MTE3108 Basic calculus: Limit and Continuity

Limit and Continuity A function f is defined on some interval containing c but not necessarily at c itself. The limit of the function, f as x approaches c is denoted by

lim f ( x) = L
x c
f(x) is close to L whenever x is close to c but

xc

Example 1: For the function

f ( x) = 4 x + 5 . Sketch the function. Find f(2) and lim f ( x) .

x 2

lim f ( x) = 4(2) + 5 = 13
x2

which is the same as f(2) Is

lim f ( x) = f (c)
x c

also true?

Lets look at the function: Example 2

f ( x) =

Let c =3. Is the function defined at c = 3?

x 2 9 , what is the domain of the function ? x3

lim f ( x)
x3

What is f(3)? Not defined. But we can find

Since

x 2 9 ( x + 3)( x 3) f ( x) = = = x+3 ( x 3) x3 x 2 9 , it is the same as f ( x) = x3 x2 9 x3

and the graph of but there is a gap at x= 3

When we plot the graph of

Sketch the graph of

f ( x) =

f ( x) = x + 3 .

What is the difference between them. Example 3: Sketch the piecewise function

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MTE3108 Basic calculus: Limit and Continuity

3x 4 x 0 f ( x) = x=0 10
Find Is

f ( 0) , and lim f ( x) . Are they the same? x0

?

lim f ( x) = f (c)
x c

One-sided Limits The limit of f(x) as s approaches c form the left ,

x c

lim f ( x)
lim f ( x)

The limit of f(x) as s approaches c form the right ,

x c +

Definition:
xa

lim f ( x) = L
xa

if and only if

lim f ( x ) = L

and

xa +

lim f ( x) = L

Study the definition of limit L, does the limit L exist for each of the examples 1, 2 & 3 Example 4: Let f ( x) =

x , x

x 0 . Determine if the function has a limit at x=0. Sketch the graph.

(Hints: Write the function piecewise. Find left and right limit)

x x>0 f ( x) = x x x<0 x 1 x>0 = 1 x < 0

x 0

lim f ( x) = 1 , lim f ( x) = 1 +
x 0
x 0 +

lim f ( x) lim f ( x)
x 0

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MTE3108 Basic calculus: Limit and Continuity

The function has no limit at x = 0

5

f(x)=

x x
1

-6

-4

-2

-1

-2

-3

-4

Infinite limits Definition: Let f be a function defined on both sides of a, except possibly at a itself. Then

lim f ( x) =
xa

means the values of equal to a. Example 5: For the function,

f (x)

can be made arbitrarily large by taking x sufficiently close to a, but not

f ( x) =

1 . Find the lim f ( x ) xa + x2

and lim f ( x) . Does the limit exist.

x a

Sketch the function. Determine the vertical asymptote. Example 6 Sketch the function,

f ( x) =

1 , x

x 0 . Find the lim+ f ( x)

x0

and

x 0

lim f ( x) .

Sketch the function. (Transformation of f(x) to f(-x)) Determine the vertical asymptote. Does the limit exist What type of symmetry has the function?

f ( x) =

1 , x

x0

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MTE3108 Basic calculus: Limit and Continuity

1 f ( x) = x 1 x

x>0 x<0
10

f(x)=

1 x

g( x ) =

1 -x
2

f( x ) =

1 x

-10

-5

10

-2

-4

-6

f( x ) =

1 x-2
2

-10

-5

10

-2

-4

-6

-8

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MTE3108 Basic calculus: Limit and Continuity

Limit Laws The limit of a sum is the sum of the limits The limit of a difference is the difference of the limits The limit of a constant times a function is the constant times the limit of the function. The limit of a product is the product of the limits The limit of a quotient is the quotient of the limits

Rewrite the Limit Laws in equation form. 1. 2. 3.

lim[ f ( x) g ( x)] = lim f ( x) lim g ( x)

lim[ cf ( x)] = c lim f ( x)

xa x a

xa

x a

x a

lim[ f ( x) g ( x)] = lim f ( x) lim g ( x)

xa x a x a

4.

f ( x) lim f ( x ) = xa lim xa g ( x ) lim g ( x )

x a

From product law, we obtain 5.

lim[ f ( x)] = lim f ( x)

n x a x a

, n is a positive integer

Theorem: If f ( x ) g ( x ) when x is near a (except possibly at a) and the limits of f and g both exist as x approaches a, then

lim f ( x) lim g ( x )
x a x a

The Squeeze/ Sandwich/Pinching Theorem : If f ( x ) g ( x ) h( x ) when x is near a (except possibly at a) and the limits of f and g both exist as x approaches a, and

lim f ( x) = lim h( x ) = L lim g ( x ) = L

x a x a x a

then
Example1 :

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MTE3108 Basic calculus: Limit and Continuity

3 If 3 x f ( x ) x + 2 for 0 x 2 , evaluate lim f ( x ) x 1

lim x 3 + 2 = 3
x1 x 1 x 1

lim 3x = 3 lim x 3 + 2 = lim 3x = 3 lim f ( x) = lim h( x ) = L

x a x a x 1

lim f ( x) = 3
x 1

h(x ) = x 3 +2 g(x ) = 3x

-10

-5

10

15

-2

-4

-6

Example 2: Show that (Hint:

1 =0 x 0 x 1 sin 1 ) lim x 2 sin

using Squeeze theorem.

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MTE3108 Basic calculus: Limit and Continuity

Why cant we use the law of limit for product of two functions:

lim[ f ( x) g ( x)] =
xa

lim f ( x) lim g ( x)
x a x a
We cannot use the law of limit for product of two functions because

1 x

is not defined at x =0.

But we know that Since Multiply by x2

1 sin

1 1 x 1 sin 1

x 2 x 2 sin
lim x 2 = 0
x 0

1 x2 x

and

lim x 2 = 0
x 0

Taking Squeeze theorem for

f ( x ) g ( x ) h( x ) , we obtain
1 =0 x

lim x 2 sin
x 0

Continuity

Definition of Continuity: A function f is continuous at a number a if

lim f ( x ) = f ( a )
x a

This implies that for continuity

f (a) is defined. (i.e. a is in the domain of f)

lim f ( x )
x a
exist (f must be defined on an open interval that contains a)

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MTE3108 Basic calculus: Limit and Continuity

lim f ( x ) = f ( a )
x a

Open the GSP files for power functions, binomials, hyperbolic functions, rational functions, exponential and log functions, identify the continuous and discontinuous functions. Where are each of the functions discontinuous?

A function f is continuous from the right at a number a if

xa + and continuous from the left at a if xa

lim f ( x ) = f ( a )

lim f ( x ) = f ( a )

Theorem: If f and g are continuous at a, and c is a constant, then the following functions are also continuous a: f+g fg cf fg

f g

if g (a ) 0

Theorem (a) Any polynomial is continuous everywhere: that is, it is continuous on

= ( , ) .
2

(b) Any rational function is continuous wherever it is defined: that is, it is continuous on its domain. The trigonometric function tangent is not defined for cos x = 0, or x = odd multiple of

Theorem The following types of functions are continuous at every number in their domains polynomials rational functions root functions trigonometric functions

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MTE3108 Basic calculus: Limit and Continuity

Theorem If f and g are continuous at a and c is a constant, then the following functions are also continuous at a

Definition

f +g f g cf fg f if g (a) 0 g

A function f is continuous on an interval if it is continuous at every number in the interval. (If f is defined only on one side of an endpoint of the interval, we understand continuous at the endpoint to mean continuous from the right or continuous from the left

Example: Find

x3 + 2 x 2 1 lim x 2 5 3x
= ( , )

Theorem

Any polynomial is continuous everywhere; that is, it is continuous on

Any rational function is continuous whenever it is defined: that is, it is continuous on its domain.

Theorem The following types of functions are continuous at every m in their domains: Polynomials rational functions root functions trigonometric functions

Theorem If f is continuous at b and

xa

lim g ( x ) = b , then lim fg ( x ) = f lim g ( x )

x a x a

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