Basiccalculus q1 Module1 Week1
Basiccalculus q1 Module1 Week1
Basiccalculus q1 Module1 Week1
This module was created to offer meaningful opportunities for guided and independent
learning at your own pace and time. You will be enabled to process the contents of this
module while being an active learner.
Remember that your academic success lies in your own hands so enjoy your journey in
learning through this module.
If you encounter any difficulty in answering the tasks in this module, do not hesitate to
consult your teacher. Always bear in mind that you are not alone.
We hope that through this material, you will experience meaningful learning and gain
deep understanding of the relevant competencies.
You can do it!
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Learning Competencies
• Illustrate the limit of a function using a table of values and the graph of the
function (STEM_BC11LC-IIIa-1)
• Distinguish between lim 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓(𝑐) (STEM_BC11LC-IIIa-2)
𝑥→𝑐
Objectives
At the end of this module, the learner shall be able to:
• evaluate limits using a table of values
• Illustrate the limit of a function using the graph of the function
• distinguish between lim 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓(𝑐)
𝑥→𝑐
• apply the limit laws in evaluating the limit of algebraic functions (polynomial,
rational, and radical)
Let’s Recall
ACTIVITY: Use cutouts of news items, articles, or drawings to illustrate the idea of a limit.
Explain briefly (3 to 5 sentences) why you think this cutout represents a limit. (Use a
separate sheet for this)
MY IDEA OF A LIMIT
cutout
EXPLANATION:
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Let’s Understand
Limits are backbone of Calculus, and Calculus is called the Mathematics of Change. The
evaluation of a particular limit is what underlies the formulation of the derivative and the
integral of a function.
Consider a function f of a single variable x. Consider a constant c which the variable x will
approach (c may or may not be in the domain of f). The limit, to be denoted by L, is the
unique real value that f(x) will approach as x approaches c. In symbols, we write this
process as lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐿. This is read, “The limit of f(x) as x approaches c is L.”
𝑥→𝑐
Observe that as the values of x get closer and closer to 2, the values of f(x) get closer and
closer to 7. This behavior can be shown no matter what set of values, or what direction is
taken in approaching 2. In symbols, lim (1 + 3𝑥) = 7.
𝑥→2
3
𝑥 2 −5𝑥+4
Example 2: Find lim .
𝑥→1 𝑥−1
𝑥 2 −5𝑥+4
The table show that as x approaches 1, f(x) approaches -3. In symbols, lim = −3.
𝑥→1 𝑥−1
x
y
(1, -3)
𝑥 2 −5𝑥+4 (𝑥−4)(𝑥−1)
Take note that 𝑓(𝑥) = = = 𝑥 − 4, provided x ≠ 1, Hence, the graph
𝑥−1 (𝑥−1)
𝑥+1 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 < 4
𝑓(𝑥) = {
(𝑥 − 4)2 + 3 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 ≥ 4.
4
The graph is shown below.
y
y = f(x)
(4, 5)
(4, 3)
x
y
Again, we can see from the graph that f(x) has no limit as x approaches 4. The two separate
Observe that the values that f(x) approaches are not equal, namely, f(x) approaches 5 from
the left while it approaches 3 from the right. In such case, we say that the limit of the given
function does not exist (DNE). In symbols, lim 𝑓(𝑥) 𝐷𝑁𝐸. Remember, we do not say that
𝑥→4
In example 3, “DNE” indicated that the function moves in different directions as its variable
approaches c from the left and from the right. In other cases, the limit fails to exist because
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it is undefined, such as for lim which leads to division of 1 by zero.
𝑥→0 𝑥
Furthermore, we say lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐿 if and only if lim− 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐿 and lim+ 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐿.
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
In other words, for a limit L to exist, the limits from the left and from the right must both exist
and be equal to L. Therefore, lim 𝑓(𝑥) 𝐷𝑁𝐸 whenever lim− 𝑓(𝑥) ≠ lim+ 𝑓(𝑥).
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
These limits, lim− 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 lim+ 𝑓(𝑥), are also referred to as one-sided limits, since you
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
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THE LIMIT OF A FUNCTION AT c VERSUS THE VALUE OF THE FUNCTION
AT c
Critical to the study of limits is the understanding that the value of lim 𝑓(𝑥) may be distinct
𝑥→𝑐
from the value of the function at x = c, that is, f(c). The limit may be evaluated at values
not included in the domain of f.
Examples:
lim 𝑓(𝑥) f(c) Comparison
𝑥→𝑐
|𝑥| 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 ≠ 0
3. 𝑓(𝑥) = {
2 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 = 0 not the same
lim|𝑥| = 0 f(0) = 2
𝑥→0
𝑥+1 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 < 4
4. 𝑓(𝑥) = { 2
(𝑥 − 4) + 3 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 ≥ 4
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 5
𝑥→4−
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 3
𝑥→4+
There are eight theorems on limits. These will enable us to directly evaluate limits without
the need for a table or a graph.
1. The Constant Theorem: The limit of a constant is itself. If k is any constant, then
lim 𝑘 = 𝑘.
𝑥→𝑐
Examples:
a. lim 3 = 3 b. lim 8 = 8
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
Examples:
a. lim 𝑥 = 2 b. lim 𝑥 = 7
𝑥→2 𝑥→7
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3. The Constant Multiple Theorem: The limit of a constant k times a function is equal
to the constant k times the limit of the function.
lim 𝑘 • 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑘 • lim 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
Examples:
a. lim 4𝑥 = 4 lim 𝑥 = 4(3) = 12
𝑥→3 𝑥→3
4. The Sum and Difference Theorem: The limit of a sum of functions is the sum of
the limits of the individual functions. Subtraction is also included in this law, that is,
the limit of a difference of functions is the difference of their limits.
lim [f(x) + g(x)] = lim f(x) + lim g(x)
x→c x→c x→c
Example:
If lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 4 𝑎𝑛𝑑 lim 𝑔(𝑥) = −5 , 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
5. The Product Theorem: The limit of a product of functions is equal to the product
of their limits.
lim [f(x) • g(x)] = lim f(x) • lim g(x)
x→c x→c x→c
Example:
If lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 4 𝑎𝑛𝑑 lim 𝑔(𝑥) = −5 , 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
6. The Quotient Theorem: The limit of a quotient of functions is equal to the quotient
of the limits of the individual functions, provided that the limit of the divisor is not
equal to 0.
𝑓(𝑥) 𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑓(𝑥)
𝑙𝑖𝑚 = 𝑥→𝑐 ; 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑔(𝑥) ≠ 0
𝑥→𝑐 𝑔(𝑥) 𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑔(𝑥) 𝑥→𝑐
𝑥→𝑐
Examples:
a. If lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 4 𝑎𝑛𝑑 lim 𝑔(𝑥) = −5
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
𝑓(𝑥) 𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑓(𝑥) 4 4
𝑙𝑖𝑚 = 𝑥→𝑐 = =−
𝑥→𝑐 𝑔(𝑥) 𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑔(𝑥) −5 5
𝑥→𝑐
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b. If lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 lim 𝑔(𝑥) = −5
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
𝑓(𝑥) 𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑓(𝑥) 0
𝑙𝑖𝑚 = 𝑥→𝑐 = =0
𝑥→𝑐 𝑔(𝑥) 𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑔(𝑥) −5
𝑥→𝑐
𝑓(𝑥) 𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑓(𝑥) 4
𝑙𝑖𝑚 = 𝑥→𝑐 = 𝑑𝑜𝑒𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑒𝑥𝑖𝑠𝑡 (𝐷𝑁𝐸)
𝑥→𝑐 𝑔(𝑥) 𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑔(𝑥) 0
𝑥→𝑐
7. The nth Power Theorem: The limit of the nth power of a function is equal to the
power of the limit of the function.
𝑙𝑖𝑚[𝑓(𝑥)]𝑛 = [𝑙𝑖𝑚(𝑓(𝑥)]𝑛
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
Examples:
a. If lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 4 , 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 lim[𝑓(𝑥)]3 = [lim 𝑓(𝑥)] 3 = 43 = 64
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
1
b. lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 4 , 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 lim[𝑓(𝑥)]−2 = [lim 𝑓(𝑥)] −2 = 4−2 = 16
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
8. The Radical/Root Theorem: If n is positive integer, the limit of the nth root of a
function is just the nth root of the limit of the function, provided the nth root of the
limit is a real number. Thus, it is important to keep in mind that if n is even, the limit
of the function must be positive.
𝑛
𝑙𝑖𝑚 √𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑛√𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
Examples:
This part will show how the limit theorems are used in evaluating algebraic functions.
Particularly, how to use them to evaluate the limits of polynomial, rational and radical
functions.
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LIMITS OF ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS
= 2(−1) + 8 (lim 𝑥 = 𝑐)
𝑥→𝑐
= (−2) + 8
=𝟔
Solution: First note that lim 𝑥 = 1. Since the limit of the denominator is nonzero, we can
𝑥→1
1
=1 = 𝟏
2𝑥+5
Example 4: Evaluate 𝑙𝑖𝑚 .
𝑥→3 𝑥+3
Solution: First, check the limit of the polynomial function in the denominator.
lim (𝑥 + 3) = lim 𝑥 + lim 3 = 3 + 3 = 6
𝑥→3 𝑥→3 𝑥→3
Since the limit of the denominator is nonzero, it follows that
2𝑥+5 𝑙𝑖𝑚 (2𝑥+5)
𝑥→3
𝑙𝑖𝑚 = 𝑄𝑢𝑜𝑡𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑚
𝑥→3 𝑥+3 𝑙𝑖𝑚 (𝑥+3)
𝑥→3
𝑙𝑖𝑚 2𝑥 + 𝑙𝑖𝑚 5
𝑥→3 𝑥→3
= 𝑆𝑢𝑚 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑚
𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑥 + 𝑙𝑖𝑚 3
𝑥→3 𝑥→3
2(3)+5 𝟏𝟏
= 3+3
= 𝟔
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(𝑥−3)(𝑥 2 −2)
Example 5: Evaluate lim 𝑥 2 +1
.
𝑥→1
Solution: First, check the limit of the polynomial function in the denominator.
lim 𝑥 2 + 1 = lim 𝑥 2 + lim 1 = 1 + 1 = 2
𝑥→1 𝑥→1 𝑥→1
1−5𝑥
Example 7: Evaluate lim .
𝑥→1 1+3𝑥 2 +4𝑥 4
Solution: Since the denominator is not zero when evaluated at x =1, then
1−5𝑥 1−5(1) −4 𝟏
lim = = = −
𝑥→1 1+3𝑥 2 +4𝑥 4 1+3(1)2 +4(1)4 8 𝟐
lim √𝑥 + 4 = √ lim (𝑥 + 4) = √4 = 𝟐
𝑥→0 𝑥→0
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√2𝑥+5
Example 9: Evaluate lim .
𝑥→2 1−3𝑥
Solution: First, note that lim (1 − 3𝑥) = −5 ≠ 0. Moreover, lim (2𝑥 + 5) = 9 > 0. Thus,
𝑥→2 𝑥→2
using the Quotient and Radical/Root Theorem, we obtain
√𝑥 −2
Example 10: Evaluate lim .
𝑥→4 𝑥−4
Solution: The Quotient Theorem cannot be applied because the limit of the polynomial
function in the denominator is 0 (lim (𝑥 − 4) = 0). To be able to find the limit of
𝑥→4
the function, rationalize the numerator.
√𝑥 −2 (√𝑥 −2)(√𝑥+2) (𝑥−4)
lim = lim = lim (𝑥−4)(
𝑥→4 𝑥−4 𝑥→4 (𝑥−4)(√𝑥+2) 𝑥→4 √𝑥+2)
1
= lim
𝑥→4 √𝑥+2
lim 1 1 𝟏
𝑥→4
= lim = =
√𝑥 + lim 2 √4 + 2 𝟒
𝑥→4 𝑥→4
Let’s Apply
X f(x) x f(x)
0.5 1.6
0.7 1.35
0.95 1.05
0.995 1.005
0.9995 1.0005
0.99995 1.00005
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B. Determine the limit of the following by referring to the given graphs.
____ 2. lim k ( x )
x → −2
____ 3. lim k ( x)
x→6
____ 4. lim k ( x)
x→0
____ 5. lim k ( x)
x→2
2 x; x −1 x + 2; x −2
Given: f ( x) = 2 Given: f ( x) =
x − 3; x −1 − 1; x −2
3𝑥 2 +2𝑥−1
_____ 2. lim ( 5𝑥 3 + 6𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 4) _____ 7. lim
𝑥→−2 𝑥→−1 𝑥+1
𝑥 3 −6𝑥 2 +10𝑥−4
lim(2𝑥 4 − 6𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 12) _____ 8. lim
_____ 3. 𝑥→3 𝑥→2 𝑥−2
𝑥 2 −36 𝑥 2 +4𝑥+3
_____ 4. lim _____ 9. lim √
𝑥→−6 𝑥+6 𝑥→2 𝑥 2 +2
𝑥 2 +3𝑥−10 𝑥 2 −81
_____ 5. lim _____ 10. lim
𝑥→2 𝑥−2 𝑥→9 √𝑥−3
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Let’s Analyze
Evaluate if the indicated limit exists.
(2+𝑥)3 −8 √𝑥 2 +7 − 4
_____ 1. lim _____ 4. lim
𝑥→0 𝑥 𝑥→3 𝑥 2 −3𝑥
1 1
− 4𝑥 3 +8𝑥 2 −1
_____ 2. lim 2+𝑥 2
_____ 5. lim
𝑥→0 𝑥 𝑥→∞ √𝑥 6 +1
_____ 3. lim √𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 3
𝑥→1+
Let’s Evaluate
X f(x) x f(x)
-1 1
-0.8 0.75
-0.35 0.45
-0.1 0.2
-0.09 0.09
-0.0003 0.0003
-0.000001 0.000001
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C. Evaluate the following limits by using the limit theorems.
3𝑥 3 −10𝑥 2 +7𝑥−12
_____ 1. lim (1 + 3√𝑥)(2 − 𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 3 ) _____ 4. lim
𝑥→1 𝑥→3 𝑥−3
𝑥 2 −𝑥−2 𝑥−4
_____ 2. lim _____ 5. lim
𝑥→0 𝑥 3 −6𝑥 2 −7𝑥+1 𝑥→4 √𝑥−2
𝑥 2 −36
_____ 3. lim
𝑥→−6 𝑥+6
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