Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
Region III – CENTRAL LUZON
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF PAMPANGA

BASIC CALCULUS

MODULE 1.1: Limit of a Function Using Table and Graph of

Function

ENGELBERT C. LAXINA
TEACHER I
Writer
JANE P. VALENCIA
EPS I-MATHEMATICS
GUIDE CARD

What’s up Harry?

Hello, Mr. Cruz! I am a STEM

student, and I have problem
about my Basic Calculus lesson. I
don’t have any idea about the
limit of a function. I have learned
functions in my junior high school
but I don’t know what is a limit of
a function is.

Don’t worry, Harry. I can help

you with that. I will explain to
you how to illustrate the limit
of a function using a table of
values and the graph of a
function.

Really? You are my angel.

Are
you I am ready, and
ready? I ‘m excited to
learn!

GUIDE CARD
Imagine that you are
Yes, I want to be close enough
to see what is happening
inside the court to see the real
action.

Exactly, but remember you can’t be in

court and join the players. You will only
be near enough to see and clearly
describe what is happening.
This scenario shows similarity with the
limit of a function.

Consider a single variable and study the

behavior of the function as its variable
approaches a particular value a constant.
The variable can take only values so very
close to the constant but can’t be equal to
the constant itself. However, the limit will be
able to clearly describe what is happening to
the function near that constant.
GUIDE CARD
Consider a function ƒ 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 ƒ). The limit, to
be denoted by L, is the unique real value that ƒ(x) will
approach as x approaches c. In symbols, we write this
process as:lim ƒ( x ) = L
x→c

lim (1 + 3x)
Example: Find x→2 using the table of values

Limit from left of 2

lim (1+ 3x) = 7
x<2 f(x) x→2−
x>2 ƒ(x)
1 4 We say that the limit of f(x)
as x approaches 2 from the 3 10
1.4 5.2 left is equal to 7
2.5 8.5
1.7 6.1 The symbol x à 2- means that we
2.2 7.6
1.9 6.7 consider only values of x < 2
2.1 7.3
1.95 6.85 Limit from right of 2
2.03 7.09
1.997 6.991 lim (1+ 3x) = 7
x→2+ 2.009 7.027
1.9999 6.9997 We say that the limit of f(x)
2.0005 7.0015
as x approaches 2 from the
1.9999999 6.9999997
right is equal to 7 2.0000001 7.0000003
The symbol x à 2+ means that
we consider only values of x > 2

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.

Generally,

In symbols: If lim (1+ 3x) = 7 and lim (1+ 3x) = 7 , therefore lim(1+ 3x) = 7
x→2+ x→2− x→2

Generally we say: lim ƒ( x ) = L if and only if

x→c

lim ƒ( x ) = L and lim ƒ( x ) = L

x→c− x→c+
 GUIDE CARD
Remember: The limit of a function
exists if both the limits from the lim ƒ(x) = DNE whenever lim ƒ(x) ≠ lim ƒ(x).
x→c x→c− x→c+
left and from the right must both
exist and be equal to L.

LIMIT ON MY GRAPH

LOOKING AT THE GRAPH OF ƒ(x)

We see that when x is
close (on either side of
2);ƒ(x) is close to 4.
Consider the graph of
ƒ(x) = (x 2 − x + 2)

Therefore we can say

2
that lim(x − x + 2) = 4
x→2

Consider the graph of g(x) below

Use the graph of g(x) to
state the values (if they From the graph, we
exist) of the following: see that the values of
g(x) approach 3 as x
a) lim g(x) b) lim g(x) c)lim g(x) approaches 2 from the
x→2− x→2+ x→2
left, but they approach
d) lim g(x) e) lim g(x) f)lim g(x) 1 as x approaches 2
x→5− x→5+ x→5 from the right.

From the graph also shows

Therefore:
that: a) lim g(x) = 3 and b) lim g(x) = 1
x→2− x→2+

d) lim g(x) = 2 and e) lim g(x) = 2

x→5− x→5+ Since the left and right
This time the left and the right limits are different we
conclude that c) lim g(x)
limits are the same therefore: x→2
does not exist.
lim g(x) = 2
x→5
You are a great learner.
 ACTIVITY CARD
Activity 1: Complete my tables to know my limit

Complete the table to investigate the limit of the following functions

Write your answers in each box and add up your answers
Check to see if your number matches the surprise secret number!

x 2 −1
2
1.ƒ(x) = x − x + 2 2.ƒ(x) =
x −1
x<2 ƒ(x) x>2 ƒ(x) x<1 ƒ(x) x>1 ƒ(x)
1.8 2.1 0.5 1.5
1.9 2.05 0.9 1.1
1.95 2.01 0.99 1.01
1.995 2.005 0.999 1.001
1.9995 2.0001 0.9999 1.0001
1.99995 2.00001 0.99999 1.00001
x 2 −1
lim(x 2 − x + 2) = lim =
x→2 x→1 x −1

x2 − x − 6 2x 2 − 5x − 3
3.ƒ(x) = 4.ƒ(x) =
x−3 x−3

x<3 ƒ(x) x>3 ƒ(x) x<3 ƒ(x) x>3 ƒ(x)

2.9 3.1 2.9 3.1
2.99 3.01 2.99 3.01
2.999 3.001 2.999 3.001
2.9999 3.0001 2.9999 3.0001
2.99999 3.00001 2.99999 3.00001
x2 − x − 6 2x 2 − 5x − 3
lim = lim =
x→3 x−3 x→3 x−3

THE SUPRISE SECRET NUMBER IS __________.

THE SUPRISE
SECRET
NUMBER IS…
ACTIVITY CARD
Activity 2: Consider the graph of ƒ(x). Evaluate
each limit and indicate DNE if the limit does
not exist. Write your answer on the box, and
then check your answer by scanning the QR
code.
A. lim ƒ(x) = ƒ(x)
x→−4

B. lim ƒ(x) =
x→1+

C.lim ƒ(x) =
x→1−

D.lim ƒ(x) =
x→1

lim ƒ(x) =
E. x→6

ASSESSMENT CARD

Activity 1:

Each function is defined over the real numbers. Each table gives selected values of the
given function.

1.
x 5.98 5.99 6 6.01 6.02 6.03 3. x g(x)
f(x) 4.19 4.18 0.2 4.18 4.17 4.16 4.9 -4.64

What is the reasonable estimate for lim

x→6
ƒ(x)? 4.99 -4.96

2. x -7.1 -7.01 -7.001 -6.999 -6.99 -6.9 4.999 -4.99

h(x) 4.37 4.18 4.01 -4.01 -4.18 -4.37 5.001 -5.01

lim h(x)?
What is the reasonable estimate for x→−7 5.01 -5.04

5.1 -5.35

What is the reasonable estimate for lim

x→5
g(x)?
ASSESSMENT CARD
Activity 2:

Use the graph below to evaluate each limit; if appropriate, indicate that the limit does
not exist.

1. lim ƒ(x) = 6. lim ƒ(x) =

x→−6 − x→−1+

2. lim ƒ(x) = 7. lim ƒ(x) =

x→−6 + x→−1−

3. lim ƒ(x) = 8. lim ƒ(x) =

x→−6 x→−1

4. lim ƒ(x) = 9. lim ƒ(x) =

x→−3 + x→1

5. lim ƒ(x) = 10. lim ƒ(x) =

x→−3 x→5
ENRICHMENT CARD

Without a table of values and without graphing ƒ(x), give the values of the following
limits and explain how you have arrived at your evaluation.

x2 − 9
1. lim(2x + 5) = 2. lim(x − 3x + 2) =
2
3. lim =
x→1 x→2 x→3 x − 3

REFERENCE CARD
Ø Teaching Guide for Senior High School
Basic Calculus Pp. 3- 14

Ø https://www.khanacademy.org/math/ap-
calculus-ab/ab-limits-new/ab-1-4/e/finding-limits-
numerically

ANSWER CARD

ACTIVITY 1

x<2 ƒ(x) x>2 ƒ(x) x<1 ƒ(x) x>1 ƒ(x)

1.8 3.44 2.1 4.31 0.5 1.5 1.5 2.5
1.9 3.71 2.05 4.1525 0.9 1.9 1.1 2.1
1.95 3.8525 2.01 4.0301 0.99 1.99 1.01 2.01
1.995 3.985025 2.005 4.015025 0.999 1.999 1.001 2.001
1.9995 3.99850025 2.0001 4.00030001 0.9999 1.9999 1.0001 2.0001
1.99995 3.999850003 2.00001 4.0000300001 0.99999 1.99999 1.00001 2.00001

x 2 −1
lim(x 2 − x + 2) = 4 lim = 2
x→2 x→1 x −1
ANSWER CARD

x<3 ƒ(x) x>3 ƒ(x) x<3 ƒ(x) x>3 ƒ(x)

2.9 4.9 3.1 5.1 2.9 6.8 3.1 7.2
2.99 4.99 3.01 5.01 2.99 6.98 3.01 7.02
2.999 4.999 3.001 5.001 2.999 6.998 3.001 7.002
2.9999 4.9999 3.0001 5.0001 2.9999 6.9998 3.0001 7.0002
2.99999 4.99999 3.00001 5.00001 2.99999 6.99998 3.00001 7.00002

x2 − x − 6 2x 2 − 5x − 3
lim = 5 lim = 7
x→3 x−3 x→3 x−3
THE SUPRISE SECRET NUMBER IS 18.

Activity 2 Assessment Assessment

Activity 1 Activity 2