Engineering Mathematics I

Limit of Functions

Rakesh Prasad Badoni, Ph.D.

Xavier School of Computer Science and Engineering
Xavier University Bhubaneswar
Odisha − 752050, India
 Function
Function: A function consists of two non-empty sets X and Y and a rule which assigns to
each element of the set X one and only one element of the set Y.
• The set X is called the domain of the function.
• If x is an element of X, then the element of Y which corresponds to x is called the value
of the function at x (or the image of x) and is denoted by f(x).
• The range of a function is the set of all those elements of Y which are the values of the
function.
∴ Range of f x = {f x : x ∈ X}, clearly Range of f ⊆ Y
• A function is said to be bounded if its range is bounded, otherwise it is unbounded.
• A function f(x) is bounded in the domain D, if there exist two real number k and K
such that k ≤ f x ≤ K for all x ∈ D
• The bounds of the range of a bounded function are called the bounds of the function.
 Function (cont.…)
Example 1) The function f defined by f x = sin x for all x ∈ ℝ is a bounded function,
because its range is [−1,1] which is a bounded set. Here, supremum (or least upper bound)
of f is 1 and infimum (or greatest lower bound) of f is −1.
Example 2) The function f x = log x for all x ∈ (0, ∞) has its range (−∞, ∞) which is not
bounded. Thus, the function f is unbounded in the domain (0, ∞).
Let f: X → Y (i.e., f is a function whose domain is X and range f(X) ⊆ Y, the co-domain)
1) f is called a monotonically increasing function if x1 , x2 ∈ X with x1 < x2 ⇒ f(x1 ) ≤ f(x2 ).
2) f is called a monotonically decreasing function if x1 , x2 ∈ X with x1 < x2 ⇒ f(x1 ) ≥ f(x2 ).
3) f is called a one-one function if x1 , x2 ∈ X with x1 ≠ x2 ⟹ f(x1 ) ≠ f(x2 ).
4) f is called an onto function if to each y ∈ Y, ∃ at least one x ∈ X such that f x = y.
 Limit of a Function
Limit of a function at a point: A function f(x) is said to tend to a limit L as x tends to a, written as
lim f x = L, if given any ε > 0 (however small) there exists some δ > 0 (depending on ε) such that
x→a
f x − L < ε whenever 0 < x − a < δ
⟹ f(x) ∈ (L − ε, L + ε) for all those values of x (except at x = a) which belong to (a − δ, a + δ).
 lim f x should not be understood as substituting x = a in f(x). In fact, f may not be defined at x = a.
x→a

y = f(x)
 Suppose that the function f(x) is defined for all f(x) (x, f(x))
values of x near a, but not necessarily at a.
L
 As x approaches a (without actually attaining the
value a), f(x) approaches the number L; then f(x) (x, f(x))

 We say that L is the limit of f(x) as x approaches

a, and write lim f x = L x a x x
x→a
No matter how x approaches a, f(x) approaches L
 Left and Right Hand Limits
Left Hand Limit: f(x) is said to tend to L as x tend to a through values less than a, if given any ε > 0 (however
small) there exists some δ > 0 (depending on ε) such that
f x − L < ε when a − δ < x < a
⟹ f(x) ∈ (L − ε, L + ε) whenever x ∈ (a − δ, a). The left-hand limit (L.H.L.) is denoted by f(a − 0).
∴ f a − 0 = lim f x
x→a−0

Right Hand Limit: f(x) is said to tend to L as x tend

to a through values greater than a, i.e., if given ε > 0,
∃ δ > 0, such that lim f (x) lim f (x)
x→a− x→a+
f x − L < ε when a < x < a + δ; then
2

f(x) is said to tend to L from the right and the limit so

obtained is called the right-hand limit (R.H.L.) and is -5 5

denoted by f(a + 0). lim− x 3 = 0 lim+ x 3 = 0

x→0 x→0
∴ f a + 0 = lim f x -2

x→a+0
 Limit of a Function (cont.…)
Existence of a limit at a point: f(x) is said to tend to a limit as x tends to ‘a’ if both the left and the right
hand limits exist and are equal. In this case, their common value is called the limit of the function.
Procedure to find the lift-hand and right-hand limits:
a) To find f(a − 0) or lim f x , we first put x = a − h, h > 0 in f(x) and then take the limit as h → 0+ .
x→a−0
Thus lim f x = lim+ f a − h
x→a−0 h→0
b) To find f(a + 0) or lim f x , we first put x = a + h, h > 0 in f(x) and then take the limit as h → 0+ .
x→a+0
Thus lim f x = lim+ f a + h
x→a+0 h→0 50
10
40

5
30

The limit exists for The limit does

-10 -5 0 5
x
10
this function.
20 not exist for this
function.
-5 10

-10 0 5 10 15 20
x
 Limit of a Function (cont.…)
a) lim f x = L
x→∞
A function f(x) is said to tend to L as x → ∞ if given ε > 0, however small, ∃ a positive number
k (depending on ε) such that
f x −L <ε ∀x≥k ⟹ L−ε<f x <L+ε ∀x≥k
b) lim f x = ∞
x→a
A function f(x) is said to tend to ∞ as x → a, if given k > 0, however large, ∃ a positive number
δ such that f x >k for 0< x−a <δ
 The limit of a function at a point, when it exists, is unique
 Let f and g be two functions and a be point of their common domain. If lim f x = L and
x→a
lim g x = M, then
x→a
lim[f x + g x ] = L + M lim[f x − g x ] = L − M
x→a x→a
f x L
lim[f x × g x ] = L × M lim = , provided M ≠ 0
x→a x→a g x M
 Limit of a Function (cont.…)

x2 − 1
x2 − 1 g x =�x−1 x≠1
f x = h x =x+1
x−1 1 x=1

lim− f x = 2
x→1
The limit can exist even when
The limit is a the function is not defined at a
lim+ f x = 2 number point or has a value different
x→1
from the limit.

lim f x = 2
x→1
Limit of a Function (cont.…)
If f x = x 2 , what is lim f x ?
x→2

lim− x 2 = 4
x→2
4

lim+ x 2 = 4
x→2 2

∴ lim x 2 = 4
x→2
-5
Limit of a Function (cont.…)

lim f(x) = DNE

x →4

lim f(x) = DNE lim f(x) = 2

x →1 x →3

lim f(x) = 1
x →2
 Limit of a Function (cont.…)
A function f(x) is said to tend to a limit L as x tends to a,
Example) Show that lim 2x + 3 = 5.
x→1 written as lim f x = L, if given any ε > 0 (however small)
x→a
Let ε > 0 be given. We have there exists some δ > 0 (depending on ε) such that
2x + 3 − 5 = 2x − 2 = 2|x − 1| f x − L < ε whenever 0 < x − a < δ
ε
Now, f x − L < ε ⟹ 2 x − 1 < ε ⟹ x − 1 <
2
ε
Now, choosing δ = , 2x + 3 − 5 < ε when x−1 <δ
2
Hence, lim 2x + 3 = 5.
x→1
1 1
Example) Show that lim − 2 = 1.
x→2 x−2 x −3x+2
1 1 x2 −3x+2 −(x−2) x2 −3x+2−x+2
The required limit = lim − 2 = lim = lim
x→2 x−2 x −3x+2 x→2 (x−2)(x2 −3x+2) x→2 (x−2)(x−2)(x−1)
x2 −4x+4 (x−2)2 1
= lim = lim = lim = 1 (as x ≠ 2)
x→2 (x−2)(x−2)(x−1) x→2 (x−2)(x−2)(x−1) x→2 (x−1)
 Limit of a Function (cont.…)
Question 1) Do the following limit exists? If yes, find them.
1 1
(a) lim sin (b) lim x sin
x→1 x−1 x→0 x

3x − 2 when x < 1
(c) lim f x where f x = �
x→1 4x 2 − 3x when x > 1
x2 −a2
Question 2) Using the definition of limit, prove that lim = 2a.
x→a x−a
Question 3) If f x = [x], where [x] denotes the greatest integer not greater than x, show that
lim f(x) does not exist.
x→1

 If f x ≤ g x ≤ h(x) and lim f(x) = L = lim h(x), then lim g(x) exists and is equal to L.
x→a x→a x→a
 Limit of a Function (cont.…)
x2 −4
Example) Compute lim .
x→2 x−2
x2 −4
Solution) Values of f x = may be computed near x = 2
x−2
x approaches 2

x 1.9 1.99 1.999 → ← 2.001 2.01 2.1
f(x) 3.9 3.99 3.999 → ← 4.001 4.01 4.1
 The function f(x) is not defined at
f(x) approaches 4 x = 2, so its graph has a “hole” at
x = 2.
 The values of f(x) get closer and closer to 4 as x gets closer and closer to 2.
x2 −4 x2 −4
 We say that “the limit of as x approaches 2 equals 4” and write lim = 4.
x−2 x→2 x−2
 Limit of a Function (cont.…)
 If there is no single value that is approached by f(x) as x approaches a, we say that f(x) does
not have a limit as x approaches a, or lim f x does not exist.
x→a

4x − 5, x ≤ 2
Example) Find lim f x where f x = �
x→2 3x − 5, x > 2
Solution) Construct a table and graph

x 1.9 1.99 1.999 → ← 2.001 2.01 2.1

f(x) 2.6 2.96 2.996 → ← 1.003 1.03 1.3

 f(x) approaches 3 as x gets closer to 2 from the left;

 f(x) approaches 1 as x gets closer to 2 from the right.
 Hence, lim f x does not exist.
x→2
 Limit of a Function (cont.…)
1
Example) Find lim f x where f x = .
x→0 x2
Solution) Construct a table and graph
As x approaches 0, the corresponding values of f(x)
grow arbitrarily large.
1
Therefore, lim does not exist.
x→0 x2

x −0.1 −0.01 −0.001 → ← 0.001 0.01 0.1

f(x) 100 10,000 1,000,000 → ← 1,000,000 10,000 100
 Limit of a Function (cont.…)
Conditions under which lim f x fails to exist:
x→a
 f(x) approaches a number L as x approaches a from the left and f(x) approaches a different
number M as x approaches a from the right.
 f(x) becomes infinitely large in absolute value as x approaches a from either side.
 f(x) oscillates infinitely many times between two fixed values as x approaches a.

Limit of a Linear Function Limit of a Polynomial Function

Example) Find lim 3 + 2x Example) Find lim 4x 3 − 6x + 1

x→4 x→2

Solution) lim 3 + 2x = lim 3 + lim 2x Solution) lim 4x − 6x + 1 = lim 4x 3 − lim 6x + lim 1

3
x→4 x→4 x→4 x→2 x→2 x→2 x→2
3
= 3 + lim 2 × lim x =4×2 −6×2+1
x→4 x→4
= 21
=3+2×4
= 11
 Rules for Limits
 Let us assume that lim f x and lim g x both exist.
x→a x→a
 Polynomial rule: If p(x) defines a polynomial function, then
lim p x = p(a)
x→a
p(x)
 Rational function rule: If f(x) defines a rational function with q(a) ≠ 0 then
q(x)

lim f x = f(a)
x→a
 Equal functions rule: If f x = g(x) for all x ≠ a, then
lim f x = lim g x
x→a x→a
 Power rule: For any real number k,
k
lim f x k = lim f x , provided this limit exists.
x→a x→a
 Rules for Limits (cont.…)
 Exponent rule: For any real number b > 0,
lim f(x)
lim b f(x) = b x→a
x→a
 Logarithm rule: For any real number b > 0 with b ≠ 1,
lim log b f(x) = log b lim f(x) , provided that lim f(x) > 0.
x→a x→a x→a
x2 +2x−3
Example) Find lim .
x→1 x2 −3x+2
Solution) Rational function rule cannot be applied directly as the denominator is zero. Hence, we will
first factorize the numerator and denominator.
x2 +2x−3 (x+3)(x−1)
=
x2 −3x+2 (x−2)(x−1)
x2 +2x−3 (x+3)
Now, apply equal functions rule: f x = and g x = , so that f(x) = g(x) for all x ≠ 1
x2 −3x+2 (x−2)
x2 +2x−3 (x+3) (1+3)
lim = lim = = −4 (Using equal functions and polynomial rules)
x→1 x2 −3x+2 x→1 (x−2) (1−2)
 Rules for Limits (cont.…)
Question 4) Find lim+ f(x) and lim− f(x) where
x→2 x→2

x + 6 if x < 2
f x = �51 if x = 2
x 2 if x > 2
2

Question 5) Find lim+ f(x) and lim− f(x),

x→2 x→2
1
where f x = .
x−2

10
Question 6) Find lim f(x) and lim f(x) where f x = 5 +
x→∞ x→−∞ 1+e−0.25x