VIDEO LECTURES

MAC 2233 Business Calculus

Florida International University

Created by Juan Castro and Kathleen Guy
 limit behavior of a function
V1 Introduction to Finding Limits Graphically Camila pin
Definition veal
many real
y closer and closer to a number L as x gets closer and closer togang
If f(x) gets c from both sides,
then L is the limit of f(x) as x approaches c. The behavior is expressed by writing

Oy behavior
y X3
1. Graph 𝑓 (𝑥) = 𝑥 − 3. wouldnt it beapproaching
We want to discuss the behavior of the y-coordinate as the x- 3
coordinate gets closer to 4.

Notation:

fx 4
y B
Itsy fx t

2. Graph 𝑓 (𝑥) = 𝑥 𝑥 < 1.

3 𝑥≥1
y3 y 1
Find the following limits:

lim 𝑓(𝑥)
3
94.4
→

lim 𝑓(𝑥)
→
4

asapp.frmtiettyIfacapp.tromrighty 3
lim 𝑓(𝑥)
ONE
→

Limit doesntexist
yX
parabola

howdidyou chose When youstart findingthe

the other s in
the parabola limits nowdo youknow which
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V2 Introduction to Left and Right Limits Graphically

Definition
If f(x) approaches L as x tends toward c from the left (x < c), we write lim 𝑓 (𝑥) = 𝐿.
→

Likewise, if f(x) approaches M as x tends toward c from the right (x > c), then lim 𝑓 (𝑥) = 𝑀.
→

The lim 𝑓(𝑥 ) exists IF AND ONLY IF the left sided limit is equal to the right sided limit.
→

left fright
1. For the function evaluate the one-sided limits lim 𝑓 (𝑥 ) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 lim 𝑓 (𝑥 ).
→ →

Domain OA

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Does lim 𝑓 (𝑥 ) exists? If yes, what is the limit?

2 1 5

f f
DNE belimitsdontequaleachother
2. Find the following limits using the graph of 𝑓 (𝑥).
fly x
fly x

lim 𝑓 (𝑥) =
→ 2
lim 𝑓 (𝑥) =
→ 2
lim 𝑓(𝑥) =
→
2
lim 𝑓(𝑥) =
→
2,3 DNF
lim 𝑓 (𝑥) =
→ 2
𝑓 (3) =
3

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 V3 Introduction to Limits Algebraically and the Indeterminate Form

Limits of Linear Functions, Polynomial and Rational Functions

 For any constant k, lim 𝑘 = 𝑘.
constant straightlime no x in thefunction
→
 lim 𝑥 = 𝑐
→
SlopeOFI
 If p(x) and q(x) are polynomials, then lim 𝑝(𝑥) = 𝑝(𝑐) and
→

( ) ( )
lim = 𝑖𝑓 𝑞(𝑐) ≠ 0
→ ( ) ( )

Hint: The first step to evaluating a limit algebraically is to try to plug in!!
plugin
14h01. Find lim
→ 31 411
(3𝑥 − 4𝑥 + 8) = 112 8
Inagraphias x approaches 1 3 14,18 150
4 15
2. Find lim =
→
158 158
3

3
I whenbottom 0
becomes

If you plug in and the limit becomes , this is called the indeterminate form and it means you can simplify your
function one of two ways: factoring or multiplying by the conjugate.

3. Find lim =
→

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4. Find lim =
→

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Summary:

Finding limits is looking at the behavior of the graph. The x-coordinate will be given to you, and you are answering
what the y-coordinate is doing.
 V4 Infinite Limits and Limits at Infinity of Polynomial Functions

End Behavior of Polynomials

If 𝑓(𝑥) is a polynomial and 𝑥 approaches −∞ 𝑜𝑟 ∞, then 𝑓 (𝑥) will approach −∞ 𝑜𝑟 ∞.
termto
We look at the leading term to determine −∞ 𝑜𝑟 ∞. lookattheleading
determine
Limits AT infinity: the x is going towards ∞ 𝑜𝑟 − ∞ behavior
Is
8
a
8
Limits TO infinity: the y is going towards ∞ 𝑜𝑟 − ∞

Let 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑘𝑥 , where 𝑘 is any real number except 0 and 𝑛 is a positive whole number.
exponent is afraction
oda pwhat if the
3
x2

x2 y

1. Evaluate the following limits.

ppgagonyterminating3 2 A positive
lim (3𝑥 − 𝑥 + 1) =
→

lim (−5𝑥 + 2𝑥) = 3

A polite
xIfb X 1 Np
→ see ftp.p 53 51 1 5 I
5
xMs X 11
lim (5 + 𝑥 − 4𝑥 ) = I
0
→
Mf 4 41 1 4 1 4 A negate
5
5 5 1115 A
If 5 5 25 positive
lim 2𝑥 (𝑥 + 1) =
→

lim (3𝑥 + 2)(5𝑥 − 3) =

→
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 2.2 2.3 Lecture Notes
V1 Limits at Infinity of Rational Functions

Limits at Infinity -> Horizontal Asymptotes

If 𝑓(𝑥) is a rational function, x approaches −∞ 𝑜𝑟 ∞ and y approaches a real number, then 𝑓(𝑥) has a
horizontal asymptote at y equals the value of the limit.

Similarly to polynomials when x approaches −∞ 𝑜𝑟 ∞, we use the leading terms to evaluate the limit.

Reciprocal Limits (Very important limits!!)

If p is a positive real number and k is any real number, then

lim
→±
𝑘
𝑥
=0
x MA
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Three difference scenarios can occur:rational
884
merging
1. Evaluate lim wanate
→

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dim
did
gÉ 2. Evaluate lim 345
→

II TF Ilm
3 0

3. Evaluate lim
→ ( )

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whendoweplug
tofindthelimitlike
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4Whendoweuseleading
coefficients
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V2 Infinite Limits of Rational Functions
1. Find lim 29
left
1
tf only
→
when uget need acoupletromrign
to determine whether H A
x 1.9 1.99 1.999 2 2.001 2.01 2.1

y
29 2999 ordered 3001 301 31
299

If I dime
I limitsarentthe
same
DNE
Infinite Limits -> Vertical Asymptotes
If lim 𝑓(𝑥) = , 𝑛 ≠ 0, then the limit is either ∞, −∞, 𝑜𝑟 𝐷𝑁𝐸 and the graph has a vertical asymptote at 𝑥 = 𝑐.
→
Three possible limits:

1. lim 𝑓(𝑥) = ∞ 2. lim 𝑓(𝑥) = −∞ 3. lim 𝑓(𝑥) =DNE (limit from left ≠ limit from right)
→ → →

2. Let 𝑓(𝑥) = .

Find lim 𝑓(𝑥) and lim 𝑓(𝑥).

→ →

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3. Does 𝑓(𝑥) = have any vertical asymptotes?

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twoverticalasymptotes

4. Find the following limits given the graph of 𝑓(𝑥).

hest
lim 𝑓(𝑥)
axisgettingcloserto A.yapproac

y
→

lim 𝑓(𝑥)
→
O
lim 𝑓(𝑥)
→ asxgetlclosertoo.gs okrto1O

lim 𝑓(𝑥)
→
A
lim 𝑓(𝑥)
→
D

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 V3 Vertical and Horizontal Asymptotes
Steps to finding a vertical and horizontal asymptote using calculus and limits.
Horizontal Asymptote:

of o alwayssetupsame limit
Take the limit AT infinity of the function: lim 𝑓 (𝑥)
→±

Vertical Asymptote:
Find the x values that make the denominator zero and take the limit of the function as x approaches those
numbers. Determine if there is a hole or vertical asymptote
band on function
, 𝑛 ≠ 0.

1. Find the vertical and horizontal asymptotes of the following rational functions using limits. If there are any
holes, state the coordinates. when i shouldkeeppolynomial or useleadingcoordinates
thowdo iknow just
𝑥−5
𝑓 (𝑥) =
𝑥 − 3𝑥 − 10

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Ix 5 xt2 0
X 5X 2

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2𝑥 + 4𝑥
𝑓 (𝑥) =
𝑥 −1
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V4 Introduction to Continuity

Definition

Let 𝑓(𝑥) be a function. 𝑓(𝑥) is continuous at 𝑥 = 𝑐 if

I) 𝑓(𝑐) is defined
II) lim 𝑓(𝑥) exists (Note: remember this means that the sided limits are equal)
Iggy →
III) lim 𝑓 (𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑐)
→

Polynomials functions are continuous on all real numbers.

Rational functions are continuous on all real numbers except the zeros of the denominator.

HOW DOYOU find aDomain

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1. Discuss the continuity at 𝑥 = −2, 𝑥 = 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥 = 3.Notcontinoos

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2. Show that the polynomial p(x) = 3x3 − 4x +1 is continuous at x = 1.
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3. Determine if 𝑔(𝑥) = is continuous at 𝑥 = 1.

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V5 Continuity of Piecewise Functions
Recall:
Let 𝑓(𝑥) be a function. 𝑓(𝑥) is continuous at 𝑥 = 𝑐 if

I) 𝑓(𝑐) is defined
II) lim 𝑓(𝑥) exists (Note: remember this means that the sided limits are equal)
→
III) lim 𝑓 (𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑐)
→

it
1. Is continuous on all real numbers?
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2. Graph 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥
2𝑥
t 𝑥 ≤ 2 and locate all points of discontinuity.
𝑥>2

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 3. For what value of the constant A is the following function continuous for all real x?

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cont
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P2 y 3 4 payon

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1 F i 13 4 2
2
IF Ax 5 At 5 Hhs X 3 4 2

Whydobothlimits have toequal eachother is

it bethey'reboth
polynomials

At5 2 A 3

3 fD 2
11 A

can onlybe continuous A 3

stop