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Lesson 2 - One Sided Limit

1. The document discusses one-sided limits and how they arise when a function is not defined in an open interval containing the point of interest. It provides an example of evaluating the one-sided limits of the function f(x)=√x+1 as x approaches -1. 2. Formal definitions are given for the right-hand limit and left-hand limit. The theorem on the existence of a limit is stated, indicating that a two-sided limit exists if and only if the one-sided limits exist and are equal. 3. Examples are provided to illustrate evaluating one-sided limits and determining whether a two-sided limit exists.

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Lewis Pharmaceuticals
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204 views3 pages

Lesson 2 - One Sided Limit

1. The document discusses one-sided limits and how they arise when a function is not defined in an open interval containing the point of interest. It provides an example of evaluating the one-sided limits of the function f(x)=√x+1 as x approaches -1. 2. Formal definitions are given for the right-hand limit and left-hand limit. The theorem on the existence of a limit is stated, indicating that a two-sided limit exists if and only if the one-sided limits exist and are equal. 3. Examples are provided to illustrate evaluating one-sided limits and determining whether a two-sided limit exists.

Uploaded by

Lewis Pharmaceuticals
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Lesson 2: One Sided Limit

Learning Objectives:

At the end of the lesson, learners will be able to:

1. Evaluate one-sided limits; and


2. Describe the relationship among the limit of a function and the one-sided limits
associated to it.
One Sided Limit
The notion of one sided limits arises when one is interested to investigate the
behavior of a function, say f, as x approaches a number, say c, but only from one direction.
Furthermore, these type of limits are usually encountered when a given function f is not
defined in any open interval ( a,b ) containing the number c.
Illustration:

f ( x )=√ x+1
Consider a function f defined by .
x<−1
Observe that if , the function values are not real numbers (hence, f(x) is not defined
x<−1
when ). In this connection, the ordinary limit (also known as two sided limit)
lim √ x +1
x →−1
does not make any sense at all. However, if we consider values of x that are

greater than – 1, then we find that the limit of


√ x+1 as x approaches to – 1 from the right
can be considered.

f ( x )=√ x+1
The limit of the given function can also be examined by creating a
table of values for the function.
x approaches -1 from the left x approaches -1 from the
X -1.001 -1.0001 -1.00001 -1.000001 -0.999999 -0.99999 -0.9999 -0.999
f(x) Imaginary Imaginary imaginary imaginary 0.001 0.00316 0.01 0.0316

-1

f(x) is imaginary f(x) approaches 0

We shall now define these one sided limits formally:

DEFINITION 1: RIGHT HAND LIMIT


( c ,b )
Let f be a function defined at every number in some open interval . Then the
limit of f(x) as x approaches c from the right is L, written

lim f ( x )=L
x → c+

ε>0 δ> 0 |f ( x)−L|<ε


if for every , however small, there exists a such that whenever
0< x−c< δ
.

DEFINITION 2: LEFT HAND LIMIT


( a,c )
Let f be a function defined at every number in some open interval . Then the
limit of f(x) as x approaches c from the left is L, written

lim f ( x )=L
x → c−

ε>0 δ> 0 |f ( x)−L|<ε


if for every , however small, there exists a such that whenever
0<c −x< δ
.
+
x →c
Remark: The symbol means that x approaches c from values greater than c. The
−
x→c
symbol indicates that x approaches c from values less than c.

THEOREM (Existence of a Limit):

lim f ( x )
x →c
Let f be a function, and let c and L be real numbers. Then, exists if and only if
lim f ( x ) lim f ( x )
x → c− x → c+
and both exist and equal. Moreover,
lim f ( x )= lim f ( x )= lim f ( x )
x →c x → c+ x →c
−

Example A: Evaluate the following one-sided limits.


6−2 x
lim 2
x → 3− x −2 x−3
1.

2
x −1
lim
x → 1− √ x−1
2.

Example B: Find the indicated limit if it exists.

f ( x )=¿ {2 x2 , −1≤x<1 ¿ ¿¿¿


1.
Find:
lim f ( x ) lim f ( x ) lim f ( x )
x → 1+ x → 1− x →1
a) b) c)

Example C: Solve the following as indicated.

f ( x )=¿ {3 x+2 , x<4¿¿¿¿ lim f ( x )


x →4

1. Given . Find the value of k such that exists.

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