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Stem 2
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
DEPARTMENT
Basic Calculus

At the end of the course, the students must know how to

determine the limit of a function, differentiate, and integrate
algebraic, exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric functions
in one variable, and to formulate and solve problems involving
continuity, extreme values, related rates, population models, and
areas of plane regions.
Lesson 1: Evaluating Limits Through Table of Values

At the end of this course, the learners will demonstrate

 Define limit of a function
 Define one-sided limits
 Define infinite limits
 Estimate the limit of a function using table of values

When you ride a car, do you notice its speed? Do you notice the
movement of the speedometer? The car may have different
speeds at any given moment. Let us say you went out of town for
a vacation and the trip lasted five hours. We can estimate the
average speed of your car for five hours from your house to your
destination. We can also estimate the average speed of your car
in a particular hour or even in a particular minute. However, is it
possible to estimate the speed of your car in a particular
instance?

To answer this question, we need the concept of limits. What

comes to your mind when you hear the word “limit”? It could be

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the speed limit at a highway, laws, restrictions, a maximum
value, or a boundary. Calculus is a branch of mathematics with a
foundation on the limits of functions. Thus, a solid grasp of the
different types of functions is necessary. Limits are essential for
other important Calculus topics such as derivatives and
integrals. In this lesson, we will discover more about limit of a
function using table of values.

In this lesson, we will talk about finding the value that is being
approached by a sequence of values. We will call this the limit.
Thus, the area of the unit circle is the limit of the areas of the
polygons as the number of sides increases indefinitely. Note that
the area of the inscribed polygon cannot be greater than π,
which is the area of the unit circle. This makes sense visually
since the polygons are inscribed in the unit circle.

Let us look at another example on the idea of

approaching certain values. The square below has
an area of one square unit.

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We can divide the square into two such that each part is 2 square
unit. We can further divide one half of the square to produce two
1 1 1
-square-unit parts. We can divide of the square into two -
4 4 8
square-unit parts, and so on. Note that there is no end to this
process since we can always divide the next fraction by two. The
resulting figure is as follows.
We can write these fractions as terms in an infinite series.

It can be observed that the terms in the series are decreasing

and getting closer and closer to zero, but it will never reach zero.
Is there a way to get the value of this infinite series? It would be
impossible to add all the terms. However, let us see if we can
estimate the value of the infinite series by observing the value of
the first n terms using a table of values.

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Intuitive Definition of the Limit of a Function
Let us investigate what happens to the value of the linear
function f(x) = x + 4 as x approaches 2. The given table shows x-
values that are very close to 2 from the left and right sides of the
number line. What happens to the value of f(x) as x approaches
2?

Notice that as the value of x gets closer and closer to 2 from both
sides, the value of f(x) gets closer and closer to 6 from both
sides. Thus, we say that “the limit of the function f(x) = x + 4 as
x approaches 2 is equal to 6.”

Intuitive Definition of a Limit

Suppose the function f(x) is defined when x is near c. If f(x) gets
closer to a real number L as x gets closer to c (both from left and
right of c), then we say that “the limit of f(x) as x
approaches c is equal to L.” This is written as

In this case, we say that the limit exists. The number c may or
may not be in the domain of the function f(x).

Thus, we can write the limit of the function f(x) =

x + 4 as

Based on the intuitive definition of a limit, it is important to note

that the function need not be defined at a for a limit to exist at a .

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Estimate the limit of the quadratic function g( x )=x 2−6 x +14 as x
approaches 4 using table of values.

Solution
The domain of a quadratic function is the set of real numbers.
Therefore, the limit of the given function at x=4 exists. Using
tables, let us find the values of g(x ) for values of x that are very
close to 4 . Note that we can use arbitrary x values as long as we
get as close as possible to x=4.

Step 1: Construct two tables with arbitrary x values that are very
close to the value x=4 from the left and right sides.

Step 2: Complete the table by solving the value of g(x ) for each x
value.

Step 3: Estimate the values that are being approached by g(x) as

x approaches 4 from the left and right sides.
The value of g(x ) approaches 6 from both sides. Therefore, we
estimate the limit to be equal to 6.

Thus, we write lim ( x 2−6 x+ 14 ) =6. This is read as “the limit of

x→ 4

( x 2−6 x +14 ) as x approaches 4 is equal to 6.

Estimate lim √ x using table of values.

x →9

Solution:
Let h( x)= √ x The domain of the radical functionh( x)= √ x is the set
containing zero and all positive real numbers. Thus, we can get
the limit as x approaches 9 from both sides.

Step 1: Construct two tables with arbitrary x values that are

very close to the value x=9 from the left and right sides.

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Let us select x values that are close to x=9 . The goal is to examine
the behavior of the value of h( x) as x approaches 9 from both
sides, so the number of decimal places that we need for the x
values need not be as many as possible.

Step 2: Complete the table by solving the values of h( x) for each

x value.

Step 3: Estimate the values that are being approached by h( x) as

x approaches 9 from the left and right sides. Notice that the value
of h ¿) approaches 3.

From the tables, we can say that, lim √ x=3.

x →9

sinx
Estimate lim x .
x →0

Solution
sinx sinx
Let (x )= x . The function m(x )= x is defined everywhere except
at x=0 . Note that in finding the limit, we are only concerned
about the value being approached by m(x ) as x approaches zero.
The function need not be defined at x=0 .
Step 1: Construct two tables with arbitrary x values that are very
close to 0 from the left and right sides.
sinx
The goal is to examine the behavior of the values of m(x )= x as x
approaches 0 from both sides, so the number of decimal places
that we need for the x values need not be as many as possible.
Then estimate the values that are being approached by m(x ) as x
approaches 0 from the left and right sides.

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 sinx
Therefore, we can say that lim x =1
x →0

One-Sided Limits

We find the limit of a function by observing the value it

approaches from two sides. We can also talk about the limit of a
function f(x) as x approaches a certain value from either left or
right side only. This is called a one-sided limit.

Left-hand Limit: Suppose the function f (x) is defined when x is

near c from the left. If f (x) gets closer to M as x gets closer to c
from the left, then we say that “the limit of f (x) as x approaches c
from the left is equal to M .” This can be written as

Right-hand Limit: Suppose the function f (x) is defined when x is

near c from the right. If f ¿ ) gets closer to N as x gets closer to c
from the right, then we say that “the limit of f (x) as x approaches
c from the right is equal to N .” This can be written as

The number c may or may not be in the domain of the function

f (x).

Given a function f (x) and a number a , the values of M and N above

may or may not be equal. If the values of M and N are equal, then
the limit of f (x) as x approaches c exists. If the values of M and N
are not equal, then the limit of f (x) as x approaches c does not
exist.

Given the piecewise function m(x) below, estimate lim ¿ using a

+¿
x→ 1 m ( x ) ¿

table of values.

Solution:

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Step 1: Construct a table with arbitrary x values that are close to
1 from the right side.

Step 2: Estimate the values that are being approached by m(x ) as

x approaches 1 from the right. Notice that as x approaches 1 from
the right, m(x ) approaches 1.

Therefore, we write lim ¿

+¿
x→ 1 m ( x ) =1.¿

Infinite Limits
A function f (x) may not have a limit as x approaches a certain
value because it increases or decreases indefinitely. In this case,
we will use the concept of infinity.
Suppose the function f (x) is defined when x is as near as possible
to c on both sides.

If f (x) increases without bound as x approaches c ,

then we write

If f (x) decreases without bound as x approaches c ,

then we write

In both cases, the limit does not exist.

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 1
Estimate the lim 2
x →3 ( x−3)

Solution:

Therefore,

x +6
lim
x →2 x−2

Solution:

Observe that the value of r (x ) decreases without bound as x

approaches 2 from the left and increases without bound as x
approaches2 from the right. Thus,

x +6
Therefore, lim x−2 does not exist.
x →2

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To check if you indeed understand, try to answer the
following questions.

Evaluate the following limits below.

1. lim 3 x −5
x →0

3 2
x −3 x
2. lim
x →3 5 x−15

2
x −5 x +4
3. lim
x →1 x−1

4. lim 2x+4 x
x→ 4

2
x −5 x +6
5. lim
x →3 x −3

Answer Key:

1. -5 2. 3 3. -3 4. 24 5. 1

References:

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 Basic Calculus| Lesson 1: Evaluating Limits through Table of Values
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Name: ________________________ Name of
Teacher:____________________
Grade and Section: _________________ Date:
___________________
General Instruction: Show your complete solutions (table of
values). Use extra sheets for the solutions.
Evaluate the following limits below.

| x+1|
1. lim 2+ 4 x 6. lim
x→ 4
x→−1 x+1

2 lim ¿
2. lim 2 x −5 x−3 7. +¿ 1
x →3 x −3 x→ 0
x
2
¿

x−2 lim ¿
3.lim 2 8. −¿ 1
x →2 x −4 x→ 0
x
2
¿

2
x +3 x−6 1
4. lim 9. lim 2
x →0 x →0 x

1 2x
5. lim x 10. lim x−3
x →0 x →3

Rubrics 10 6 3 0
Precision of Shows hits the Poor No
Answer evidence correct answer answer
s, answer with lack
relevanc but lack of
e and of evidence
hits the evidence s
correct s
answer
Timeliness Additional 10pts: on time│8pts: 1-2days

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 (Submission) late │6pts: 3-4days late│4pts: 5-6days
late│2pts: 1week late│0pts: more than a
week or months late

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