MCV 4U – Unit 1 Lesson 1.
4
Rates of Change
1.4 LIMITS AND CONTINUITY
JUMP DISCONTINUITY - A jump discontinuity exists if one sided limits exist, but are not equal
and the graph has a break at a certain value. The y values “jump” from one value to another at
the same x- value.
INFINITE DISCONTINUITY - An infinite discontinuity exists if the function is undefined at a
certain value and the y-values increase without bound.
REMOVABLE DISCONTINUITY – A removable discontinuity exists when a certain value is
substituted into the equation for x and the indeterminate form of 0/0 occurs. The equation is
then factored to create an alternative form, thereby removing the discontinuity.
MCV 4U – Unit 1 Lesson 1.4
Rates of Change
Example 1
Consider the graph of y = f(x).
Determine the value of each limit, if it exists.
i) lim − f ( x) ii) lim + f ( x) iii) lim f ( x) iv) f (−2)
x → −2 x → −2 x → −2
v) lim f (x) vi) lim f (x)
x→ −3 x→0
For most examples up to this point, you have used a graph to determine a limit. While that is a
useful way to determine a limit, it is also possible to determine the limit algebraically.
To evaluate a limit as x → a
1. Direct substitution of x = a.
0
2. If substitution gives the indeterminate form , then:
0
• ____________________
• ____________________
• ____________________
#
3. If substitution gives , a _____ exists and the limit does not exist.
0
MCV 4U – Unit 1 Lesson 1.4
Rates of Change
Example 2
Evaluate each limit, if it exists.
𝑥 2 −1 x 2 + 3x + 2
a) lim b) lim
𝑥→3 𝑥+2 x → −1 x +1
3
𝑥
+1 4+ x −2
c) lim d) lim
𝑥→−3 𝑥+3 x→0 x
𝑥 2 − 1, if 𝑥 ≤ 2
e) lim 𝑓(𝑥), where 𝑓(𝑥) = {
𝑥→2 𝑥 + 5, if 𝑥 > 2
