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Basic Calculus Lesson 1 Limit of a Function Using Table of Values (1)

This lesson focuses on understanding limits of functions using tables of values and graphical representations. Students will learn to illustrate limits, demonstrate continuity, and evaluate limits as a variable approaches a constant. Several examples are provided to show how to construct tables and analyze the behavior of functions near specific values.

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Laña Ansley Curt, S.
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4 views

Basic Calculus Lesson 1 Limit of a Function Using Table of Values (1)

This lesson focuses on understanding limits of functions using tables of values and graphical representations. Students will learn to illustrate limits, demonstrate continuity, and evaluate limits as a variable approaches a constant. Several examples are provided to show how to construct tables and analyze the behavior of functions near specific values.

Uploaded by

Laña Ansley Curt, S.
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Lesson 1 - Limit of a Function Using

Table of Values
Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to apply
concepts and solve problems involving limits, they should be able to:
1. Illustrate the limit of a function using a table of values and the
graph of the function

2. The learners demonstrate the basic concepts of limit and continuity


of a function.
Limits are the backbone of calculus, and calculus is called the Mathematics of
Change. The study of limits is necessary in studying change in great detail. The
evaluation of a particular limit is what underlies the formulation of the
derivative and the integral of a function. For starters, imagine that you are
going to watch a basketball game. When you choose seats, you would want to
be as close to the action as possible. You would want to be as close to the
players as possible and have the best view of the game, as if you were in the
basketball court yourself. Take note that you cannot actually be in the court and
join the players, but you will be close enough to describe clearly what is
happening in the game. This is how it is with limits of functions. We will
consider functions of a single variable and study the behavior of the function as
its variable approaches a particular value (a constant). The variable can only
take values very, very close to the constant, but it cannot equal the constant
itself. However, the limit will be able to describe clearly what is happening to
the function near that constant.
Consider a function f of a single variable x. Consider a constant c
which the variable x will approach (c may or may not be in the
domain of f). The limit, to be denoted by L, is the unique real value
that f(x) will approach as x approaches c. In symbols, we write this
process as
lim f(x) = L.
x c
This is read, ‘‘The limit of f(x) as x approaches c is L.”
LOOKING AT A TABLE OF VALUES
To illustrate, let us consider
lim (1 + 3x)
x 2

Here, f(x) = 1+3x and the constant c, which x will approach, is 2. To


evaluate the given limit, we will make use of a table to help us keep
track of the effect that the approach of x toward 2 will have on f(x).
Of course, on the number line, x may approach 2 in two ways:
through values on its left and through values on its right. We first
consider approaching 2 from its left or through values less than 2.
Remember that the values to be chosen should be close to 2.
lim (1 + 3x)
x 2

x f(x)
1 4
1.4 5.2
1.7 6.1
1.9 6.7
1.95 6.85
1.997 6.991
1.9999 6.9997
1.9999999 6.9999997
Now we consider approaching 2 from its right or through values greater than
but close to 2.
x f(x)
3 10
2.5 8.5
2.2 7.6
2.1 7.3
2.03 7.09
2.009 7.027
2.0005 7.0015
2.0000001 7.0000003
Observe that as the values of x get closer and closer to 2, the values of f(x) get closer and
closer to 7. This behavior can be shown no matter what set of values, or what direction, is
taken in approaching 2. In symbols,
lim (1 + 3x) = 7.
x 2
Example 1: Investigate
lim (x2 + 1)
x −1
by constructing tables of values. Here, c = −1 and f(x) = x2 + 1.
We start again by approaching −1 from the left.
x f(x)
−1.5 3.25
−1.2 2.44
−1.01 2.0201
−1.0001 2.00020001
Now approach −1 from the right.
x f(x)
−0.5 1.25
−0.8 1.64
−0.99 1.9801
−0.9999 1.99980001

The tables show that as x approaches −1, f(x) approaches 2. In


symbols,
lim (x2 + 1) = 2
x −1
Example 2: Investigate lim |x| through a table of values.
x 0
Approaching 0 from the left and from the right, we get the following tables:
x |x|
−0.3 0.3
−0.01 0.01
−0.00009 0.00009
−0.00000001 0.00000001
x |x|
0.3 0.3
0.01 0.01
0.00009 0.00009
0.00000001 0.00000001
Hence, lim |x| = 0
x 0
Example 3: Investigate
lim x2 − 5x + 4/ x – 1
x 1
by constructing tables of values. Here, c = 1 and f(x) = x2 − 5x + 4/x − 1
Take note that 1 is not in the domain of f, but this is not a problem. In evaluating a limit, remember that we
only need to go very close to 1; we will not go to 1 itself.
We now approach 1 from the right.
x f(x)
1.5 −2.5
1.17 −2.83
1.003 −2.997
1.0001 −2.9999
Approach 1 from the left.
x f(x)
0.5 −3.5
0.88 −3.12
0.996 −3.004
0.9999 −3.0001
The tables show that as x approaches 1, f(x) approaches −3. In symbols,
lim x2 − 5x + 4/ x – 1 = −3
x 1
Example 4: Investigate through a table of values
lim f(x)
x 4
if
x+1 if x < 4
f(x) = (x − 4)2 + 3 if x >4.

This looks a bit different, but the logic and procedure are exactly the same. We still approach
the constant 4 from the left and from the right, but note that we should evaluate the
appropriate corresponding functional expression. In this case, when x approaches 4 from the
left, the values taken should be substituted in f(x) = x + 1. Indeed, this is the part of the
function which accepts values less than 4. So,
x f(x)
3.7 4.7
3.85 4.85
3.995 4.995
3.99999 4.99999
On the other hand, when x approaches 4 from the right, the values taken
should be substituted in f(x) = (x − 4)2 + 3. So,

x f(x)
4.3 3.09
4.1 3.01
4.001 3.000001
4.00001 3.0000000001
Observe that the values that f(x) approaches are not equal, namely, f(x)
approaches 5 from the left while it approaches 3 from the right. In such a
case, we say that the limit of the given function does not exist (DNE). In
symbols,

lim f(x) DNE


x 4

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