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Limit and
Continuity
LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this topic, students should be able to:
lim f ( x) L
x c
f(x) approaches L
as x approaches c
is read as the
limit of f(x) as x
approaches c is
L
7
lim f x lim f x L
x c
x c
10
11
12
13
14
15
EXAMPLE 1
Evaluate lim 2 x by using table.
x 1
Solution:
x approaching 1 from
left
x
0.9
0.99
0.999
0.9999
1.0001
1.001
1.01
1.1
f(x)
1.8
1.98
1.998
1.9998
2.0002
2.002
2.06
2
2.1
lim 2 x 2
x 1
lim 2 x 2
x 1
lim 2 x 2
x 1
17
Method
EXAMPLE 2
sin x
Evaluate lim
numerically where x is in radian.
x 0
x
Solution:
x approaching 0 from
left
x
f(x)
-0.1
-0.01
-0.01
0.000
1
0.0001
0.001
0.01
0.1
19
Method
EXAMPLE 2
sin x
Evaluate lim
numerically where x is in radian.
x 0
x
Solution:
x approaching 0 from
left
x
-0.1
-0.01
-0.01
0.000
1
f(x)
0.9983
3
0.9999
8
0.999
99
0.999
99
sin x
lim
1
x 0
x
sin x
lim
1
x 0
x
0.0001
0.001
0.01
0.1
0.9999
9
0.9999
9
0.999
98
0.99833
sin x
lim
1
x 0
x
20
Method
EXAMPLE 3
x2 1
Evaluate lim
by using table.
x 1 x 1
Solution:
x approaching -1 from
right
x
-0.9
-0.99
-0.999
-0.9999
-1
-1.0001
-1.001
-1.01
-1.1
f(x)
-1.9
-1.99
-1.999
-1.9999
-2.0001
-2.001
-2.01
-2.1
x2 1
lim
2
x 1 x 1
x2 1
lim
2
x 1 x 1
x2 1
lim
2
x 1 x 1
23
Method
EXAMPLE 4
3x 2 2 x 8
Evaluate lim
using numerical method.
x2
x2
Solution:
x approaching 2 from
left
x
1.9
1.99
1.999
2.001
2.01
2.1
f(x)
9.7
9.97
9.997
10.003
10.03
10.3
lim f ( x) 10
x2
lim f ( x) 10
x2
Method
EXAMPLE 5
1
Evaluate lim
numerically.
x 0 x
Solution:
x approaching 0 from
left
0.000
1
0.0001
0.001
0.01
0.1
10000
1
1000
100
10
-0.1
-0.01
0.01
f(x)
-10
-100
1
1000 10000
lim
x 0
1
lim
does not exist
x 0 x
lim
x 0
28
lim f x lim f x L
x c
x c
29
EXAMPLE 1
Find lim 2 x
x 1
Solution:
lim 2 x lim 2 x 2
x 1
x 1
lim 2 x 2
x 1
30
f(x)
EXAMPLE 2
Find lim( x 2) 2
graphically.
x 1
Solution:
lim(
x 2) lim(
x 2) 9
x 1
x 1
lim( x 2) 2 9
x 1
31
EXAMPLE 3
2
x
1
Find lim
x 1 x 1
graphically.
f(x)
Solution:
x2 1
x2 1
lim
lim
2
x 1 x 1
x 1 x 1
x2 1
lim
2
x 1 x 1
32
EXAMPLE 4
x 1,
3
Given f ( x ) ,
2
2 x,
Find lim f ( x)
x 1
x 1 .
x 1
graphically.
x 1
33
EXAMPLE 4 (cont.)
x 1,
3
f ( x) ,
2
2 x,
f(x)
x 1
x 1 .
x 1
lim f ( x) 2
x 1
3/2
lim f ( x) 1
x 1
EXAMPLE 5
The diagram below shows the graph of function, f .
Find:
(a) lim f ( x ) , lim f ( x ) , lim f ( x )
x 2
x 2
x2
f(x)
4
3
2
1
-1
35
EXAMPLE 5 (cont.)
(d)
x4
x4
x4
f(x)
4
3
2
1
-1
x
1
38
EXAMPLE 5 (cont.)
(d)
x 1
x 1
4
3
2
1
-1
x
1
indeterminate
form
4
lim k k
x c
lim x c
x c
x c
x c
x c
x c
x c
f ( x)
f ( x) lim
x c
lim
x c g ( x)
lim g ( x)
lim g ( x ) 0
x c
x c
x c
x c
lim 6 6
x 2
lim 11 11
x 3
lim x 2
x2
lim x 7
x 7
lim( x 4) 2 4 6
x2
lim( x 4) 3 4 1
x 3
Product Rule
The limit of a product of two
functions is the product of their
limits.
Constant Multiple Rule
The limit of a constant, multiply
by a function is the constant
multiply by the limits of the
function
Quotient Rule
The limit of quotient of two
functions is the quotient of their
limits, provided the limit of the
denominator is not zero
lim( x 1)( x 2)
x 2
lim( x 1) lim( x 2)
x 2
x 2
3 4 12
lim 2(4 x 1)
x2
2 lim(4 x 1)
x2
2(7) 14
lim( x 1)
x 1
lim
x 3
x 3
lim( x 3)
x 3
x 3
31 1
3 3 3
x c
x c
lim n f ( x) n lim f ( x)
x c
lim(3 x) lim(3 x)
2
x 1
x 1
x c
(3) 2 9
lim 5 x 2 4 lim (5 x 2 4) 20 4 4
x 2
x 2
Method
EXAMPLE 1
Evaluate each of the following limits.
(a) lim( x 5)
x 1
3 x 4
(d) lim
x2
x
(b) lim (3 x 5)
(e) lim
(c) lim 2 x( x 4)
x2 x 6
(f) lim
x 2
x2
x 2
x 1
x4
x 2 11
1/ 3
12
Method
EXAMPLE 1 (cont.)
Solution:
(a) lim( x 5) 1 5 6
x 1
(b) lim (3 x 5) 3( 2) 5 1
x 2
13
EXAMPLE 1 (cont.)
Solution:
3(2) 4 10
3 x 4
(d) lim
x 2
23
5
x 3
(e) lim
x4
x 2 11
1/ 3
(4) 2 11
1/ 3
( 27)1/ 3 3
x 2 x 6 (2) 2 2 6 0
(f) lim
x2
x2
22
0
indeterminate form
x 2 x 6
0
e.g. lim
x2
x2
0
f ( x)
0
0
If
, it cannot be evaluated direct substitution.
Use algebraic Technique such as
15
Method
EXAMPLE 2
Evaluate each of the following limits.
x2 x 6
(a) lim
x2
x2
x 1
(d) lim
x 1
x 1
x2 1
(b) lim
x 1 x 1
x 2
(c) lim
x4 x 4
3 h 3
(e) lim
h 0
h
16
Method
EXAMPLE 3
Evaluate each of the following limits.
x 2 25
(a) lim
x 5 x 5
t 9 3
(b) lim
t 0
t
3x 2 1
(c) lim
x 1 x 2
(d) lim
x 3
(e) lim
p 2
x 6 3
x3
1
3 p3 1
(f) lim 2 x 2 x 7
x 1
17
lim k k
x
1
lim n 0
x x
1
1
lim 5 lim 5 lim 5 0 5
x
x
x x
x
18
12t 2 15t 12
lim
t
t2 1
12t 2 15t 12
2 2
2
12t 2 15t 12
t
lim
lim t 2 t
2
t
t
t
1
t 1
t2 t2
15 12 lim 12 15 12
12 2
t
t t 2
t
t
lim
t
1
1
1 2
lim 1 2
t
t
t
15
12
lim12 lim lim 2
t
t t
t t
1
lim1 lim 2
t
t t
12 0 0
12
1 0
x2 x 6
(a) lim
x
x2
x 1
(b) lim
x x 1
x3 1
(c) lim
x x 1
11x 2
(d) lim 3
x 2 x 1
17
(a) lim 3 2
x
x
5x2 8x 3
(c) lim
x
3x 2 2
(b) lim 1 x
11x 2
(d) lim 3
x 2 x 1
23
2x2 x 1
lim
2
x
x 3
2x x 1
lim
x
x 3
(c)
(b)
2x 1
lim 2
x x 3
(d)
lim
x 3 x 5
29
EXERCISE
Evaluate each of the following.
2x 1
(a) lim 2
x x 3 x 5
(b) lim
x
4
x
(c) lim 1 3
x
x
3 x 2 2 x 7
(d) lim
x
7x 5
3
2
(e) lim x x
x
(f)
lim
x 4 2
x 2 1
30
1.5 Continuity
Continuous
Without interruption
Flows nicely
Continuity of a graph/function:
CONTINUOUS:
NOT CONTINUOUS:
1.5 Continuity
A function f(x) is said to be continuous if its
graph can be drawn with a continuous
motion of the pen (without lifting the pen)v
1.5 Continuity
f(x)
30
20
10
-30 -20 -10
x
0
-10
10
20
30
-20
1.5 Continuity
f(x)
30
20
10
x
-30
-20
-10
0
-10
10
20
30
-20
1.5 CONTINUITY
f(x)
15
10
5
-12
-8
-4
x
4
12
-5
-10
1.5 CONTINUITY
f(x)
8
4
-6
-3
x
3
-4
-8
10
f (c)
lim f ( x)
xc
lim f ( x) f (c)
x c
Failure to
meet one of
these
conditions,
then the
function is
discontinuo
us at c
11
1.5 CONTINUITY
EXAMPLE 1
f(x)
12
EXAMPLE 2
f(x)
13
1.5 CONTINUITY
EXAMPLE 3
f(x)
14
1.5 CONTINUITY
EXAMPLE 4
f(x)
15
1.5 CONTINUITY
EXAMPLE 5
f(x)
16
1.5 Continuity
EXAMPLE
1.5 CONTINUITY
EXAMPLE 6
Determine whether the function f (x) is continuous at
x 1, x 2, x 3
using continuity
test.
f(x)
4
3
2
1
-1
x
1
17
1.5 CONTINUITY
EXERCISE
Determine whether the function f (x) is continuous at
x 2, x 4, x 8, x 10 using continuity test.
f(x)
6
4
2
-1
x
2
10
18