LIMITS AND CONTINUITY

MATHEMATICS

PALLAVI
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
LIMITS
• We need the concept of limits to understand the continuity of a function,
then we use basic idea of limits to understand derivative (differentiation)
and anti-derivative (integration) in calculus.
• A limit in calculus looks at what happens to a function when the input
approaches to a certain value.
• Assume that we have a function y = f(x) = x2, the sequence of values of x,
which is the independent variable, will cause a sequential change in
values of f(x), which is the dependent variable.
If x approaches a limit say a, expressed as x → a, then the value of f(x)
approaches a limit say L.
• Suppose x takes increments from 2.9, 2.99, 2.999, …, 2.99999, …, the
values of f(x) shall follow the sequence (2.9)2, (2.99)2, (2.999)2 …,
(2.99999)2, …,
Clearly, if x → 3, then x2 → 32 = 9.
• This also implies that as the sequence goes far enough towards 3, the
differences between (2.92 – 9), (2.992 – 9), (2.9992 – 9), …, (2.999992 –
9) become successively smaller and smaller and also less than any
smallest number that is specified.
• The definition of limit of a variable stand satisfied, if f(x) = x2
approaches 9 as a limit when x approaches 3 that is expressed as (x → 3).
• Similarly, if x approaches 3 from right, then the sequence of x is 3.1,
3.01, 3.001, …, 3.00001 and so on, which results in values of f(x) to
emerge as 3.12, 3.012, 3.0012..., 3.000012.
• This sequence also approaches 9, which suggests that 9 is limit of f(x) =
x2 irrespective of whether x approaches 3 from the left or from the right.
That is why + or – sign is dropped and we simply express: lim⁡ 𝑥 2 = 9
𝑥→3
• A function f(x) approaches a limit L as x approaches a, if the sequence of
values of x both from left and right causes the sequence of values f(x) to
satisfy the definition of “approaches a limit L”.
This is expressed as: 𝑙𝑖𝑚⁡𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐿
𝑥→𝑎
Common Properties of Limits:

1. Sum 𝑙𝑖𝑚[𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥)] = 𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑔(𝑥)

𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

2. Difference 𝑙𝑖𝑚[𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑔(𝑥)] = 𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑔(𝑥)

𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

3. Product 𝑙𝑖𝑚[𝑓(𝑥) × 𝑔(𝑥)] = 𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑓(𝑥) × 𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑔(𝑥)

𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

𝑓(𝑥) 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑓(𝑥)

4. Quotient 𝑙𝑖𝑚 [ ] = 𝑥→𝑎 , provided 𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑔(𝑥 ) ≠ 0
𝑥→𝑎 𝑔(𝑥) 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑥→𝑎
𝑥→𝑎

5. Product of constant and a function: 𝑙𝑖𝑚[𝑘𝑓(𝑥)] = 𝑘𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑓(𝑥)

𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

6. Constant function:𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑐 , if 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑐

𝑥→𝑎
𝑥 𝑛 −𝑎𝑛
7. 𝑙𝑖𝑚 = 𝑛𝑎𝑛−1
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥−𝑎
ⅇ 𝑥 −1
8. 𝑙𝑖𝑚 =1
𝑥→0 𝑥
𝑎𝑥 −1
9. 𝑙𝑖𝑚 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔ⅇ 𝑎
𝑥→0 𝑥

10.𝑙𝑖𝑚(1 + 𝑥)1∕𝑥 = ⅇ
𝑥→0
log(1+𝑥)
11.𝑙𝑖𝑚 =1
𝑥→0 𝑥

12.𝑙𝑖𝑚ⅇ 𝑥 = 1
𝑥→0
Problem- solving techniques for limits

1. Direct substitution: Here we just substitute the value to which

independent value is approaching.
Example: a. lim⁡ 𝑥 2 = lim⁡ 𝑎2
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

b. 𝑙𝑖𝑚⁡(𝑥 2 + 3𝑥) = 𝑙𝑖𝑚⁡(22 + 3 × 2) = 10

𝑥→2 𝑥→2

2. Factoring: If direct substitution leads us to undefined answer, we can use

factoring to simplify the expression.
𝑥 2 −4
Example 𝑙𝑖𝑚 ,
𝑥→2 𝑥−2

Here, direct substitution will get us 0/0 which is indeterminate or

undefined.
However, if we can factor the numerator, we get:
𝑥 2 −22 (𝑥−2)(𝑥+2)
𝑙𝑖𝑚 = 𝑙𝑖𝑚 (𝑥−2)
= 𝑙𝑖𝑚(𝑥 + 2) = 2 + 2 = 4
𝑥→2 𝑥−2 𝑥→2 𝑥→2

3. Rationalization: When we have limits with square roots, we may have a

situation, where direct substitution does not work, and we cannot apply
factoring to the expression. In such cases, we use the algebraic technique
called rationalization. Example:
1−√𝑥 (1−√𝑥)(1+√𝑥) (1−𝑥) 1 1 1
𝑙𝑖𝑚 = 𝑙𝑖𝑚 = 𝑙𝑖𝑚 (1−𝑥)(1+ = 𝑙𝑖𝑚 = =
𝑥→1 1−𝑥 𝑥→1 (1−𝑥)(1+√𝑥) 𝑥→1 √𝑥) 𝑥→1 (1+√𝑥) 1+1 2
PRACTICE QUESTIONS

1. Evaluate the following

a. 𝑙𝑖𝑚5
𝑥→3

b. 𝑙𝑖𝑚4𝑥 5
𝑥→2

c. 𝑙𝑖𝑚(7𝑥 + 6)
𝑥→3

d. 𝑙𝑖𝑚(3𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 + 5)
𝑥→3

e. 𝑙𝑖𝑚(𝑥 3 + 4)(3𝑥 − 3)
𝑥→2

4
f. 𝑙𝑖𝑚 √8𝑥 2 + 9
𝑥→3

3
g. 𝑙𝑖𝑚 √𝑥 2 + 15
𝑥→7

2. Evaluate:
𝑥 2 +𝑥−20
a. 𝑙𝑖𝑚 ( )
𝑥→4 𝑥 2 −9𝑥+20

1 2
b. 𝑙𝑖𝑚 ( − )
𝑥→4 𝑥−4 𝑥 2 −6𝑥+8

(𝑥 2 −5𝑥+6)
c. 𝑙𝑖𝑚 (𝑥 2
𝑥→2 −7𝑥+10)

𝑥 2 +𝑥−12
d. 𝑙𝑖𝑚 ( )
𝑥→3 𝑥−3

√1+𝑥−√1−𝑥
e. 𝑙𝑖𝑚
𝑥→0 𝑥

3. Evaluate the following:

√𝑥 2 +4−2
a. 𝑙𝑖𝑚
𝑥→0 √𝑥 2 +9−3
 4𝑥 2 +3𝑥−5
b. 𝑙𝑖𝑚 ( )
𝑥→2 𝑥 2 −6

𝑥 2 −36𝑥+68
c. 𝑙𝑖𝑚
𝑥→2 𝑥 2 −6𝑥+8

√𝑥+25−5
d. 𝑙𝑖𝑚
𝑥→0 𝑥

√𝑥+8−√8𝑥+1
e. 𝑙𝑖𝑚
𝑥→1 √5−𝑥−√7𝑥−3

√2+3𝑥−√2−5𝑥
f. 𝑙𝑖𝑚
𝑥→0 4𝑥

Answers:
1. a. 5, b. 128, c. 27, d. 53, e. 36, f. 3, g. 4
2. a. -9, b. ½, c. 1/3, d. 7, e. 1
3. a. 3/2, b. -17/2, c. 16, d= 1/10, e. 7/12, f. 1/√2
CONTINUITY
A function is said to be continuous if its graph is a continuous curve without
any break. If however, there is any break in the graph, then the function is not
continuous at that point.
If for a value of k, the limit of f(x) does not exist i.e. if on the curve of f(x) a
point is absent, the graph will be discontinuous ( not continuous).
Consider the functions in the figures given below:

The above figures show that the first two functions: f(x) and g(x) have no gaps,
and therefore they are continuous.
The next two functions: p(x) and q(x) have gaps at x = 3, therefore, they are not
continuous. However, these functions with gaps are continuous in parts (that is
when x < 3 and also when x > 3) because they can be drawn without taking the
pencil off the paper.
When a function is continuous, wherever it is defined, such a function is
described as continuous over its entire domain to imply that its gap or gaps
occur at x-values where the function is not defined. This is exactly the case of
function: p(x). The function q(x), however, is not continuous over its entire
domain because of being not continuous at x = 3, which is included in its
domain.
Definition of Continuity:
A function f(x) is said to be continuous at a point x = a, if the following three
conditions are satisfied:
• Function is defined: that is f(a) is defined;
• Existence of limit: 𝑙𝑖𝑚(𝑥) also exists; and
𝑥→𝑎
• Function equals limit: f(a) = 𝑓(𝑎) = 𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥→𝑎

A function f(x) is said to be continuous at x=a, if 𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑓(𝑥)⁡exists in finite and is

𝑥→𝑎
equal to f(a), i.e. 𝑙𝑖𝑚+𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑙𝑖𝑚− 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑎)
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
i.e. 𝑓(𝑎 + 0) = 𝑓(𝑎 − 0) = 𝑓(𝑎)
or 𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑓(𝑎 + ℎ) = 𝑓(𝑎)
ℎ→0
Thus, we have to find the following three values:
a. 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑓(𝑎)
𝑥→𝑎+

b. 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥→𝑎−

c. 𝑓(𝑎)
Example: Show that 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟑𝒙𝟐 − 𝒙 + 𝟐 is continuous at x=1.

Now, 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑙𝑖𝑚 (3𝑥 2 − 𝑥 + 2) = 𝑙𝑖𝑚{3(1 + ℎ)2 − (1 + ℎ) + 2}

𝑥→1+ 𝑥→𝑞+ ℎ→0
[putting x=1+h as x→1, h→0]
= 𝑙𝑖𝑚 (3ℎ2 + 5ℎ + 4) = 3 × 0 + 5 × 0 + 4 = 4
ℎ→0
And 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑙𝑖𝑚 (3𝑥 2 − 𝑥 + 2) = 𝑙𝑖𝑚{3(1 − ℎ)2 − (1 − ℎ) + 2}
𝑥→𝑞− 𝑥→1− 𝑛→0
[ putting x=1-h as x→1 , h →0]
= 𝑙𝑖𝑚 (3ℎ2 − 5ℎ + 4) = 3 × 0 − 5 × 0 + 4 = 4
ℎ→0
Also, 𝑓(𝑞) = 3 × 12 − 1 + 2 = 4
Thus, we find that all the values are equal.
So, f(x) is continuous at x=1.

Continuity of a function at a point exists when the left and right sided limits
match the function evaluated at that point. For a function to be continuous, the
function must be continuous at every single point in an unbroken domain.
Mathematically, we can say that a function is continuous at a provided the
following condition is met:
Left Hand Limit = Right Hand Limit = f(a) = a finite number.
Properties of continuous functions
1. The sum or difference of two continuous functions is a continuous
function.
2. Product of two continuous functions is a continuous function.
3. Ratio of two continuous functions is a continuous function, provided the
denominator is not zero.
4. Wherever defined, the elementary algebraic, trigonometric, logarithmic
and exponential functions are continuous.

Practice Questions:
1. f(x) = x2+1. Is this function continuous at x=2?

2. Where are the following functions discontinuous?

2
a.
𝑥
1
b.
𝑥−1
2𝑥 2
c.
𝑥−2
1
d.
𝑥 2 −4𝑥+3

3. Find the value of ‘x’ at which each of the following functions are
discontinuous:
2
a. 𝑓(𝑥) =
𝑥
3
b. 𝑓(𝑥) =
𝑥−3
𝑥+2
c. 𝑓(𝑥) =
𝑥 2 −4

Answers:
1. Yes
2. a. 0, b. 1, c. 2, d. 1,3
3 a. 0, b. 3, c. 2,-2