KATELYN D. ESCALANTE Definition of Limits Limits defined as a value that a function approaches the output for the given input values.
It is important in Calculus, and Mathematical
Analysis and used to defined integrals, Derivatives and Continuity. Algebraic Interpretation Consider the function y = 𝑥 2 + x + 2 Where : y is dependent variable and x is independent variable
If x is less than 2 but closest to 2. If x is greater than 2 but closest to 2.
Limits of a Function Suppose f(x) is defined when x is near the number a. ( This means the f is defined on some open interval that contains a, except possibly at a itself) Then we write lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝐿 𝑥→𝑐 and say “the limit of f(x), as x approaches a equals L”
if we can make the values of f(x) arbitrarily close to L (as close to L as we like) by taking x to be sufficiently close to a ( on either side of a) but not equal to a. Limits of a Function Using Table of values, for values of x that approach 1 Limit of a Function Limits Law
Theorem 1 Let f (x) and g(x) be functions defined on some open interval containing a, except possibly at a. lim f(x) exist, then its unique x→a Limits Law Law 3 – Constant Multiple Rule lim 𝑐 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑐 lim 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 Law 7 Limits Law 1 lim [𝑓 𝑥 ]𝑛 = (lim 𝑓(𝑥)) 𝑛 lim c = c Law 4 - The sum and difference Rule x→a 𝑥→𝑎 x→a lim f x ± g x = lim 𝑓 𝑥 ± lim 𝑔 𝑥 x→a x→a x→a
Law 8 Law 5 – Multiplication Rule 𝑛 𝑛 Limits Law 2 lim f x g x = lim 𝑓 𝑥 ⋅ lim 𝑔 𝑥 lim 𝑓(𝑥) = lim 𝑓(𝑥) x→a 𝑥→𝑎 x→a x→a x→a lim x = 𝑎 x→a Where is n is a positive integer. Law 6 – Quotient Rule 𝑓(𝑥) lim 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑥→𝑎 lim = 𝑥→𝑎 𝑔(𝑥) lim 𝑔(𝑥) 𝑥→𝑎 Provided that g(x) ≠ 0 in some open interval Calculating Limits using Limits Law 1. lim (𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 4) x→2 2. lim 𝑥 + 4 2𝑥 + 5 x→2 3. lim (3𝑥 + 4)2 x→3 4. lim (2𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 + 4) x→5 𝑥 3 +2𝑥 2 −1 5. lim 5−3𝑥 x→2 Direct Substitution Property If f is a polynomial or a rational function and a is in the domain of f, then lim f(x) = f(a) x→a
Functions with the Direct Substitution Property are called continuous at a.
In general, we have the following useful fact.
However, not all limits can be evaluated by direct substitution, as the following examples show.
𝑥2 − 1 lim 𝑥→1 𝑥 − 1
0 Applying the direct substitution will lead you in answer , 0 𝑥2 − 1 lim 𝑥→1 𝑥 − 1 𝑥3 − 1 (𝑥 + 1) − 1 1. lim 2. lim 𝑥→1 𝑥 − 1 𝑥→0 𝑥 1. Learn to recognize which limits can be evaluated by direct substitution 2. If the limit of f(x) as x approaches c cannot be evaluated by direct substitution, try to find a function g that agrees with f for all x other than x = c 3. Apply lim 𝑓(𝑥) = lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑔(𝑐) 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 4. Use a graph or table to reinforce your conclusion Examples Given the function above, find the following:
lim 𝑔 𝑥 = lim 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑥→−1 𝑥→2
lim 𝑔 𝑥 = lim 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑥→0 𝑥→1 Examples Given the function above, find the following:
lim 𝑔 𝑥 = lim 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑥→−1 𝑥→2
lim 𝑔 𝑥 = lim 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑥→0 𝑥→1 Example Solution Solution Solution Two-sided limit exists if and only if both of the one-sided Two-sided limits exist and are equal. Limits The Heaviside function H is defined by
lim 𝐻 𝑡 = ? 𝑡→0 One-Sided Limits Right Hand Limit Let f be a function defined on some open interval. Then the limit of the function f as x approaches a from the right is L, which is written as
lim+ 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝐿 𝑥→𝑎 One-Sided Limits Left-Hand Limit Let f be a function defined on some open interval. Then the limit of the function f as x approaches a from the left is L, which is written as
lim− 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝐿 𝑥→𝑎 Examples 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑝ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑎 𝑓𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑓 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑤𝑛 𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑤. 𝑈𝑠𝑒 𝑖𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑠 (if they exist) of the following:
lim− 𝑓 𝑥 = lim 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑥→1 𝑥→5
lim+ 𝑓 𝑥 = lim 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑥→1 𝑥→1 Examples 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑝ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑎 𝑓𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑓 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑤𝑛 𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑤. 𝑈𝑠𝑒 𝑖𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑠 (if they exist) of the following:
lim− 𝑓 𝑥 = lim 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑥→1 𝑥→5
lim+ 𝑓 𝑥 = lim 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑥→1 𝑥→1 Examples 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑝ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑎 𝑓𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑓 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑤𝑛 𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑤. 𝑈𝑠𝑒 𝑖𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑠 (if they exist) of the following:
lim− 𝑓 𝑥 = lim 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑥→1 𝑥→5
lim+ 𝑓 𝑥 = lim 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑥→1 𝑥→1 Examples 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑝ℎ 𝑜𝑓 𝑎 𝑓𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑓 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑤𝑛 𝑏𝑒𝑙𝑜𝑤. 𝑈𝑠𝑒 𝑖𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑠 (if they exist) of the following:
