Module 1.

LIMITS AND CONTINUITY

At the end of the module the students should be able to:

1. illustrate limit of a function using table of values and graphs of functions;
2. illustrate the limit laws;
3. evaluate limits using limit laws;
4. illustrate continuity of a function at a number;
5. determine whether a function is continuous at a given point; and
6. illustrate continuity of a function on an interval.

Limits
The limit of a function at a point aa in its domain (if it exists) is the value that the
function approaches as its argument approaches a. The concept of a limit is the
fundamental concept of calculus and analysis. It is used to define the derivative and
the definite integral, and it can also be used to analyze the local behavior of functions
near points of interest.
The limit of f(x) is L as x approaches a and write this as

lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐿,
𝑥→𝑥0

provided we can make f(x) as close as L as we want for all x sufficiently close to a, from
both sides, without actually letting x be a.
Example 1. Estimate the value of the given limit.

We will choose values of x that get closer and closer to x=2 and plug these values
into the function. Doing this gives the following table of values.
 Note that we made sure and picked values of xx that were on both sides of x=2 and
that we moved in very close to x=2 to make sure that any trends that we might be seeing
are in fact correct. Also notice that we can’t actually plug in x=2 into the function as this
would give us a division by zero error. This is not a problem since the limit doesn’t care
what is happening at the point in question.

From this table it appears that the function is going to 4 as xx approaches 2, so

Example 2. 𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑑 lim(𝑥 − 3).

𝑥→2

x 1 1.1 1.3 1.5 1.7 1.9 1.99 1.999

f(x) -2 -1.9 -1.7 -1.5 -1.3 -1.1 -1.01 -1.001

As the value of x gets closer to 2 from the left of 2, the value of f(x) gets closer
and closer to -1. Based on the graph if we moved from the right of 2, as the value gets
closer and closer to 2, it approaches -1.

Hence, 𝐥𝐢𝐦(𝒙 − 𝟑) = −𝟏.

𝒙→𝟐

𝒙𝟐 −𝟏
Example 3. Find 𝐥𝐢𝐦 .
𝒙→𝟏 𝒙+𝟏
Theorems on Limit of Functions
1. The limit of constant is that constant
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒄 = 𝒄
𝒙→𝒂

Example 1. Evaluate the following:

a. lim 5 = 𝟓 b. lim −3 = −𝟑
𝑥→2 𝑥→4

2. The limit of identity function

𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒙 = 𝒂
𝒙→𝒂

Example 2. Evaluate the following:

a. lim 𝑥 = 𝟓 b. lim 𝑥 = 𝟒
𝑥→5 𝑥→4

3. The limit of a constant c times a function

𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒄 ∙ 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒄 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙)
𝒙→𝒂 𝒙→𝒂

Example 3. Evaluate the following:

a. lim 4𝑥 = 4 lim 𝒙 = 4(5) = 𝟐𝟎 b. lim 𝑥 = 𝟒
𝑥→5 𝒙→𝟓 𝑥→4

4. The limit of the sum of two functions

𝐥𝐢𝐦[𝒇(𝒙) + 𝒈(𝒙)] = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) + 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈(𝒙)
𝒙→𝒂 𝒙→𝒂 𝒙→𝒂

Example 4. Evaluate the following:

a. lim(𝑥 + 7) = lim 𝑥 + lim 7 = 2 + 7 = 𝟗
𝑥→2 𝑥→2 𝑥→2

b. lim(𝑥 + 3) = lim 𝑥 +lim 3 = 4 + 3 = 𝟕

𝑥→4 𝑥→4 𝑥→4

5. The limit of the difference of two functions

𝐥𝐢𝐦[𝒇(𝒙) − 𝒈(𝒙)] = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) − 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈(𝒙)
𝒙→𝒂 𝒙→𝒂 𝒙→𝒂

Example 5. Evaluate the following:

a. lim(𝑥 − 7) = lim 𝑥 − lim 7 = 2 − 7 = −𝟓
𝑥→2 𝑥→2 𝑥→2

b. lim(𝑥 − 3) = lim 𝑥 −lim(3) = 4 − 3 = 𝟏

𝑥→4 𝑥→4 𝑥→4

6. The limit of the product of two functions

𝐥𝐢𝐦[𝒇(𝒙) ∙ 𝒈(𝒙)] = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) ∙ 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈(𝒙)
𝒙→𝒂 𝒙→𝒂 𝒙→𝒂

Example 6. Evaluate the following:

a. lim 𝑥(𝑥 − 7) = lim 𝑥 ∙ lim (𝑥 − 7) = 2(−5) = −𝟏𝟎
𝑥→2 𝑥→2 𝑥→2
 b. lim 3𝑥(𝑥 + 3) = lim 3𝑥 ∙ lim(𝑥 + 3) = 12( 7) = 𝟖𝟒
𝑥→4 𝑥→4 𝑥→4

7. The limit of the quotient

𝒇(𝒙) 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙)
𝒙→𝒂
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈(𝒙) = , provided that 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈(𝒙) ≠ 𝟎.
𝒙→𝒂 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈(𝒙) 𝒙→𝒂
𝒙→𝒂

Example 7. Evaluate the following:

2𝑥+5 lim (2𝑥+5) [2(2)+5] 𝟗
a. lim = 𝑥→2 = =𝟒
𝑥→2 𝑥+2 lim (𝑥+2)
𝑥→2
2+2

5𝑥+4 lim (5𝑥+4) [5(1)+4] 𝟗

b. lim = 𝑥→1 = =𝟐
𝑥→1 𝑥+1 lim (𝑥+1)
𝑥→1
1+1

8. The limit of the nth power of a function

𝐥𝐢𝐦[𝒇(𝒙)]𝒏 = [𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙)]𝒏
𝒙→𝒂 𝒙→𝒂

Example 8. Evaluate the following:

a. lim(3𝑥 + 4)3 = [lim(3𝑥 + 4)]3 = 73 = 𝟑𝟒𝟑
𝑥→1 𝑥→1

b. lim (4𝑥 + 9)2 = [ lim (4𝑥 + 9)]2 = (−3)2 = 9

𝑥→−3 𝑥→−3

9. The limit of the nth root of a function

𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒏√𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒏√𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙)

𝒙→𝒂 𝒙→𝒂

Example 9. Evaluate the following:

3 3 3
a. lim √𝑥 2 + 4 = 3√ lim(𝑥 2 + 4) = √22 + 4 = √8 = 𝟐
𝑥→2 𝑥→2

10. If f is a polynomial function and c is a real number

𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒇(𝒄)
𝒙→𝒄

Example 10. Evaluate the following:

a. lim(3𝑥 + 2) = 𝑓(2)
𝑥→2

𝑓(2) = [3(2) + 2]
𝒇(𝟐) = 𝟖
b. lim(3𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 3) = 𝑓(1)
𝑥→1

𝑓(1) = [3(12 ) + 2(1) − 3]

𝒇(𝟏) = 𝟐
Module 1
Name:______________________________________Score:_________________
Section:_____________________________________Date:__________________

Activity 1
Limits of Functions

I. Evaluate the following limits:

1. lim(2𝑥 − 7) 6. lim (3𝑥 − 4)
𝑥→3 𝑥→−3.5

𝑥 2 −4𝑥+3
2. lim (𝑥 + 3) 7. lim
𝑥→−5 𝑥→1 𝑥−1

3. lim(2𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 1) 8. lim+ √2𝑥 − 6

𝑥→3 𝑥→3

𝑥 2 −9 𝑥 3 −8𝑥 2 +18𝑥−8
4. lim 9. lim
𝑥→3 𝑥−3 𝑥→4 𝑥−4

𝑥 2 −4
5. lim 10. lim− √4 − 2𝑥
𝑥→−2 𝑥+2 𝑥→2

II. Evaluate the following limits using the limit laws.

𝑥 2 −36
1. lim(2𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 + 3) 6. lim
𝑥→3 𝑥→6 𝑥−6

𝑥 2 −25
2. lim(2𝑥 2 + 13𝑥 − 12) 7. lim
𝑥→1 𝑥→−5 𝑥+5

𝑥 2 −100
3. lim (2𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 2 − 2) 8. lim
𝑥→−3 𝑥→10 𝑥−10

𝑥 2 +3𝑥−10
4. lim (3𝑥 3 − 2𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 10) 9. lim
𝑥→1.5 𝑥→2 𝑥−2

3𝑥 2 +2𝑥−1
5. lim (2𝑥 4 + 3𝑥 3 − 𝑥 2 ) 10. lim
𝑥→−1 𝑥→−1 𝑥+1
Infinite limits
A limit in which f(x) increases or decreases without bound as the value of x
approaches an arbitrary number c is called an infinite limit.
Let f(x) be a function that can be defined on either side of a point a, and may or
may not be defined at a:
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = +∞ or lim 𝑓(𝑥) = −∞
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

means as x approaches a, but not equal to a, the value of f(x) increase/decrease.

The line at which the limit of a function increases or decreases without bound is
called a vertical asymptote. The line x = a is a vertical asymptote of f(x) if one of the
following is true:

lim 𝑓(𝑥) = ∞ lim 𝑓(𝑥) = ∞ lim 𝑓(𝑥) = ∞

𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 − 𝑥→𝑎 +

lim 𝑓(𝑥) = −∞ lim 𝑓(𝑥) = −∞ lim 𝑓(𝑥) = −∞

𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 − 𝑥→𝑎 +

𝑥
Example 1. Find the lim , sketch the graph and define the vertical asymptote.
𝑥→4 𝑥−4

𝑥 As values for x get closer

Step 1. Find the lim+ 𝑥−4
𝑥→4 and closer to 4 but remain
larger than 4, the
Create a table of values for f(x) as 𝑥 → denominator becomes
4+ . Do not include 4. smaller and smaller positive
number so the quotient
becomes increasingly larger
without bound.
𝑥
lim+ =∞
𝑥→4 𝑥−4

Step 2. Create a table of values for f(x) As values for x get closer
as 𝑥 → 4− . Do not include 4. and closer to 4 but remain
smaller than 4, the
denominator becomes a
smaller and smaller
negative number so the
quotient becomes
increasingly large negative
number without bound.
𝑥
lim− = −∞
𝑥→4 𝑥−4
 Step 3. Sketch the graph Step 4. Determine if the function has a limit.
𝑥
Because lim− 𝑓(𝑥) = −∞; lim+ 𝑥−4 = ∞ the
𝑥→4 𝑥→4
line x = 4 is the vertical asymptote.

Example 2. Evaluate each of the following limits.

2
a. lim+ 𝑥−3
𝑥→3

x 4 3.7 3.4 3.1 3.01 3.001 3.0001 3.00001 3.000001

f(x) 2 2.85714 5 20 200 2000 20000 200000 2000000

2
Let 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥−3. Notice that as the value of x becomes smaller and approaches x,
the value of f(x) becomes larger. It appears that

2
lim+ lim 𝑓(𝑥) = +∞
𝑥→3 𝑥 − 3 𝑥→3+
2
b. lim− 𝑥−3
𝑥→3

x 2 2.1 2.3 2.6 2.9 2.99 2.999 2.9999 2.99999

f(x) -2 -2.2222 -2.8571 -5 -20 -200 -2000 -20000 -200000

2
Let 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥−3. Notice that as the value of x approaches 3 from the left, or as the
value of x gets closer to 3, the value of f(x) becomes smaller and smaller. It appears
that
2
lim− = lim− 𝑓(𝑥) = −∞
𝑥→3 𝑥 − 3 𝑥→3

2
c. lim 𝑥−3
𝑥→3

Based on the results of a and b, the lim 𝑓(𝑥)does not

𝑥→3
exist, because lim+𝑓(𝑥) ≠ lim−𝑓(𝑥). However, we can
𝑥→3 𝑥→3
determine the vertical asymptote by equating the
denominator to zero and solve for x.

The vertical asymptote:

x–3=0
x=3
Limits at Infinity

If n is a positive integer, then

1 1
a. lim =0 b. lim = 0.
𝑥→−∞ 𝑥 𝑛 𝑥→+∞ 𝑥 𝑛

Example 1. Evaluate the following:

5𝑥−4
a. lim
𝑥→+∞ 2𝑥+3

4
5𝑥−4 5−
𝑥
Solution: lim = lim 3
𝑥→+∞ 2𝑥+3 𝑥→+∞ 2+𝑥
1
lim 5−lim 4 ∙ lim
𝑥→+∞ 𝑥→+∞ 𝑥→+∞𝑥
= 1
lim 2+ lim 3 ∙ lim
𝑥→+∞ 𝑥→+∞ 𝑥→+∞𝑥

5−4∙0
=
2+3∙0

𝟓
=
𝟐
2
b. lim (5 − 𝑥 2 )
𝑥→+∞

2
Solution: lim (5 − 𝑥 2 ) =
𝑥→+∞

=5–2▪0
2
lim (5 − 𝑥 2 ) = 5
𝑥→+∞

Limits at Infinity of Polynomials

The following are necessary in evaluating polynomials,

a. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒙𝒓 = +∞ for positive integer r

𝒙→+∞

+∞ 𝑖𝑓 𝑟 𝑖𝑠 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛
b. lim 𝑥 𝑟 = {
𝑥→−∞ −∞ 𝑖𝑓 𝑟 𝑖𝑠 𝑜𝑑𝑑

Example 1. Evaluate lim (−6𝑥 5 + 3𝑥 2 − 2)

𝑥→+∞
3 2
Solution: lim (−6𝑥 5 + 3𝑥 2 − 2) = lim [𝑥 5 (−6 + 𝑥 3 − 𝑥 5 )]
𝑥→+∞ 𝑥→+∞
3 2
= lim 𝑥 5 ∙ lim (−6 + 𝑥 3 − 𝑥 5 )
𝑥→+∞ 𝑥→+∞

= +∞(−6 + 0 − 0)
= +∞(6)
= +∞
Module 1
Name:______________________________________Score:_________________
Section:_____________________________________Date:__________________

Activity 2
Infinite Limits and Limits at Infinity

I. Evaluate the following limits

−2
1. lim− 𝑥−3
𝑥→3

−2
2. lim+ 𝑥−3
𝑥→3

1
3. lim− 𝑥−4
𝑥→4

1
4. lim+ 𝑥−5
𝑥→5

5. lim (2𝑥 6 − 4𝑥 5 + 2𝑥 3 − 2)
𝑥→+∞

𝑥−2
6. lim
𝑥→+∞ 𝑥 2 −3

3
7. lim+ 𝑥+1
𝑥→−1

8. lim (3𝑥 3 − 12𝑥 2 − 10𝑥 − 15)

𝑥→−∞

5𝑥−2𝑥 2
9. lim
𝑥→+∞ 2𝑥+6

10. lim (3𝑥 4 − 15𝑥 3 − 9)

𝑥→+∞
Continuity
A function f(x) is said to be continuous at x = a if all the following conditions are
satisfied.
a. f(a) exists

b. lim 𝑓(𝑥) exists

𝑥→𝑎

c. lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑎)

𝑥→𝑎

If any one or more of the conditions fail, the function f(x) is said to be discontinuous
at a.

Example 1. Determine whether 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 3 is continuous at x = 1.

Solution: a. 𝑓(1) = 2(12 ) + 2(1) − 3 = 2 + 2 − 3 = 4 − 3 = 1
b. lim(2𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 3) = 2(12 ) + 2(1) − 3 = 1
𝑥→1

c. lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓(1)

𝑥→1

*The three conditions are satisfied. The function is continuous at x = 1.

𝑥 2 −25
Example 2. Determine if the function 𝑓(𝑥) = is continuous at x = 5.
𝑥−5

52 −25 0
Solution: a. 𝑓(5) = = 0 the function is indeterminate.
5−5

𝑥 2 −25 (𝑥−5)(𝑥+5)
b. lim = lim = lim(𝑥 + 5) = 5 + 5 = 10
𝑥→5 𝑥−5 𝑥→5 𝑥−5 𝑥→5

c. lim 𝑓(𝑥) ≠ 𝑓(5)

𝑥→5

*The three conditions are not satisfied. The function f(x) is

discontinuous at x = 5.

The graph shows a break

of the function at the point
where x =5.
Example 3. Given the graph of f(x), shown below, determine if f(x) is continuous at x =
−2, x = 0, and x = 3.

First x = −2.

The function value and the limit aren’t the same and so the function is not
continuous at this point. This kind of discontinuity in a graph is called a jump
discontinuity. Jump discontinuities occur where the graph has a break in it as this
graph does and the values of the function to either side of the break are finite

Now x = 0.

The function is continuous at this point since the function and limit have the
same value.

At x = 3.

The function is not continuous at this point. This kind of discontinuity is

called a removable discontinuity. Removable discontinuities are those where
there is a hole in the graph as there is in this case.

Continuity on a Closed Interval

A function f(x) is continuous on a closed interval [a,b] if
1. it is continuous on the open interval (a, b).
2. it is continuous from the right of a.
a. f(a) exists.
b. lim+ 𝑓(𝑥) exists.
𝑥→𝑎
 c. lim+ 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑎).
𝑥→𝑎

3. it is continuous from the left of b.

a. f(b) exists.
b. lim− 𝑓(𝑥) exists.
𝑥→𝑏
c. lim− 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑎).
𝑥→𝑏

Example 1. Determine whether the function 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 2 is continuous at (−∞, +∞)

Since a polynomial function is

continuous at every real number,
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 2 is continuous at
(−∞, +∞).

Example 2. Determine whether the given function 𝑓(𝑥) = √9 − 𝑥 2 is continuous at [-3, 3].

Solution: a. 𝑓(3) = √9 − 32 = √9 − 9 = 0

b. lim− 𝑓(𝑥) = lim− √9 − 𝑥 2 = √9 − 32 = √9 − 9 = 0

𝑥→3 𝑥→3

c. lim− 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓(3)

𝑥→3

*It is continuous from the left of x = 3.

d. 𝑓(−3) = √9 − (−3)2 = √9 − 9 = 0

e. lim + 𝑓(𝑥) = lim +√9 − 𝑥 2 = √9 − (−3)2 = √9 − 9 = 0

𝑥→−3 𝑥→−3

f. lim + 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓(−3)

𝑥→−3

*It is continuous from the right of x = -3.

Therefore, the function is continuous at the interval [-3, 3].
Module 1
Name:______________________________________Score:_________________
Section:_____________________________________Date:__________________

Activity 3
Continuity

I. Determine if the following functions are continuous at a given point or at a given

interval. Sketch the graphs.

1. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 − 100 at x = 10

𝑥 2 −125
2. 𝑓(𝑥) = at x = 4
𝑥−15

𝑥 2 +2𝑥+1
3. 𝑓(𝑥) = at x = -2
𝑥+1

4. 𝑓(𝑥) = √4 − 𝑥 2 at [-2, 2]

5. 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥 + 2 at [-2, ∞)
References

✓ https://brilliant.org/wiki/limits-of-functions/
✓ https://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/classes/calci/thelimit.aspx
✓ https://www.mathsisfun.com/calculus/limits.html
✓ https://www.softschools.com/math/calculus/infinite_limits/#:~:text=1.1,the%20limi
t%20does%20not%20exist.
✓ https://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/classes/calci/continuity.aspx