LIMITS AND CONTINUITY

DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS, FSTPi

FUNCTION
Definition
A function f is a rule that assigns to each value x in a set
D a unique value denoted f (x).

The set D is the domain of the function.

The set of all values of f (x) produced as x varies over
domain is range.
DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS, FSTPi
FUNCTION
Domain and range
Domain Consisted all values of x that is possible
Range The set of y values when x varies over the domain
Example
Given
2
y x =
2
y x =
Domain :
Range :
{ : } D x x = eR
{ : 0, } R y y y = > eR
DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS, FSTPi
FUNCTION
Common restriction for function
Type of
function
Example Restriction Remarks
Root
Reciprocal
log or ln
,
2, 4,
n
a
n =
1
a
log( )
ln( )
a
a
0 a >
0 a =
0 a >
The function will
become complex
number if .
Any number divided
by zero is undefined.
0 a <
log or ln for
is undefined.
0 a s
Example: Domain and range
DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS, FSTPi
CONCEPT OF LIMITS
The limit of a function is concerned with the behavior of a
function as the independent variable approaches
a given value.
If the limit of function f (x) as x approaches the point a is
the value L, then it is denoted as
lim ( )
x a
f x L

=
This is not the exact definition of a limit. The definition
given above is more of a working definition.
This definition helps us to get an idea of just what limits
are and what they can tell us about functions.
.
In simpler terms, the definition says that as x get closer
and closer to a then f (x) must getting closer and
closer to L.
DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS, FSTPi
Consider the following example
Estimate the value of the following limit.
2
2
2
4 12
lim
2
x
x x
x x

Choose values of x that get closer to closer to 2 and

substitute the values into . Doing this, gives

the following table:
2
2
4 12
2
x x
x x
+

x 1.5 1.9 1.999 1.9999 1.99999 2 2.00001 2.0001 2.001 2.01 2.5
f (x) 5.0 4.158 4.002 4.0002 4.00002 3.99999 3.9999 3.999 3.985 3.4
Approach to 2 from the right side Approach to 2 from the left side
CONCEPT OF LIMITS
DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS, FSTPi
The function is going to 4 as x approaches 2, then
2
2
2
4 12
lim 4.
2
x
x x
x x

+
=

Using tables of values to guess the value of limits is simply

not a good way to get the value of a limit but they
can help us get a better understanding of what limits are.
CONCEPT OF LIMITS
DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS, FSTPi
One-sided limits: Right side
Only look for limit at right side of the point.
( ) f x
a
L
Right-handed
x approaches a from
right hand side.
We write as . lim ( )
x a
f x L
+

=
CONCEPT OF LIMITS
DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS, FSTPi
One-sided limits : Left side
Only look for limit at left side of the point.
( ) f x
a
L
Left-handed
lim ( )
x a
f x L

=
x approaches a from
left hand side.
We write as .
CONCEPT OF LIMITS
DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS, FSTPi
Two-sided limits
>> Requires value of limits from right and left sides.
Two-sided limit of f (x) is exist if
lim ( ) lim ( )
x a x a
f x f x L
+

= =
Then,
lim ( )
x a
f x L

=
Example: One and Two-sided limits
The limit
lim ( )
x a
f x L

=
is called two-sided limit.
CONCEPT OF LIMITS
DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS, FSTPi
INFINITE LIMITS
Infinite limits
Infinite limits occur when and . lim ( )
x a
f x

= lim ( )
x a
f x
+

=
All limits that have infinite limit does not exist.
Example: Infinite limits
DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS, FSTPi
TECHNIQUES OF COMPUTING LIMITS
Some basic limits
lim
x a
k k

=
Let a and k is any real number
lim
x a
x a

=
Consider first limits at a point which is
limits of f (x) when x approaches any point a.
DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS, FSTPi
TECHNIQUES OF COMPUTING LIMITS
DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS, FSTPi
TECHNIQUES OF COMPUTING LIMITS
We will discuss algebraic techniques for computing limits
of:-
Polynomial functions
Rational functions
Radical functions, (function involve )
Piecewise functions
Absolute functions
n
DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS, FSTPi
Polynomial functions
Let f (x) is polynomial function
Then,
lim ( ) ( )
x a
f x f a

=
2
0 1 2
( )
n
n
f x c c x c x c x = + + + +
Example: Polynomial function
TECHNIQUES OF COMPUTING LIMITS
DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS, FSTPi
, we have to factor d(x) and n(x)

(by common factor (x a) ) then cancel out
(SIMPLIFIED THE FUNCTION).
Rational functions
Let f (x) is rational function
, with d(x) and n(x) polynomial function
( )
( )
( )
n x
f x
d x
=
Then,
( )
lim ( ) ( )
( )
x a
n a
f x f a
d a

= =
,provided that .
( ) 0 d a =
But how if ???
( ) 0 d a =
1
If
( ) 0 n a =
lim ( )
x a
f x

does not exist.

2
If
( ) 0 n a =
0
lim ( )
0
x a
f x

=
Example: Rational function
TECHNIQUES OF COMPUTING LIMITS
DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS, FSTPi
For
Rationalize is:-


,provided that .
Radical functions, (function involve )
n
Let f (x) is radical function
, with e(x) and m(x) radical function
( )
( )
( )
m x
f x
e x
=
( )
lim ( )
( )
x a
m a
f x
e a

=
( ) 0 e a =
But how if ???
( ) 0 e a =
1
If
2
If
( ) 0 m a =
lim ( )
x a
f x

does not exist.

, rationalize
e (x) or m (x)
( ) 0 m a =
0
lim ( )
0
x a
f x

=
a b
( )
2
2
2
( )( ) a b a b
a b a b a b
a b
+
= + +
=
Example: Radical function
TECHNIQUES OF COMPUTING LIMITS
Then,
Rationalize???
DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS, FSTPi
Piecewise functions
Piecewise function is defined by
( )
( )
( )
1
2
,
,
f x a x b
f x f x b x c
< s

= < s

The limits of piecewise function is obtained by finding the

one-sided limits first.
Example: Piecewise function
TECHNIQUES OF COMPUTING LIMITS
DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS, FSTPi
Absolute functions
Absolute function is defined by
( )
( ) f x b x =
The limits of absolute function is
lim ( ) ( ) ( )
x a
f x f a b a

= =
But how if (A is any number)
0
( ) or ???
0 0
A
b a =
1
If
lim ( )
x a
f x

does not exist.

( )
0
A
b a =
TECHNIQUES OF COMPUTING LIMITS
DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS, FSTPi
2
0
( )
0
b a =
If
Example: Absolute function
Consider these notes (a is any real number)
( )
( )
( )
x a x a
f x x a
x a x a
<

= =

>

( )
( )
( )
a x x a
f x a x
a x x a
<

= =

>

1
2
And always check limits from both sides!
The limit is obtained by finding the one-sided limit first
TECHNIQUES OF COMPUTING LIMITS
( )
x x a
f x x
x x a
<

= =

>

( )
x x a
f x x
x x a
<

= =

>

DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS, FSTPi

TECHNIQUES OF COMPUTING LIMITS
Some basic limits
lim
x
k k

=
Let k is any real number
lim
x
x
+
= +
Limits of f (x) when x increase without bound ( )
or x decrease without bound ( ).
x
x
lim
x
x

=
1
lim 0
x
x

=
DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS, FSTPi
TECHNIQUES OF COMPUTING LIMITS
DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS, FSTPi
TECHNIQUES OF COMPUTING LIMITS
We will discuss algebraic techniques for computing limits
of:-
Polynomial functions
Rational functions
Radical functions, (function involve )
n
DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS, FSTPi
depends on the highest degree term and
consider
Polynomial functions
lim ( )
x
f x

Example: Polynomial function

TECHNIQUES OF COMPUTING LIMITS
Let f (x) is polynomial function
Then,
2
0 1 2
( )
n
n
f x c c x c x c x = + + + +
, 1, 3, 5, ( )
lim , lim
, 2, 4, 6, ( )
n n
x x
n odd
x x
n even
+
=

= + =

+ =

DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS, FSTPi

Let f (x) is rational function
( )
( )
( )
n x
f x
d x
=
Then,
lim ( )
x
f x

Step 1
Divide each term in n(x) and d(x) with
the highest power of x.
Step 2 Substitute to find the answer

Example: Rational function
Rational functions
TECHNIQUES OF COMPUTING LIMITS
DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS, FSTPi
Let f (x) is radical function
( )
( )
( )
m x
f x
e x
=
Case 1 Case 2
f (x) = m (x) only
Step 1
Divide m(x) and e(x) with the highest
power of x
Step 2 Substitute to find the answer
x
Rationalize m (x)
Example: Radical function
Radical functions, (function involve )
TECHNIQUES OF COMPUTING LIMITS
n
Try substitute the value of into the function. If cant
find the answer, consider these cases:

( )
( )
( )
m x
f x
e x
=
Special case? Use concept
2
x x =
DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS, FSTPi
CONTINUITY
We perceive the path of moving object as an unbroken
curve without gaps, breaks or holes. In this section,
we translate the unbroken curve into a precise
mathematical formulation called continuity.
A function f (x) is said to be continuous at x = a if
lim ( ) ( )
x a
f x f a

=
Example: Continuity
Provided that EXIST and DEFINED. lim ( )
x a
f x

( ) f a
DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS, FSTPi
CONTINUITY
Type of discontinuity
Removable discontinuity
Hole
Jump discontinuity
Jump
0
0
lim ( ) ( )
x x
f x f x

=
0 0
lim ( ) lim ( )
x x x x
f x f x
+

=
DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS, FSTPi
Infinite discontinuity
CONTINUITY
Infinite
Example: Discontinuity
0 0
lim ( ) or lim ( )
x x x x
f x f x
+

=