Scribd
Upload
8 views

Limits and Continuity of Functions

Limits and Continuity of Functions NOTES

Uploaded by

Jemalyn Orlasan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
8 views

Limits and Continuity of Functions

Limits and Continuity of Functions NOTES

Uploaded by

Jemalyn Orlasan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 62

LIMITS OF

FUNCTIONS
WITH AND WITHOUT CALCULUS
SIGNIFICANCE/IMPORTANCE OF LIMITS

• You cannot have calculus without limits!


• Limits are needed to define differential calculus and so every
application of differential equations assumes that the limits defining
the terms in the equations exist.
• Limits are needed in integral calculus because an integral is over
some range of variables and these form the limits in the integrations.
REAL-LIFE APPLICATION OF LIMITS

• Given these two facts then every application of calculus


requires limits of one sort or another.
• Finding:
• a) the strength of electric, magnetic or gravitational fields.
• b) the areas, forces, weights of objects
LIMITS
DEFINITION OF LIMIT OF A FUNCTION

• Let f be a function defined at every number in some open interval


containing c, except possibly at the number c itself. If the value of f is
arbitrarily close to the number L for all the values of x sufficiently
close to c, then the limit of f(x) as x approaches c is L. This is written
as

Approaching means an unlimited degree of closeness that no other value


stands between f(x) and the limit.
EVALUATING LIMITS – NUMERICAL APPROACH
-CONSTRUCTION OF TABLE OF VALUES
2𝑥 2 +𝑥−3
Evaluate the lim 𝑓(𝑥) given that 𝑓 𝑥 =
𝑥→1 𝑥−1

x x

0 3 2 7
0.25 3.5 1.75 6.5
0.5 4 1.5 6
0.75 4.5 1.25 5.5
0.9 4.8 1.1 5.2
0.99 4.98 1.01 5.02
0.999 4.998 1.001 5.002
0.9999 4.9998 1.0001 5.0002
0.99999 4.99998 1.00001 5.00002
Evaluating limits – graphical approach
Graph
Graphical approach: Construct a table of
values and sketch the graph
CONTINUITY AND ONE-SIDED LIMITS

Informally, to say that a function f is continuous at x = c


means that there is no interruption in the graph of f at c.
That is, its graph is unbroken at c and there are no
holes, jumps or gaps.
Continuity at x = c can be destroyed by any
one of the following conditions:

1. The function is
undefined at x = c.
2. The limit of
f(x) does not
exist at x = c
3. The limit of
f(x) exists at x
= c but is not
equal to f(c)
Two types of discontinuity:
1. Removable
A discontinuity at c is called removable if f can be
made continuous by appropriately defining (or
redefining) f(c).
2. Nonremovable
EXAMPLES
Solution
The domain of f is all
non-zero real
numbers. Also, f is
continuous at every x
value in its domain. At
x = 0, f has a
nonremovable
discontinuity since
there is no way to
define f(0)so as to
make f(0) continuous
at x = 0.
The domain of g is all
real numbers except x =
1. Also, g is continuous
at every x-value in its
domain. At x = 1, g has a
removable discontinuity.
The newly defined
function is continuous
for all real numbers.
The domain of y is all
real numbers. The
function is continuous
on its entire domain.
ILLUSTRATION:

• Consider the function .


Evaluate
NOTE:
• If there is no single number to which the values f(x) approach
as x gets closer and closer to c, therefore the required limit
does not exist or;
• If f(x) approaches “two or more values” when the independent
variable approaches c, then does not exists.
EXAMPLE:

1. Let
• Determine if exists (indicate that it does not
exist).
2. Using the graph of the function or table of values, determine
if exists (or indicate it does not exist), where
At all points in the open interval (-1, 1)

Conclusion:
SOLVE THE FOLLOWING:
EXERCISE:

• Consider the following function:

Evaluate .
EXERCISE:

• Graph the sgn of x (signum function of x). Find the limit


if it exist. If the limit does not exist state the reason.
EXERCISE:

• Find the lim 𝐶(𝑥) if it exists.


𝑥→0
EXERCISE:

• Let g be defined by

• Find the if it exists.


EXERCISE:

• Let h be defined by

• Find each of the following limits if they exist:


EXERCISE:

a. Sketch the graph.


b. Find, if they exist, each of the following limits.
ILLUSTRATION
Determine the limits of each function shown as x approaches 1 from the left and
from the right
is 0, and the numerator is not 0. so, x =
-1 is a vertical asymptote.
The denominator is 0 at x = 1 and at x =
-1,while the numerator is not 0. therefore
the graph has two vertical asymptotes: x
= 1 and x = -1
Vertical asymptotes occur at all values
of x such tht sin x = 0 and cos x ≠ 0.
the function has infinitely many vertical
asymptotes and these occur at x = nπ.

You might also like