2.

3 – The Precise Definition of a Limit

Graphical Representation of a Precise Limit

𝐿+𝜖

𝐿 
𝜖

𝐿−𝜖

𝛿 𝛿

𝑥0 − 𝛿 𝑥0 𝑥0 + 𝛿
 2.3 – The Precise Definition of a Limit
Find a value of delta () given epsilon ().
lim 3𝑥 − 1 = 5, 𝜀 = 0.5
𝑥→2

𝑓 𝑥 = 3𝑥 − 1 𝐿=5 𝑥0 = 2

0 < 𝑥 − 𝑥0 < 𝛿 ⟹ 𝑓 𝑥 −𝐿 <𝜀

0< 𝑥−2 <𝛿 ⟹ 3𝑥 − 1 − 5 < 0.5

0< 𝑥−2 <𝛿 ⟹ 3𝑥 − 1 − 5 < 0.5
0< 𝑥−2 <𝛿 ⟹ 3𝑥 − 6 < 0.5
0< 𝑥−2 <𝛿 ⟹ 3(𝑥 − 2) < 0.5
0< 𝑥−2 <𝛿 ⟹ 3 𝑥 − 2 < 0.5
0< 𝑥−2 <𝛿 ⟹ 3 𝑥 − 2 < 0.5
0.5
0< 𝑥−2 <𝛿 ⟹ 𝑥−2 <
3
1
0< 𝑥−2 <𝛿 ⟹ 𝑥−2 <
6
1
𝛿=
6
 2.3 – The Precise Definition of a Limit
Find a value of delta () given epsilon ().
lim 3𝑥 − 1 = 5, 𝜀 = 0.5 𝑓 𝑥 = 3𝑥 − 1 𝐿=5 𝑥0 = 2
𝑥→2
1
𝛿=
6
𝑓 2 =5
1
𝑓(𝑥0 + 𝛿) 𝑓 2+ = 5.5 𝐿+𝜀 5 + 0.5 = 5.5
6

1
𝑓(𝑥0 − 𝛿) 𝑓 2− = 4.5 𝐿−𝜀 5 − 0.5 = 4.5
6
1
𝐼𝑓 𝛿 < , 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝜖 < 0.5
6
𝐿𝑒𝑡 𝛿 = 0.1
𝑓(𝑥0 + 𝛿) 𝑓 2 + 0.1 = 5.3
𝜖 = 0.3 < 0.5
𝑓(𝑥0 − 𝛿) 𝑓 2 − .01 = 4.7
 2.3 – The Precise Definition of a Limit
Prove the following limit.
lim 7𝑥 − 9 = −30
𝑥→−3

𝑓 𝑥 = 7𝑥 − 9 𝐿 = −30 𝑥0 = −3

0 < 𝑥 − 𝑥0 < 𝛿 ⟹ 𝑓 𝑥 −𝐿 <𝜀

0 < 𝑥 − (−3) < 𝛿 ⟹ 7𝑥 − 9 − (−30) < 𝜀

0< 𝑥+3 <𝛿 ⟹ 7𝑥 − 9 + 30 < 𝜀
0< 𝑥+3 <𝛿 ⟹ 7𝑥 + 21 < 𝜀
0< 𝑥+3 <𝛿 ⟹ 7(𝑥 + 3) < 𝜀
0< 𝑥+3 <𝛿 ⟹ 7 𝑥+3 <𝜀
0< 𝑥+3 <𝛿 ⟹ 7 𝑥+3 <𝜀
𝜀 𝜀
0< 𝑥+3 <𝛿 ⟹ 𝑥+3 < 𝛿=
7 7
𝜀
𝐼𝑓 𝜀 > 0, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝛿 < , 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑘𝑒𝑒𝑝 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝐿 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 − 30 + 𝜀 𝑎𝑛𝑑 − 30 − 𝜀.
7
 2.4 – One-Sided Limits
A limit of a function can be analyzed from the left and right sides of a
particular value of x.

lim 𝑔 𝑥 = 4 lim 𝑔 𝑥 = 4
𝑥→2− 𝑥→2+

therefore

lim 𝑔 𝑥 = 4
𝑥→2
 2.4 – One-Sided Limits
A limit of a function can be analyzed from the left and right sides of a
particular value of x.

lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 2 lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 2
𝑥→1− 𝑥→1+

∴ lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 2
𝑥→1

lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 1 lim 𝑓 𝑥 =2
𝑥→−1− 𝑥→−1+

∴ lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝐷𝑜𝑒𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑒𝑥𝑖𝑠𝑡 (𝐷𝑁𝐸)

𝑥→−1
 2.4 – One-Sided Limits
Given the graph of a function, find the requested limits.

lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 3 lim 𝑓 𝑥 = −1
𝑥→−3− 𝑥→−3+

lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝐷𝑁𝐸 𝑓 −3 = 1
𝑥→−3

lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 2 lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 2
𝑥→0− 𝑥→0+

lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 2 𝑓 0 = 2
𝑥→0

lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 6 lim 𝑓 𝑥 = −1
𝑥→2− 𝑥→2+

lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝐷𝑁𝐸 𝑓 2 = 6
𝑥→2

lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 2 lim 𝑓 𝑥 = −4
𝑥→3− 𝑥→3+

lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝐷𝑁𝐸 𝑓 3 = 2
𝑥→3
 2.4 – One-Sided Limits
Given the graph of a function, find the requested limits.

lim 𝑓 𝑥 = −1 lim 𝑓 𝑥 = −2
𝑥→−3− 𝑥→−3+

lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝐷𝑁𝐸 𝑓 −3 = −1
𝑥→−3

lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 2 lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 2
𝑥→0− 𝑥→0+

lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 2 𝑓 0 = 2
𝑥→0

lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 1 lim 𝑓 𝑥 = −3
𝑥→1− 𝑥→1+

lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝐷𝑁𝐸 𝑓 1 = −3
𝑥→1

lim 𝑓 𝑥 = −1 lim 𝑓 𝑥 = −3
𝑥→2− 𝑥→2+

lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝐷𝑁𝐸 𝑓 2 = −3
𝑥→2
 2.4 – One-Sided Limits
𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽
𝑳𝒊𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈
𝜽

𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃 𝑠𝑖𝑛0
lim lim 1 ∙
𝜃→0 𝜃 2 + 3𝜃 𝜃→0 (0 + 3)

𝑠𝑖𝑛2 0 0 0
lim 2 = 1∙
𝜃→0 0 + 3(0) 0 3

0
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
lim
𝜃→0 𝜃(𝜃 + 3) 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃
lim =0
𝜃→0 𝜃 2 + 3𝜃
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
lim ∙
𝜃→0 𝜃 (𝜃 + 3)
 2.4 – One-Sided Limits
𝒔𝒊𝒏𝜽
𝑳𝒊𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈
𝜽

𝑠𝑖𝑛6𝑥 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑡
lim lim
𝑥→0 5𝑥 𝑡→0 5𝑡
6
sin 6 ∙ 0 0 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑡 6
lim = lim ∙
𝑥→0 5 0 0 𝑡→0 𝑡 5
𝑡 6
𝐿𝑒𝑡 𝑡 = 6𝑥, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑥 = 1∙
6 5
𝐴𝑠 𝑥 → 0, then t → 0 6
5
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑡
lim 𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑛6𝑥 6
𝑡→0 lim =
5 6 𝑥→0 5𝑥 5