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The Limit of A Function

The document discusses the limit of a function as the variable it depends on approaches a limit. Specifically, it examines the function f(x) = x^2 as x approaches 2. It shows that as x takes values closer to 2, such as the sequences 1.9, 1.99, 1.999, etc., the corresponding values of x^2 approach 4. Therefore, the limit of f(x) = x^2 as x approaches 2 is 4, regardless of whether x approaches 2 from the left or right.

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Himraj Bachoo
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54 views

The Limit of A Function

The document discusses the limit of a function as the variable it depends on approaches a limit. Specifically, it examines the function f(x) = x^2 as x approaches 2. It shows that as x takes values closer to 2, such as the sequences 1.9, 1.99, 1.999, etc., the corresponding values of x^2 approach 4. Therefore, the limit of f(x) = x^2 as x approaches 2 is 4, regardless of whether x approaches 2 from the left or right.

Uploaded by

Himraj Bachoo
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The limit of a function

We have defined the limit of a variable, but what we often have is a function of a variable -which is itself a variable. For example, y = f(x) = x. Now, a sequence of values of x, the independent variable, will cause a sequence of values of f(x), the dependent variable. The question is: As the values of x approach a limit c, will the corresponding values of f(x) approach a limit L ? If that is the case, then we write

"The limit of f(x) as x approaches c is L." In fact, let us see what happens to f(x) = x as x sequence: 1.9, 1.99, 1.999, 1.9999, 1.99999, . . . x will then become this sequence: 1.9, 1.99, 1.999, 1.9999, 1.99999, . . . It is easy to see that x approaches 2 = 4. 2. Suppose again that x assumes this

That is, if we go far enough out in the sequence of values of x, then the differences between the xs and 4 -|1.9 4|, |1.99 4|, |1.999 4|, |1.9999 4|, |1.99999 4|, . . . -- will become less than positive number we specify, however small. The definition of the limit of a variable will be satisfied. f(x) = x will approach 4 as a limit as x approaches 2. Moreover, if x approaches 2 from the right: 2.2, 2.1, 2.01, 2.001, 2.0001, 2.00001, . . . then those values cause x to become this sequence: 2.2, 2.1, 2.01 , 2.001, 2.0001, . . .

And that sequence also will approach 4. Therefore 4 is the limit of x whether x approaches 2 from the right or from the left. Therefore we can drop the + or signs and simply write:

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