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Lecture #6

This document summarizes key concepts from a lecture on limits and continuity in calculus: 1) The concept of a limit describes the behavior of a function as it approaches a value but does not reach it. 2) A function is continuous if its graph can be drawn without lifting the pencil, meaning the limit exists and equals the function value at every point in its domain. 3) Polynomial and rational functions are continuous everywhere except possibly at points where the denominator is zero.

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Mohamed Elsafany
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26 views23 pages

Lecture #6

This document summarizes key concepts from a lecture on limits and continuity in calculus: 1) The concept of a limit describes the behavior of a function as it approaches a value but does not reach it. 2) A function is continuous if its graph can be drawn without lifting the pencil, meaning the limit exists and equals the function value at every point in its domain. 3) Polynomial and rational functions are continuous everywhere except possibly at points where the denominator is zero.

Uploaded by

Mohamed Elsafany
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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MAT 111: Mathematics 1

Lecture #6
Limits and Continuity
The concept of a “limit” is the fundamental building block on which all
calculus concepts are based.

The limit describes the behavior of f close to a but not at a.


Limits and Continuity

The one-sided limits in (14) and (15) can also be written as


and respectively.
Limits and Continuity

Example: Explain why

Solution

and

Thus, the one-sided limits at 0 are not the same.


Limits and Continuity
Infinite Limits
Limits and Continuity
Infinite Limits
Limits and Continuity
Infinite Limits
Example: Describe the limits at x = a in appropriate limit notation.

Solution:

and

The function increases without bound as x approaches a from the right and
decreases without bound as x approaches a from the left.
Limits and Continuity
Infinite Limits
Example: Describe the limits at x = a in appropriate limit notation.

Solution

and

The function increases without bound as x approaches a from both the right and
the left.
Limits and Continuity
Computing Limits
Limits and Continuity
Computing Limits
Limits and Continuity
Computing Limits
Example:
Solution:

Example:

Solution:
Limits and Continuity
Computing Limits
Example: Find
Solution:

Example: Find

Solution:
Limits and Continuity
Example: Find

Solution:

Example:

Solution:
Limits and Continuity
Continuity:
The graph of a function can be described as a “continuous curve” if it has no
breaks or holes.
The graph of a function has a break or hole if any of the following conditions
occur:
1- The function f is undefined at c.
1
Example: 𝑓 𝑥 =
𝑥
Limits and Continuity
Continuity:
The graph of a function can be described as a “continuous curve” if it has no
breaks or holes.
The graph of a function has a break or hole if any of the following conditions
occur:
2-The limit of f(x) does not exist as x approaches c.
Limits and Continuity
Continuity:
The graph of a function can be described as a “continuous curve” if it has no
breaks or holes.
The graph of a function has a break or hole if any of the following conditions
occur:
3- The value of the function and the value of the limit at c are different.
Limits and Continuity
Continuity:

If one or more of the conditions of this definition fails to hold, then we will say
that f has a discontinuity at x = c.
Limits and Continuity
Continuity:
Example: Determine whether the following function is continuous at x = 2.

Solution:
we must check whether the limit of the function as x → 2 is the same as the value
of the function at x = 2.

At x = 2. 𝑓 𝑥 = ∞

∴ The function f is undefined at x = 2, and hence is not continuous at x = 2.


Limits and Continuity
Continuity on an interval

The function is continuous at the left endpoint because

The function is continuous at the right endpoint because


Limits and Continuity
Continuity on an interval
Example: What can you say about the continuity of the function
Solution: The domain of this function is [−3, 3].
The continuity of f will be investigated on the open interval (−3, 3) and at the two
endpoints. If c is any point in the interval (−3, 3), then

∴ f is continuous at each point in the interval (−3, 3).


At the endpoints:

∴ f is continuous on the closed interval [−3,3].


Limits and Continuity
Continuity of polynomials and rational functions

The function is continuous everywhere when it is continuous at an arbitrary point.


If p(x) is a polynomial and a is any real number, then

This shows that polynomials are continuous everywhere.


Limits and Continuity
Continuity of polynomials and rational functions
Example: For what values of x is there a discontinuity in the graph of

Solution:
The function is continuous at every number where the denominator is nonzero.
𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 6 = 0
𝑥−2 𝑥−3 =0
yields discontinuities at x = 2 and at x = 3.
Limits and Continuity
Some properties of continuous functions

The absolute value of a continuous function is continuous.

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