UNIT TWO: LIMITS AND CONTINUITY

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 UNIT TWO: LIMITS AND CONTINUITY
2.0 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
 At the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
 Understand the concept of limit
 Recall the definition of limit
 Compute limit problems
 Differentiate the continuous and discontinuous functions
2.1 INTRODUCTION
 This unit deals with the definition of limits, evaluation of limits, continuous functions and
its properties
2.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMITS

 Necessary to see the concept of limits before discussing calculus in more detail,
 It is this concept that makes calculus different from algebra
 Limits describes what happens to a function f(x) as its variable x approaches a particular
number c.
Definition of a Limit:
 Limits describes what happens to a function f(x) as its variable x approaches a particular
number c.
 The limit of f(x) as x approaches c is L, written , if the y coordinate of a point
(x, f(x) ) on the graph of f approaches the single number L as x approaches c from each
side of c. F(x)
Y

Fig: The graph of the function y = f(x) as x approaches to c

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 UNIT TWO: LIMITS AND CONTINUITY
 Example 1 Let f(x) = x+4.
x+4. What happens to f(x) as x approaches to 1, but not equal to 1.
Solution:
Solution:
 To investigate the behavior of f(x) as x approaches 1 numerically and graphically we can
construct a table and draw a graph of f(x) for x near 1.

As x approaches 1 As x approaches 1
from the right from the left

x f(x)
0.5 4.5
0.7 4.7
0.9 4.9
0.99 4.99
0.999 4.999

Figure 1: The graph of x+4 as x approaches 1.

 From the above table and graph, we can conclude that f(x) approaches 5 as x
approaches 1 from both the left and right side of 1.
 And from this we can define the limit of a function as follows.

 2: Given a function f(x)=x2, find lim f(x) as x approaches 2.

Example 2:

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 UNIT TWO: LIMITS AND CONTINUITY
Solution:
Solution:
 The following table illustrates the behavior of the function, as x becomes closer and
closer to 2 from both the left and right side of 2.

From the right From the left

x f(x) x f(x)
2.5 6.25 1.5 2.25
2.3 5.29 1.7 2.89
2.1 4.41 1.9 3.61
2.01 4.0401 1.99 3.9601
2.001 4.004001 1.999 3.9960001
2.0001 4.00040001 1.9999 3.99960001

 Therefore, the values of f(x) = x 2 are near 4 whenever x is close to 2 from both the left
and right sides.

 Since = =4, =4

Exercise -1
 Find the limits of the function f(x)
f(x) = x+1 as x approaches 1.
 I.e. see the behavior of the function as x becomes closer and closer to 1
Definition
1. The limit of f(x) as x approaches c from the left is L if the y coordinate of a point (x,
f(x)) on the graph of f approaches L as x approaches c from the left of c.

=L

2. The limit of f(x) as x approaches c from the right is L if the y coordinate of a point (x,
f(x)) on the graph of y approaches L as x approaches c from the right of c.

=L

3. Therefore, the expression means that f(x) approaches L as x approaches c form

each side of c.

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 UNIT TWO: LIMITS AND CONTINUITY
The above definition can be summarized as one sided limits and given as below

lim f ( x)  K
x  c
 We write and call K the limit from the left (or left-hand limit)
 If f(x) is close to K whenever x is close to c, but to the left
of c on the real number line.
lim f ( x)  L
x  c
 We write and call L the limit from the right (or right-hand limit) if f
(x) is close to L whenever x is close to c, but to the right of c on the real number line.

 In order for a limit to exist, the limit from the left and the limit from the right must exist and be equal.

Note:-

1. If =L, then = =L

2. If = =L, then =L

3. If , then does not exist.

 f(x) does not approach a single number L as x approaches c.

Example 3. f(x) = x-3, find the limit of f(x) as x approaches 2

Solution:
Solution:

=-1, = -1, therefore = -1

Example 4 : as x approaches 1.
Solution:
Evaluate the limit as x approaches 1

=2 =2 , then =2

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 UNIT TWO: LIMITS AND CONTINUITY

Example 5: find limf(x)

limf(x) as x approaches 0.

Solution: = = = -1

= = =1

Since , the = does not exist.

Exercise - 2
Find the right and left side limits of the following functions and verify whether the limit exists
or not.

1. 3x+5 3.

2.

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 UNIT TWO: LIMITS AND CONTINUITY
2.3 THE LIMIT THEOREM

If f(x) = L and g(x) = M, then

i) (a(f(x)) = a f(x) = aL for any constant a.

ii) (f(x) g(x)) = f(x) g(x) =L M

iii) (f(x).g(x)) = f(x). g(x) = L.M

iv)

v) = a for any constant a

vi) = Lr, r is any real number.

vii)

2.4 EVALUATION OF LIMITS

4. How the limit theorem can be used to evaluate limits of algebraic expressions.

Example 1. Find the )

Solution:

)=5 +3 +

= 5(1)2 + 3(1) + 1 = 9

Example 2: Find

Solution:

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 UNIT TWO: LIMITS AND CONTINUITY

5. From the above examples, we can have the following formulas to evaluate limits
limits of a
polynomial and rational functions.

If p(x) and q(x) are polynomials, then

and

6. In both cases you simply

substitute the value of c in to the function.

7. Example 3. Find

Solution:

 Since lim (x-1) = 0 as x approaches 1, the quotient rule for limits does not apply here.
 When the denominator of the given rational function approaches zero, while the
numerator does not, we can conclude that the limit does not exist.
Remember:
Remember:
When both the numerator and the denominator of the given rational function
approach zero,
zero, you must simplify the function algebraically in order to find the
desired limit.

Example 4:

x2  4 ( x  2)( x  2)
lim lim lim( x  2) 4
x 2 x  2 x 2 x 2 x 2

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 UNIT TWO: LIMITS AND CONTINUITY

Example 5: Find the limit

Solution: first simplify and put the value 3 in for x.

Example 6: Find if it exist

Solution: Example 7))
 It seems not obvious how we can cancel this expression
Answer:
 But the fact that the value x = 1 makes both the numerator and the denominator zero tells us
that factorization is possible.
 Using the rule (a – b)(a + b) = a2 – b2 gives the following

Example 8: Find the limit

Solution

= = =

Just see the following limits

, , ,

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 UNIT TWO: LIMITS AND CONTINUITY

Example 9: Find the

The answer for example 9 is zero. Why 0? B/s as the denominator is the higher power than
the numerator and therefore increases more rapidly. The fraction then tends to zero so.

Exercise - 3
Evaluate the following limits

a) b)

c) d)

Note that: To find the limit of f(x) when x tends to a there are 3 different situations that can arise:

1. We calculate f(c) (by puting c into the expression instead of x).

If f(x) = f(c)

2. If the numerator and the denominator of f(x) are both zero when x = c then f(x) can be

factorised and simplified by cancelling. f(c) is then calculated if possible.

3. If, when x = c, the denominator is zero and the numerator is not zero then the limit does

does not exist.

2.5 CONTINUOUS FUNCTIONS

 A continuous function can be defined as one whose graph can be drawn without lifting or
removing a pen from the paper
 A function whose graph is broken (disconnected) at x=c is said to be discontinuous at x=c
 Formal definition of continuity is given below:

Definition: A function f is continuous at c if

a) f(c) is defined

b) f(x) exists
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c) f(x) = f(c)
 UNIT TWO: LIMITS AND CONTINUITY

If one or more of the above conditions is not satisfied, f is said to be discontinuous at c.

f(x)

f(c) (a) f(x) exists, and f(x) = f(c). The function is continuous at c

c X
0

f(x)

f(x)
(b) f(x) exists, but f(x) f(c) The function is not continuous at c
X
0 c
(C) f(x) does not exist. The function is not continuous at c.
c
X

Note that:
that:
 In the above figures:- figure (a) is unbroken at c, where as figure (b) and (c) are
broken at c as x approaches c.
 Hence in figure b and c the graphs of the functions are discontinuous at x=c.
x=c.

Example 1: Show that the polynomial function p(x) = 3x3 – x + 5 is continuous at x = 1.

Solution: Check whether the above three conditions are satisfied or not

i) P(1) is defined

ii) exists

iii) = p(1)

7=7

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 UNIT TWO: LIMITS AND CONTINUITY
Therefore the function p(x) = 3x3 – x + 5 is continuous at x =1

Example 2: Show that is not continuous (discontinuous)

at x =1
Solution:
Solution:
i) f(1) is not defined

ii) exists b/s

 Hence, even if the limit of the function exists, since it is not defined at x = 1, the function
f(x) is discontinuous at x = 1.

Example 3:Check if the given function is continues at x = 0 and 1

2.5.1 Continuity on an Interval

 Definitions of continuity for functions that are continuous in an interval are given as:-
- A function is continuous on an open interval (a, b), or simply continuous on (a, b), if it is
continuous at every point in (a, b)
- A function is continuous on a closed interval , or simply continuous on , if it is
continuous at every point in (a, b) and is also continuous from the right at a and
continuous from the left at b.

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 UNIT TWO: LIMITS AND CONTINUITY
Example 3:

 Show that the function is continuous on the open

interval (-3, 2).

Solution:
Solution:
 The three conditions for continuity are satisfied for any value of x between –3 and 2 (-3 <
x < 2).
 Therefore, the function is continuous in the open interval (-3, 2).
 However, the function is not continuous for the closed interval , since f(x) is
discontinuous at x = 2, ( f(x) is not defined at x = 2 ).
Example 4: Find the value of the constant A such that the function f(x) will be continuous for
all x.
f(x)=
Solution:
 Hint: equate the right and left side limits of the function as x approaches to 2 and find
the value of A
 Then f(x) = 2A-3 from the left and 2(22)-2+3 from the right
 Equate the left and the right side of the equation
 f(x) = 2A-3 = 2(22)-2+3 2A-3 = 8-2+3
 2A-3 = 9
 2A-3 = 9
 2A = 12
A=6

Example 5: Check if the given function is continuous

Solution:

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 UNIT TWO: LIMITS AND CONTINUITY
 In the second function it is deliberately assigned a
value (-17) which is different from the limit
as x approaches 1.
 Since the value of the function at x = 1 is −17 and the
limit value is 5 f(x) is not continuous at x = 1.
Solution for example 6:
Example 6: Consider this function:
 The limit of f(x)
as x approaches 3 is 8
 Then if we define f(3) = 8,
rather than 7
a) For which value of x is this function discontinuous?  Then we have removed the
b) Define the function there so that it will be continuous. discontinuity

Note that:
- The limit at c of a function that is continuous at c is the value of the function at c.

=f(c) if f is continuous.

- The function f is continuous from the left at c if =f(c).

- The function f is continuous from the right at c if =f(c).

- A function f is continuous at c if and only if it is continuous from both the left and right at

c, so f(x) = f(c)
Exercise - 5

1. Decide whether the following functions are continuous at the specified value of x.
a) f(x)= ; x=3 b)f(x)= ; x=0

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2.6 PROPERTIES OF CONTINUOUS FUNCTIONS

The continuity property of some specific functions enables us to determine intervals of

continuity without looking at the behavior of the graphs or the three conditions for continuity.
1. A constant function f(x) = k, where k is any constant, is continuous for all x.
Example 1: f(x) = 3 is continuous for all x.
2. Polynomials are continuous at each point.
Example 2: f(x) = 3x3 + 2x2 + 1 is continuous for all x.
3. If p and q are polynomials, then the rational function p/q is continuous at each point where
it is defined.

Example 3: f(x) = is continuous for all x except at x = 3 that makes the

denominator zero.
4. If f(x) and g(x) are both continuous functions, then

b) f(x) . g(x) is continuous

5: Taking the above example in 4(a), (2x2 + 1) (x –1) is continuous
Example 5:

c) is continuous, if and only if g(x) 0

Example 6:
6: is continuous except at x = 1

5. If f(x) is continuous at x = c then is continuous at x = c.

6. -If n is an odd positive integer greater than 1, is continuous wherever f(x) is
continuous
-If n is an even positive integer, is continuous wherever f(x) is continuous and non-ve
7. If g(x) is continuous at x = c and the function f(x) is continuous at g(c) then the composite
function fog is continuous at x = c.
Note: the composite function is the function formed from the two functions (u) and
g(x) by substituting g(x) for u in the formula for f(u).
2.7 ECONOMIC APPLICATIONS ON LIMIT

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 UNIT TWO: LIMITS AND CONTINUITY
1). The cost equation for metal factory in manufacturing spade is C(x) = 50000 + 50x, where

x is the number of spaces produced, the average cost per spade is

if 50 spades were manufactured, what is the average cost per spade?

Answer:

We know, that AC = .

2). A metal factory producing a construction material and has established that on the average,

a new employee can produce f(x) construction materials per day after x days of on the job

training, as given by f(x) = find

Solution:

Check Your Progress Exercise - 6

By using the above continuity properties, determine whether the following functions are
continuous or not.

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 UNIT TWO: LIMITS AND CONTINUITY
a) f(x) = x3 + x – 3 c)

b) d)

2.8 SUMMARY

 Definition of a limit, meaning of “x approaches c”:

 Meaning of “x approaches c from the right”:
 Meaning of “x approaches c from the left”:
The limit theorem:
theorem:

If f(x) = L and g(x) = M, then

1) (a(f(x)) = a f(x) = aL for any constant a.

2) (f(x) g(x)) = f(x) g(x) = L M

3) (f(x).g(x)) = f(x) . g(x) = L.M

4)

5) a = a for any constant a

6) = Lr, r is any real number.

7) x=c

Evaluation of limits
Continuous functions
Definition:
Definition: A function f is continuous at c if

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 UNIT TWO: LIMITS AND CONTINUITY
a) f(c) is defined

b) f(x) exists

c) f(x) = f(c)

Continuity on an interval
Properties of continuous functions
-Continuity of constant, polynomials and rational functions.
-The sum, product and ratio of two continuous functions.
-The absolute value of a continuous function
-Composite function

2.9 ANSWERS TO CHECK YOUR PROGRESS EXERCISES

Check Your Progress Exercise - 1:

1. =2

Check Your Progress Exercise 2

1) 14 2) Limit does not exist 3) 10

Check Your Progress Exercise - 3

a) 5 b) –18 c) ¼ d) -12

Check Your Progress Exercise - 4

1.a) Yes b) No c) No
2.a) None b) x=1 and x=–1 c) x=1 and x=-5

Check Your Progress Exercise - 5

1. a) No b) No

2. A = 6

Check Your Progress Exercise - 6

a) f(x) is continuous for all x since it is a polynomial function

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 UNIT TWO: LIMITS AND CONTINUITY
b) Since f(x) is a rational function, it is continuous for all x except at x = 2 and x = 1
which make the denominator zero.
c) f(x) is continuous for all x since n is positive and x2 is continuous.
d) Since n = 2 is even and x-2 is continuous and non-negative for , f(x) is
continuous for i.e on the interval

2.10 MODEL EXAMINATION QUESTIONS

1. Find the limits of the following functions

a) b)

c) d)

e) f)

g) as

2. Taking the set of all finite real numbers as the domain of the function q=g(v)=v2-7v-3
a) find the limit of q as v tends to N(a finite real number).
b) check whether this limit is equal to g(N).
c) check whether the function is continuous at N and continuous in its domain.

4. Decide if the given function is continuous at the specified value of x.

a) f(x)=3x2 + 5x + 15; x = 0

b) f(x)= ;x=4

5. For the following functions list all values of x for which the given function is not
continuous.

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 UNIT TWO: LIMITS AND CONTINUITY

a) b)

c) d)

e)

5. Given

a) Is it possible to apply the quotient limit theorem to find the limit of this function as
?
b) Is this function continuous at x = 4? Why?
c) Find a function which, for is equivalent to the above function, and obtain
from the equivalent function the limit of y as

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

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