Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
MODULE II
LIMITS
CONTENTS:
What gives calculus its power and distinguishes it from the other branches
of mathematics is the concept of limits. The purpose of this module is to explain
this fundamental concept.
GENERAL OBJECTIVES:
At the end of this module, the students are expected to perform the
following:
define limits and continuity
illustrate limits
describe limits and its properties
evaluate limits
determine vertical and horizontal asymptotes
sketch the graphs of function with vertical and horizontal asymptotes
demonstrate continuity of a function.
43
OBJECTIVES:
At the end of this lesson, the students are expected to perform the
following:
define limits;
illustrate limits and its theorems; and
evaluate limits applying the given theorems.
INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES:
The following discussion will form the foundation for a more rigorous
development of the laws and procedures of Calculus.
PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT:
x3 - 1
f (x) =
x -1
Note that the given function is not defined at x = 1 since at this point f(x)
0
has the form which is meaningless or indeterminate.
0
x3 - 1
y= 3.64 3.31 3.03 ? 2.97 2.71 2.31 2.19
x -1
y
3.64
f(x) y=
1.20 3.31 4
1.10
1.01 3.03 3
0.99 2.97
0.90
2.71 2
0.80
1
0.70 2.31 f(x)
2.19
x
x y 1 2
Schematic
Diagram
From the illustrations above, we arrived at the conclusion that “f(x)
approaches 3 as x approaches 1”. In symbol we write
x3 - 1
lim =3
x �1 x - 1
x3 - 1
and read as “the limit of as x approaches 1 is 3.”
x -1
x3 - 1 ( x - 1)( x 2 + x + 1)
lim = lim
x �1 x - 1 x �1 x -1
= lim( x 2 + x + 1) , x1
x �1
= 12 + 1 + 1
=3
x -1
To justify the second illustration, note that = 1 as long as x �1 .
x -1
45
lim f ( x ) = L means that when x is close to but not equal to a, then f(x) is
x �a
close to L.
Example:
lim 4 = 4
x�2
lim x = a
x �a
Example:
lim x = -5
x �-5
Example:
lim(2 x + 3) = 2(4) + 3
x �4
= 11
Example:
lim(2 x - 5) = lim(2 x ) + lim( -5)
x �4 x �4 x �4
= 8 -5
=3
[lim f ( x)]n = Ln
xa
Example:
3
lim (3 x + 6)3 = �lim (3 x + 6)�
x �-3 �x �- 3 �
= (-3)3
= -27
If lim
x �a
f(x) = L and lim g(x) = M , then
x �a
f ( x) lim f (x)
xa
lim =
x a g ( x ) lim g(x)
xa
Example: L
= lim(2
, Mx ) 0
lim
x �5
2x
5x - 4
= M x �5
10
=
21
lim n f ( x) = n lim f ( x)
xa xa note: If n is even L > 0.
=n L
Example:
8x + 1 8x + 1
lim = lim
x �1 x +3 x �1 x + 3
9
=
4
3
=
2
Solution:
( ) ( )( ) + ( lim 4) ( lim x ) - lim1
2
lim 3 x 2 + 4 x - 1 = lim 3 lim x
x �3 x �3 x �3 x �3 x �3 x �3
= 3 ( 3) + 4 ( 3) - 1
2
= 27 + 12 - 1
= 38
or: When evaluating the limit of a function at a given value, simply replace the
variable by the indicated limit then solve for the value of the function:
( )
lim 3 x 2 + 4 x - 1 = 3 ( 3 ) + 4 ( 3 ) - 1
x �3
2
= 27 + 12 - 1
= 38
x3 + 8
Example 6.2. Evaluate lim
x � -2 x + 2
Solution:
x 3 + 8 ( -2 ) + 8 -8 + 8 0
3
lim = = = (indeterminate)
x � -2 x + 2 -2 + 2 0 0
x3 + 8
\ lim = 12
x � -2 x + 2
x+2- 2
Example 6.3. Evaluate lim
x �0 x
49
Solution:
x+2- 2 2- 2 0
lim = = (indeterminate)
x �0 x 0 0
x+2 - 2 2
\ lim =
x �0 x 4
8 x 3 - 27
Example 6.4. Evaluate lim3
x�2 4x 2 - 9
Solution:
3
�3 �
8 � �- 27
8 x - 27
3
�2 � 27 - 27 0
lim3 = = = (indeterminate)
x�2 4x - 9
2 2
�3 � 9-9 0
4 � �- 9
�2 �
x 3 + 2x + 3
Example 6.5. Evaluate lim
x �2 x2 + 5
Solution:
50
( 2) + 2 ( 2) + 3
3
x 3 + 2x + 3
lim =
x2 + 5 ( 2)
2
x �2
+5
8+4+3
=
4+5 .
15
=
9
15
=
3
EXERCISES:
1. xlim (4x 2 - 5 x + 2)
�-3
2x + 1
2. lim
x �-1 x - 3x + 4
2
x 2 + 3x + 4
3. lim
x �-1 x3 + 1
x3 - 8
4. lim
x �2 x - 2
3x - 1
5. lim1
x�3 9 x 2 - 1
2x 3 + 3 x 2 - 2 x - 3
6. lim
x �1 x2 - 1
1
�4y 3 + 8 y �3
7. lim � �
y �2
� y +4 �
(y-1)(y 2 + 2y - 3)
8. lim
y �1 y 2 - 2y + 1
- 21
9. lim(2x
4
- 9 x 3 + 19)
x �5
w 2 + 7w + 7
10. lim
w �-1 w 2 - 4w - 5