that approaches 1
from the right
Definition of Limits

Hence, we could say that f(x) approaches the value 3 as the

value of x approaches 1 from either the left or the right.
Definition of Limits

Therefore, the limit of f(x) as x approaches 1 is 3.

Estimating a Limit
Numerically
Estimating a Limit Numerically
Example 1:
For the function

discuss the behavior of the values of f(x) when x gets closer to 2 using table
Estimating a Limit Numerically

Therefore,
Estimating a Limit Numerically
Example 2:
Find the limit of

as x approaches zero
Estimating a Limit Numerically
Example 2:
Evaluate the function at
several x-values near 0 and
use the results to estimate the
limit
*As in the graph, we could
see that f(0) is undefined. For
this reason, we cannot find
the limit by finding f(0) as in
Example 1
Estimating a Limit Numerically
Example 2:
To estimate the limit of
f(x) as x approaches 0, a
list of several values of x
near zero from left and
right would help.
Estimating a Limit Numerically

Therefore,
Estimating a Limit Numerically
Example 3:
For the function
x2
f ( x) 
x2

discuss the behavior of the

values of f(x) when x is
closer to 2.
Does the limit exist?
 Estimating a Limit Numerically
x 0 1 1.9 1.99 2 2.001 2.0 2.1 2.5
1
f (x) -1 -1 -1 -1 ? 1 1 1 1

* This function is not defined when x = 2.

* The limit does not exist because the limit on the left
and the limit on the right are not the same.
represents the limit on the left of 2
represents the limit on the right of 2
Estimating a Limit Numerically
■We write and call K the limit from the left (or left-hand limit) if
f(x) is close to K whenever x is close to c, but to the left
of c on the real number line.
■We write and call L the limit from the right (or right-hand limit) if
f(x) is close to L whenever x is close to c, but to the right of c on the
real number line.
■In order for a limit to exist, the limit from the left and the limit
from the right must exist and be equal.
Estimating a Limit
Using Graph
Estimating a Limit Using Graph
Example 1:
From the given graph of f(x),
answer the following

¿0
¿0
a. f(0) ¿0
¿0
Estimating a Limit Using Graph
Example 1:
From the given graph of f(x),
answer the following

¿1
¿2
e. f(1) ¿Does  not  exist
¿NotDefined
Estimating a Limit Using Graph
Example 1:
From the given graph of f(x),
answer the following

¿3
¿3
i. f(3) ¿3
¿NotDefined
Evaluating Limits
Analytically
Example 1:

Property 3 and 5

Property 6

Property 2

Try lim (x4 + 3x – 2) If you don’t get -4, try again

X-1
Example 2:

Property 8

2
Try lim 2x  2 If you don’t get 2, try again
X-1
Example 3:

Note that this is a rational function with a

nonzero denominator at x = -2

Property 7

x
Try lim 4 If you don’t get 1/3, try again
x 1 x  2
Example 4:
2 x  3 If x < 5
f ( x)   This is called “Piecewise Function”
 x  12 If x > 5

Find:

a. f(5)
Example 4:
2 x  3 If x < 5
f ( x)  
 x  12 If x > 5

Solution:

b.
Example 4:
2 x  3 If x < 5
f ( x)  
 x  12 If x > 5

Solution:
Example 1: Use algebraic and/or graphical techniques to
analyze each of the following indeterminate forms
Example 1:
Solution
Example 1:
Solution
Example 1:
Solution
Example 2: Evaluate the limit
Example 3: Find the limit
Example 3: Find the limit