PLGARS002004a Limits 1: Limit of a Function

Pre-Assignment for L1: Limit of a Function

Instructions: Print out the activity and complete the first page (questions 1 through 3) of the
activity.

Once you have completed this pre-assignment, go to the Canvas page for your class and
complete the pre-assignment quiz that you will find there. You have as many tries as you like
for each question. This must be completed by 11:59 pm on the Thursday BEFORE your peer
led session on Friday.

Bring your printed activity with your completed pre-assignment to your peer led session. Download
and print the peer led session syllabus from your Canvas page. At the beginning of your peer led
session, you will have a short in class quiz. This first in class quiz will be based on the peer led
session syllabus. Make sure to bring a smart phone or other device that you can use in class to
take the short quiz.

If you need help completing the pre-assignment, feel free to drop in at the SMART lab (at the library
tutoring services).

M – Th: 10am – 7pm

F: 10am – 2pm
Sa: Closed
Su: 1-3pm
 Limits 1: Limit of a Function

Limits 1: Limit of a Function

Model 1: Guessing a Limit of a Function from a Graph or Table

y = f ( x) x y = f ( x)
3x 2 − 12
15 f ( x) = 1
x−2 1.9 11.7
1.99 11.97
10
1.999 11.997
2
5 2.001 12.003
2.01 12.03
x 2.1 12.3
-3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 3

Construct Your Understanding Questions (to do in class)

1. For the function in Model 1, what is... (add your answers to the empty boxes on the table)
a. f (1) = b. f (2) = c. f (3) =
2. For f ( x ) in Model 1…
a. What is the meaning of the open circle on the graph at the point where x = 2 ?
(Check your work) Does this confirm your answer to Question 1b? Explain.

b. Use the table to guess what y value f ( x ) is approaching as x approaches 2. We call this the
“limit of f ( x ) as x approaches 2”, which is written… lim f ( x )
x →2

c. The y value associated with the open circle on the graph in Model 1 is 12. Make a hash mark
for this value of y at the appropriate place on y-axis in Model 1, and label it with a 12. (Check
your work) Is this consistent with your answer to Question 2b?

y = f ( x) y = f ( x)
3. Guess each limit
using the graph. 15 15

10 lim f ( x ) =
x→3 10

5 lim f ( x) =
5 x→1

x x
-3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
 Limits 1: Limit of a Function

4. Most questions in this activity focus on limits at a point where the y value of the function is not
defined. However, in this question we ask you to find limits at points where the y value is defined.
These are often easy to find because, for these functions, lim f ( x ) = f (a ) .
x →a

a. For the function in Model 1, what is:

lim f ( x ) = lim f ( x ) = lim f ( x ) =
x →3 x →1 x →0

b. Based on the graph at right, what is … 18 y = g ( x)

16
lim g ( x ) = 14
x →−1
12
10
8
lim g ( x ) =
x →0 6
4
2
lim g ( x) =
x
x→5 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
-2

5. Fill in the blank to make the statement true:

For the function shown on the graph in part b of the previous question, lim g ( x) = g (a )
x →a
for every value of a except a = ____

6. Exactly one of the following statements is FALSE. Cross out the false statement and match each true
statement to the graph (A or B) that demonstrates that it is true. Hint: First look at the Graphs A and
B, and find values of x = a where f ( a ) does not exist or lim f ( x ) ≠ f (a ) .
x →a

i. The lim f ( x ) can exist even if f ( a ) does not exist.

x →a

ii. The lim f ( x ) does not exist if f ( a ) exists.

x →a

iii. The lim f ( x) and f ( a ) may both exist even if lim f ( x ) ≠ f ( a ) .

x →a x →a

6
y 6
y
 x + 3 if x ≠ 3 x2 − 9
f ( x) =  5 f ( x) = 5
if x = 3 x−3
 2 4 4
3 lim f ( x ) = 6 3
lim f ( x ) = 6 2
x→ 3
2
x →3

1 1
x x
-7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5
-1 -1
A -2 B -2

7. Guess f (a ) and lim f ( x ) requested on each graph. (Dotted lines mark vertical asymptotes.)
x →a
 Limits 1: Limit of a Function

a. b.
y y
f ( x) = x2 + 1 4 f ( x) =
x3 − x 2 + x − 1 4
x −1
f (1) = 3 3
f (1) =
2 2
lim f ( x ) =
x →1
1 lim f ( x ) = 1
x →1
x x
-7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4
-1 -1

y 4 y
1 4
f ( x) = f ( x ) = ln( x − 1) 3
( x − 2)2
3 f (1) = 2
f (2) =
2 1
lim f ( x ) =
lim f ( x ) = 1
x →1
x
x→2
x -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6
-7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 -1
-1 -2
c. d.

y f ( x) = 5 3 − x
y
4
f (3) = −( x 3 − 8) if x < 2 15
3 
f ( x) =  x 3 − 8 if x > 2
2 lim f ( x ) =  10
x→3
 if x = 2 10
1
f (2) =
x 5
-4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6 lim f ( x ) =
x→ 2
-1 x
e. f. -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3

y y
1 x
f ( x) = x + 4
( x + 1) 2 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
3
-5
f (−1) = − x2
2 f ( x) =
( x − 4) 2
lim f ( x ) = 1 -10
x → −1
x f (4) =
-6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 1 2 3 4 5
-15
-1 lim f ( x ) =
g. h. x→ 4
 Limits 1: Limit of a Function

8. (Check your work) Four of the graphs in the previous question ask for a limit that is not a real
number.
a. Identify these four graphs and explain your reasoning.

b. Is your answer to part a of this question consistent with Summary Box L1.1? If not, write
down any questions you have and address these with another group or the instructor.

Summary Box L1.1: Infinite Limits

Infinity is not a number, so we say that if lim f ( x ) = ∞ (or −∞ ) then the limit does not exist.
x →a
To many students, this language seems contradictory. Students want to know: “Is the limit ∞ or does
it not exist?” The answer is: both.

Think of it this way: Within the broader category of limits that do not exist, those that equal infinity
have something in common with one another, as do those that equal minus infinity, and this helps us
describe the graph. Each therefore makes up a sub-category within the set of limits that do not exist.
 Limits 1: Limit of a Function

Activity Report
Limit of a Function

We verify that we all understand and agree with the solutions to these questions.

Group Number: _______ Section:______________

Manager: _____________________________________________

Recorder: _____________________________________________

Spokesperson: _________________________________________

Strategy Analyst: _______________________________________

Critical Thinking Question: to be agreed upon by the group, and written below by the recorder.

A student looks at the graph of the function below, and writes that lim ℎ 𝑥 5, while another student claims that the
→
limit does not exist. Which student is correct, if either? Explain your answer fully, using complete sentences.

In order to get a “satisfactory” grade for your answer, make sure you have: (1) filled out all the questions on the
activity you are handing in that you got to in your peer led session; (2) PRINTED names and UID numbers for each
group participant, and written your group number, if you have one; (3) answered the question correctly and in detail
using complete sentences.

For instructor’s use only

All questions on activity filled out
Names and U-Numbers PRINTED on activity report
Critical thinking correct, fully justified, and written in complete sentences
Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory