Unit 2

Limits and Continuity

 Unit 2.1
Limit of a Function
 x2 − 4
Consider f ( x) =
x−2
Dom ( f ) = − 2

x2 − 4
f ( x) =
x−2

=
( x − 2 )( x + 2 )
x−2
= x + 2, x  2
 6
y
5

4
( 2, 4 )
3

-1 1 2 3 4 5 6
x
-1
 f ( x ) = x + 2, x  2
x f ( x) x f ( x)
1.5 3.5 2.5 4.5
1.6 3.6 2.4 4.4
1.7 3.7 2.3 4.3
1.8 3.8 2.2 4.2
1.99 3.99 2.01 4.01
As the values of x gets closer and closer to 2,
either from the left or from the right, f ( x ) gets
closer and closer to 4.
We can make the values of f ( x ) closer to 4
by taking x sufficiently close to 2.

We say that the limit of f ( x ) , as x approaches

2, is 4. In symbols, lim f ( x ) = 4.
x→2
 Example 2.1.1
Given f ( x ) = 4 − x 2 , find the following limits.
5
y

1. lim f ( x ) = 4
x →0 3

2. lim f ( x ) = 0
x→2 1

-3 -2 -1 1 2 3
x
-1
 Limit of a Function

Let f be a function defined on some open interval

containing a, except possibly at a.

The limit of the function as x approaches a is L,

written as lim f ( x ) = L,
x→a

if for every   0, there exists a   0, such that

if 0  x − a   , then f ( x) − L  .
 Proving Limits of a Function

To prove that lim f ( x ) = L.

x→a

i. Verify that f is defined on some open interval

containing a, except possibly at a.
ii. Consider a positive epsilon (  0).
iii. Find an expression for  such that
f ( x ) − L   whenever 0  x − a   .
iv. Show that if 0  x − a   then f ( x ) − L   .
v. Form a conclusion.
 Example 2.1.2
Prove using the definition that lim ( 2 x − 1) = 5.
x →3

Preliminary Analysis:
We want  such that if x − 3   then f ( x ) − L   .

( 2 x − 1) − 5 = 2 x − 6 = 2( x − 3) = 2 x − 3  2


Choose  = .
2
Proof.
i. Since the function is a polynomial function,
it is defined on any open interval containing 3.
ii. Let   0.

iii. Choose  = .
2
iv. If 0  x − 3   , then
f ( x) − L = (2 x − 1) − 5 = 2 x − 6 = 2 x − 3  2 = 
v. Therefore, lim ( 2 x − 1) = 5.
x →3
 Example 2.1.3
Prove using the definition that lim ( 4 − 3 x ) = 7.
x →−1

Preliminary Analysis.
We want  such that if x + 1   then f ( x ) − L   .

( 4 − 3x ) − 7 = −3 x − 3 = −3 ( x + 1) = 3 x + 1  3


Choose  = .
3
Proof.
i. Since the function is a polynomial function,
it is defined on any open interval containing − 1.
ii. Let   0.

iii. Choose  = .
3
iv. If 0  x + 1   , then
( 4 − 3x ) − 7 = −3 x − 3 = −3 ( x + 1) = 3 x + 1  3 = 
v. Therefore, lim ( 4 − 3 x ) = 7.
x → −1
 Challenge!

Given m  0, prove that lim ( mx + b ) = ma + b.

x→a
 Theorem

1. lim ( mx + b ) = ma + b
x→a

2. lim x = a
x→a

3. lim c = c
x→a

lim x = 3 lim 2 = 2
x →3 x →−4
 Theorem

4. If lim f1 ( x ) = L1 and lim f 2 ( x ) = L2 then

x→a x→a

a. lim ( f1 ( x )  f 2 ( x ) ) = L1  L2
x→a

b. lim ( f1 ( x )  f 2 ( x ) ) = L1  L2
x→a

c. lim ( kf1 ( x ) ) = kL1

x→a

 f1 ( x )  L1
d. lim   = , provided L2  0
x→a  f ( x ) 
 2  L2
 Example 2.1.4

Evaluate the following limits.

1. lim ( x − 4 ) = 1 − 4 = −3
x →1

2. lim3 x = 3 ( 5 ) = 15
x →5

3. lim ( 4 x + 6 ) = 4 ( −1) + 6 = 2
x →−1

2x 2 ( 4) 8
4. lim = =
x→4 3 3 3
 Theorem

5. If lim f ( x ) = L and n is a positive

x→a

integer then
a. lim ( f ( x ) ) = L
n n
x→a

b. lim f ( x ) = L , if n is even
n n
x→a

and L is positive.
 Example 2.1.5
Evaluate the following limits.
1. lim ( x − 2 x + 3 x − 5 ) = 2 − 2 ( 2 ) + 3 ( 2 ) − 5
3 2 3 2

x→2

=8−8+6−5
=1
3 x + 2 3 ( −1) + 2 5
2 2

2. lim = =
x →−1 2 x − 1 2 ( −1) − 1 −3
3. lim x x + 1 = 2 2 + 1 = 2 ( 3) = 6
3 3
x→2
 x − 3x
2
0
4. lim  
x →0 2x 0
x ( x − 3)
= lim
x →0 2x
x−3
= lim
x →0 2
−3
=
2
 x − 5x + 6
2
0
5. lim  
x→2 x −4
2
0

= lim
( x − 2 )( x − 3)
x → 2 ( x − 2 )( x + 2 )

x−3
= lim
x→2 x + 2

−1
=
4
 x −2 0
6. lim
x→4 x − 4
 
0
x −2 x +2
= lim 
x→4 x − 4 x +2
x−4
= lim
x→4
(
( x − 4) x + 2 )
1
= lim
x→4 x +2
1
=
4
 h+3−2 0
7. lim  
h →1 h −1 0
h+3−2 h+3+2
= lim 
h →1 h −1 h+3+2

= lim
( h + 3) − 4
h →1
(
( h − 1) h + 3 + 2 )
h −1
= lim
h →1
( h − 1) ( h+3+2 )
 h −1
= lim
h →1
( h − 1) ( h+3+2 )
1
= lim
h →1 h+3+2
1
=
4
 Required Exercises

Answer Exercises 1.5 in TC7

On page51-53
Check your answers on A-127 to A-128
End of Chapter 2.1