Name: Joland A.

Manzano
Subject: Calculus II
Instructor: Mrs. Ofelia Acay

Lesson 1.2: Finding Limits Graphically and Numerically

Learning Objectives:
 Estimate limit using a numerical or graphical approach.
 Learn different ways that limit can fall to exist.
 Study and use a formal definition of limit.
An Introduction to Limits

3
x −1
To sketch the graph of the function f ( x )= for values other than x =

1, you can use standard curve-sketching techniques. At x = 1, however, it

x −1

is not clear what to expect. To get an idea of the behavior of the graph of
f near x = 1, you can use two sets of x-values; one set that approaches 1
from the left and one set that approaches 1 from the right, as shown in
the table.

The graph of f is a parabola that has a hole at the point (1, 3), as shown in Figure 1.5. Although
x cannot equal 1, you can move arbitrarily close to 1, and as a result f (x) moves arbitrarily
close to 3. Using limit notation, you can write lim f ( x )=3.
x →1

This discussion leads to an informal definition of limit. If f (x) becomes arbitrarily close to a
single number L as x approaches c from either side, then the limit of f (x) as x approaches c is
L. This limit is written as lim f ( x )=L.
x →c
Example 1. Estimating a Limit Numerically
x
Evaluate the function f ( x )= at several x-values near 0 and use the results to estimate
√ x+ 1−1
the limit.
x
lim
x →0 √ x +1−1
Solution The table lists the values of f (x) for several x-values near 0.

From the results shown in the table, you can estimate the limit to be 2. This limit is reinforced by
the graph of f shown in Figure 1.6.

In Example 1, note that the function is undefined at x = 0, and yet f (x) appears to be
approaching a limit as x approaches 0. This often happens, and it is important to realize that the
existence or nonexistence of f (x) at x = c has no bearing on the existence of the limit of f (x) as
x approaches c.
Limits that Fail to Exist
Different Right and Left Behavior
¿
Show that the lim ¿ x∨ x ¿ does not exist. ¿
x →0
Solution Consider the graph of the function f ( x )=¿ x ∨ ¿
x

So, no matter how close x gets to 0, there will be both positive

and negative x-values that yield f (x) = 1 or f (x) = −1.

satisfying the inequality 0 < ∣x∣ < , you can classify the values of
Specifically, if x is a positive number, then for x-values

¿ x∨ ¿ ¿as −1 or 1.
x

¿
Because ¿ x∨ ¿approaches a different number from the
x
right side of 0 than it approaches from the left side, the
lim ¿ x∨ ¿ ¿ does not exist.
x →0 x
Unbounded Behavior
1
Discuss the existence of the lim 2
x⟶ 0 x
Solution Consider the graph of the function.
1
f ( x )= 2
x
In Figure 1.9, you can see that as x approaches 0 from either the right or
the left, f (x) increases without bound. This means that by choosing x close
enough to 0, you can force f (x) to be as large as you want. For instance, f
1
(x) will be greater than 100 when you choose x within of 0.
10

Because f (x) does not become arbitrarily close to a single

number L as x approaches 0, you can conclude that the limit
does not exist.

Oscillating Behavior
1
Discuss the existence of the lim sin
x⟶ 0 x
1
Solution Let f(x) =sin In Figure 1.10, you can see that as x
x
approaches 0, f(x) oscillates between −1 and 1. So, the limit
does not exist because no matter how small you choose , it is
1
possible to choose x 1 and x 2 within units of 0 such that sin
x1
A Formal Definition of Limit
Consider again the informal definition of limit. If f(x) becomes arbitrarily close to a single number
L as x approaches c from either side, then the limit of f(x) as x approaches c is L, written as

lim f ( x )=L
x →c

At first glance, this definition looks fairly technical. Even so, it is informal because exact
meanings have not yet been given to the two phrases “ f(x) becomes arbitrarily close to L” and
“x approaches c.”