CHAPTER 2

LIMIT AND CONTINUITY

Contents
1 LIMIT OF THE FUNCTION AND ONE SIDED LIMITS 2
1.1 Algebraic operation method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1.2 One-Sided Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

2 LIMIT LAWS AND SANDWICH THEOREM 8

2.1 Sandwich Theorem or Squeezing Theorem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

3 INFINITE LIMITS AND LIMIT AT INFINITY 12

3.1 Infinite Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
3.2 Limit at Infinity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

4 CONTINUITY OF THE FUNCTION 18

4.1 Continuity at a Point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
4.2 Discontinuous Point of a Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

5 L’HOPITAL RULE 22

6 EXERCISE 2 24

1
1 LIMIT OF THE FUNCTION AND ONE SIDED LIMITS
Definition 1

The limit of the function can be written as

lim f (x) = L
x→c

which means that the value of f (x) arbitrarily close to L by taking x to be sufficiently close to
c (on either side of c) but may not equal to c.

Roughly speaking, this says that the values of f (x) become closer and closer to the number L as x
approaches the number c (from either side of c)but may be x 6= c. Let us consider examples where
estimating a limit numerically.
Example 1:
Investigate the behaviour of the function defined by
f (x) = x2 − 4x + 3
for values of x near −1.
Solution:
The following table gives values of f (x) for values of x close to -1, but not equal to -1.

x < −1 y = x2 − 4x + 3 x > −1 y = x2 − 4x + 3
-2 15 0 3
-1.5 11.25 -0.5 5.25
-1.1 8.610 -0.9 7.41
-1.01 8.0601 -0.99 7.9401
-1.001 8.006001 -0.999 7.994001
-1.0001 8.00060001 -0.9999 7.99940001
-1.00001 8.0000600001 -0.99999 7.9999400001
-1.000001 8.000006000001 -0.999999 7.999994000001

From the table and the graph, we can see that when x is close to -1 (on either side of -1), value of
the function is close to 8.
∴ The limit of the function f (x) as x approaches −1 is equal to 8.

lim x2 − 4x + 3 = 8


x→−1

2
Example 2: x
Find the limit value of the function f (x) = √ as x → 0.
x+4−2
Solution:
The function f (x) is not defined at x = 0. Then, the following table lists values of the function for
several values of x near 0.

x<0 f (x) x>0 f (x)

-0.5 3.8708286934 0.5 4.1213203436
-0.1 3.9748417658 0.1 4.0248456731
-0.01 3.9974984355 0.01 4.0024984394
-0.001 3.9997499844 0.001 4.0002499844
-0.0001 3.9999749998 0.0001 4.0000249998
-0.00001 3.9999975001 0.00001 4.0000024998
-0.000001 3.9999997508 0.000001 4.0000002517
-0.0000001 3.9999999750 0.0000001 4.0000000256

From the result from the table and the graph, we can say that the limit of f (x) as x approaches 0
is 4.

3
 √
Example 3: t2 + 9 − 3
Find the limit of lim .
t→0 t2
Solution:
The function f (t) is not defined at t = 0, therefore we need to do again table for the f (t) at several
values of t near 0.

t→0 f (t)
0.5 0.165525060596439
0.1 0.166620396072670
0.01 0.166666203704757
0.001 0.166666661804982
0.0001 0.166666680456728
0.00001 0.166666680456728
0.000001 0.166533453693773
0.0000001 0.177635683940025
0.00000001 0.000000000000000
0.00000002 0.000000000000000
0.00000003 0.493432455388959
0.000000003 0.000000000000000
0.000000004 0.000000000000000

From the figure, we can conclude that as t approaches 0, the values of the function seem to approach
0.1666666; √
t2 + 9 − 3 1
lim = .
t→0 t2 6
However, there is something strange happening in the table as t approaches√0 closer and closer.
The problem here is that the calculator (or Excel) gave false values because t2 + 9 is very close
to 3 when t is sufficiently small. The ratio becomes 00 which is undefined but as we proof it tend
to 1/6.

4
1.1 Algebraic operation method
There are some cases when making tables or drawing graphs of the given functions do not give the
exact limit value of the function when x → c as in Example 3. Therefore, we need to use algebraic
operation method so that limit values of the function can be found more precisely and more
accurately. Let us consider Examples 1 - 3 and its solutions once again.
Example 4:
Evaluate the limits of the following functions

x2 − 4x + 3


1. lim
x→−1

x
2. lim √
x→0 x+4−2
√
t2 + 9 − 3
3. lim
t→0 t2

Solution:
1. Since function f (x) = x2 − 4x + 3 is defined at x = −1, then we have

lim f (x) = lim x2 − 4x + 3 = (−1)2 − 4(−1) + 3 = 8.

x→−1 x→−1

2. Since function f (x) is not defined at x = 0, then we need to use conjugate method to simplify
the function:
√
x x x+4+2
f (x) = √ =√ √
x+4−2 x+4−2 x+4+2
√
= x + 4 + 2.

Thus √
x
lim √ = lim x + 4 − 2 = 4.
x→0 x + 4 − 2 x→0

3. Since function f (t) is not defined at t = 0, then we need to use conjugate method to simplify
the function:
√ √ √
t2 + 9 − 3 t2 + 9 − 3 t2 + 9 + 3
f (t) = = √
t2 t2 t2 + 9 + 3
1
=√ .
2
t +9+3
Therefore √
t2 + 9 − 3 1 1
lim 2
= lim √ = .
t→0 t t→0 2
t +9+3 6

1.2 One-Sided Limits

From Examples 1 - 3, we have noticed that parameter x can approaches “c” from the left and right.
We indicate this situation symbolically by writing

lim f (x) and lim f (x).

x→c+ x→c−

5
For example, the symbol x → 0− indicates that x can take values less than “0” but close to “0”.
Likewise, x → 0+ shows that x takes values greater than “0” but close to zero.

Definition 2

The left-hand limit is given by

lim f (x) = L
x→c−

as “x” approaches “c” is equal to L < ∞ if we can make the values of f (x) close to L as we
wish by taking x to be sufficiently close to c but x less than “c”.
Similarly, the right-hand limit is given by

lim f (x) = L
x→c+

as x approaches “c” if we can make the values of f (x) close to L as we wish by taking x to be
sufficiently close to c but x greater than “c”.

This definitions are illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Right-hand limit and left-hand limit

From Definition 2 of one-sided limits we see that the following statement is true.

Theorem 1

lim f (x) = L exists if and only if lim f (x) = lim f (x) = L

x→c x→c+ x→c−

6
Example 5:
Find the limit of the function
3x − 1, x≥0

f (x) =
1, x<0
as x → 0.
Solution:
Direct limit computation cannot be applied for “f (x)”. Therefore we need to use one sided limit

lim f (x) = lim (3x − 1) = −1 = L1

x→0+ x→0+
lim f (x) = lim 1 = 1 = L2 .
x→0− x→0−

Thus, one sided limit exists but L1 6= L2 . According to the theorem, limit of f doesn’t exist.

Example 6:
Find the one sided limits of the function as x approaches −1.
Solution:
Direct limit computation can be applied for “f (x)”.

lim f (x) = lim (x2 − 4x + 3) = 8

x→−1 x→−1

According to the theorem, we can conclude that

lim f (x) = lim f (x) = 8.

x→−1+ x→−1−

Hence, the limit of f exist since we can easily find right and left hand limit of f as x approaches
“-1”.

7
2 LIMIT LAWS AND SANDWICH THEOREM
Up to now, we have dealt with one function and its limits. In this section, we will learn the limit
properties of two or more functions. The calculation of the limits of many functions is called “Limit
Laws”.

Definition 3

Suppose that “a” is a constant and the limits lim f (x) = L and lim g(x) = M exist. Then
x→a x→a

1.
lim [f (x) + g(x)] = lim f (x) + lim g(x) = L + M
x→a x→a x→a

2.
lim [f (x) − g(x)] = lim f (x) − lim g(x) = L − M
x→a x→a x→a

3.
lim [cf (x)] = c lim f (x) = cL
x→a x→a

4.
lim [f (x).g(x)] = lim f (x). lim g(x) = L.M
x→a x→a x→a

5.  
f (x) limx→a f (x) L
lim = = , m 6= 0
x→a g(x) limx→a g(x) M

6.
lim [c] = c
x→a

7.
lim x = a
x→a

8. h in
lim [f (x)]n = lim f (x) = Ln
x→a x→a

9.
lim xn = an
x→a

10. √ √
n n
lim x= a, a ≥ 0 if n = 2k
x→a

11. p q √
n n
lim f (x) = n lim f (x) = L
x→a x→a

where “n” is positive integer (if “n” is even, then we assume that lim f (x) > 0).
x→a

Limit Laws 11 can be proved as a consequence of Limit Law 10. It is believed that all thse properties
are true. Last but not least a property of polynomial functions is as follows:

8
 Definition 4: Direct substitution property

If f (x) is a polynomial or a rational function and “c” is in the domain of f (x), then

lim f (x) = f (c)

x→c

Example 7:

Use the limit laws and graph of f and g to evaluate the following limits, if they exist.

1. lim [f (x) + 5g(x)]

x→−2

2. lim [f (x).g(x)]
x→1
 
f (x)
3. lim
x→2 g(x)

Solution:
1. From the graph, lim f (x) = 1 and lim g(x) = −1, therefore
x→−2 x→−2

lim [f (x) + 5g(x)] = lim f (x) + 5 lim g(x)

x→−2 x→−2 x→−2
= 1 + 5.(−1) = −4

2. From the graph, we see that

lim f (x) = 2, lim g(x) = −1, lim g(x) = −2

x→1 x→1+ x→1−

Since one side limit of g(x) exist but not equal, lim g(x) does not exist.
x→1

3. The graph shows that

lim f (x) = 1.4, lim g(x) = 0
x→2 x→2

Since the limit of the denominator is 0, therefore limit does not exist.

9
Example 8:
Evaluate the following limits and justify
1. lim x2 − 2x + 1


x→2

2x − 1
2. lim
x→−1 x + 3

Solution:
1.

lim x2 − 2x + 1 = lim x2 − 2 lim x + lim 1

x→2 x→2 x→2 x→2

= 4 − 2.2 + 1 = L

2.
2x − 1 limx→−1 (2x − 1)
lim =
x→−1 x + 3 limx→−1 (x + 3)

2.(−1) − 1 3
= =− =L
−1 + 3 2

2.1 Sandwich Theorem or Squeezing Theorem

The Sandwich Theorem sometimes called the Squeezing Theorem or the Pinching Theorem.

Theorem 2

If f (x) ≤ g(x) ≤ h(x) when x is near “c” (except possibly at “c”) and lim f (x) = lim h(x) = L
x→c x→c
then
lim g(x) = L.
x→c

The situation is illustrated in Figure 2. It says that if f (x) is squeezed by f (x) and h(x) near “c”,
and if f (x) and h(x) have the same limit L at “c”, then g(x) is forced to have the same limit L at
“c”.

Figure 2:

10
Example 9: 1
Show that lim x2 sin = L.
x→0 x
Solution:
1
First note that we cannot use product limit law because lim sin does not exist. However, since
x→0 x
1
−1 ≤ sin ≤ 1, we have
x
1
−x2 ≤ x2 sin ≤ x2 .
x
2 2



Since lim −x = lim x = 0, by the Squeezing theorem we obtain
x→0 x→0

1
lim f (x) = lim x2 sin = 0.
x→0 x→0 x
Let x be any real number variable, and let c be a fixed real number. To say that x approaches c
means that x can take on any value which is arbitrarily close to c.

11
3 INFINITE LIMITS AND LIMIT AT INFINITY
3.1 Infinite Limits
1 1
We have seen that lim does not exist. If we consider similar function f (x) = 2 and need to find
x→0 x x
limit of f as x → 0, then one side limits yields
1
lim f (x) = lim f (x) = = +∞.
x→0+ x→0− (0± )2
According Theorem 1, we can conclude that
lim f (x) = +∞.
x→0
This does not mean that we are regarding “∞” as a number. It simply expresses the particular way
in which the limit does not exist.
In general, we write it symbolically
lim f (x) = +∞
x→c

to indicate that the values of f (x) tend to infinity or become larger and larger (or increase without
bound) as x becomes closer and closer to “c”.
Definition 5

Let f (x) be a function defined on both sided of “c” itself.

ˆ Then the statement

lim f (x) = +∞,
x→c

means that the values of f (x) can be made arbitrarily large positive by taking x sufficiently
close to “c” but may not be equal to “c”.

ˆ Similarly, the statement

lim f (x) = −∞,
x→c

means that the values of f (x) can be made arbitrarily large negative by taking x suffi-
ciently close to “c” but may not be equal to “c”.

Similar definition can be given for one sided limits

lim f (x) = ±∞,
x→c+
lim f (x) = ±∞.
x→c−

Example 10: x−1

Find the limit of the function f (x) = x+2 as x → −2.
Solution:
Direct computation does not hold; therefore we need to use one sided limits
x−1 −3
lim f (x) = lim = + = −∞
x→c+ x→−2+ x+2 0
x−1 −3
lim f (x) = lim = − = +∞
x→c − x→−2 x + 2
− 0

One sided limit exist as infinity and not equal, so limit of f (x) does not exist.

12
 Infinite limits of the function as x approaches “c” plays important role in finding vertical
asymptotes.
Definition 6

The line x = c is vertical asymptote of the curve y = f (x), if at least one of the following
statement is hold:

lim f (x) = ±∞ lim f (x) = ±∞ lim f (x) = ±∞.

x→c x→c+ x→c−

1
For instance, the y-axis (i.e. x = 0) is the vertical asymptote of the curve f (x) = x2
because
1
lim f (x) = lim = +∞.
x→0 x→0 x2

In the Figure 3, there are six cases for the vertical asymptotes.

Figure 3:

The following theorem is useful for practical purpose.

13
 Theorem 3

Let f and g be continuous on an open interval containing “c”. If f (c) 6= 0 and g(c) = 0, then
there exists an open interval containing “c” but x 6= c such that the function

f (x)
h(x) =
g(x)

has a vertical asymptote as x = c.

Example 11:
Find the vertical asymptotes of f (x) = cot 2x.
Solution:
Since
cos 2x
cot 2x =
sin 2x
According to the theorem, potential vertical asymptotes are sin(2x) = 0. It implies that

,n ∈ N
nπ
2x = 0 ± nπ = ±nπ ⇒ x = ±
2

, n ∈ N, is the vertical asymptotes because

nπ
This shows that the line x = ±
2
lim cot 2x = ±∞, lim cot 2x = ±∞,
x→0± x→( π2 )
±

lim cot 2x = ±∞,

±
x→(− π2 )

and so on.

3.2 Limit at Infinity

In computing infinite limits of the function, we let x approach to a finite number and the result was
that the values of y became arbitrarily large (positive or negative). Here we let x become arbitrarily
large (positive or negative) and see what happen to y.

14
 Definition 7

Let f be a function defined on some interval (a, ∞). Then

lim f (x) = L,
x→∞

means that the values of f can be made as close to L as we wish by taking x sufficiently large
in the positive direction.
Similarly,
lim f (x) = L,
x→−∞

means that the values of f can be made closer and closer to L as we wish by taking x negative
infinity. This leads to the horizontal asymptotes.

Definition 8: Horizontal Asymptotes

The line y = L is called a horizontal asymptote of the curve y = f (x) if

either lim f (x) = lim f (x) = L or lim f (x) = L

x→∞ x→+∞ x→−∞

hold.

Example 12:
Find the limit of f and its horizontal asymptotes as x → +∞
x2 − 1
f (x) =
x2 + 1

Solution:

x2 − 1 /x2


x2 − 1
lim f (x) = lim 2 = lim
x→∞ x→∞ x + 1 x→∞ (x2 + 1) /x2

1 − 1/x2 1−0
= lim 2
= =1=L
x→∞ 1 + 1/x 1+0

Thus, according to Definition 8, y = 1 is a horizontal asymptote.

For limit calculation we often use the following theorem results.

15
 Theorem 4

If k is any positive number, then

 
1
1. lim =0
x→+∞ xk
 
1
2. lim =0
x→−∞ xk

Example 13: x
Find lim
x→+∞ 1 + 2x3

Solution:

x x/x3
lim = lim
x→+∞ 1 + 2x3 x→+∞ (1 + 2x3 ) /x3

1/x2 0
= lim = =0
x→+∞ 2 + 1/x3 2

Example 14: 5x + 1
Find lim √
x→−∞ x2 + 3
Solution:
√
If x is large negative, then x2 = −x, therefore
5x + 1 5x + 1
lim √ = lim s 
x→−∞ 2
x +3 x→−∞ 
2
3
x 1+ 2
x
1
−5 −
= lim r x
x→−∞ 3
1+ 2
x
−5 − 0
=√ = −5
1+0

16
Example 15: p
Find lim x2 + 2x − x.
x→+∞

Solution:
√
We can use conjugate method and known facts x2 = x, x ≥ 0
p p  √x2 + 2x + x
lim x2 + 2x − x = lim x2 + 2x − x √
x→+∞ x→+∞ x2 + 2x + x
2x
= lim √
x→+∞ 2
x + 2x + x
2x
= lim s 
x→+∞ 
2
2
x 1+ +x
x
2
= lim r
x→+∞ 2
1+ +1
x
2
=√ =1
1+0+1

17
4 CONTINUITY OF THE FUNCTION
4.1 Continuity at a Point
What does it mean by continuity of a function f at any point c ∈ Dom(f )? A function f is called
continuous at “c” when there is no break in the graph of f at point “c”. Its graph is unbroken at
“c” and there are no holes, jumps or gaps.

Figure 4:

The function f in Figure 4 is discontinuous at three values of x, while the other points in the
interval (a, b), the graph of f is still uninterrupted and continuous. Before giving precise definition
of continuity of f we need to know interior point and end point.
Definition 9: Interior and End Points

We say c is an interior point of the domain of f if f is defined in an open interval containing

c ∈ (a, b). We say c is an end point of the domain f if c is not an interior point but f is
defined in an interval of the form (a, c] or [c, b).

Limit definition of continuity of f is given as follows:

Definition 10: Continuity

A function f is said to be continuous at a point c if the following conditions are satisfied

1. The function f (x) is defined at x = c, that is f (c) exist.

2. lim f (x) exist.

x→c

3. lim f (x) = f (c).

x→c

Definition 11

A function f is continuous from the right of a point “c” if

lim f (x) = f (c).

x→c+

18
 Similarly, a function f is continuous from the left of a point “c” if

lim f (x) = f (c).

x→c−

Definition 12: Continuity in an Interval

A function f is continuous on an interval S = (a, b) if is continuous at every point in

S = (a, b).
If f is defined on one side of an endpoint of the interval S = (a, b] or S = [a, b) then we
understand continuous from the right or from the left.

Example 16:
Figure 5 shows the graph of a function f . At which point is f discontinuous?
Why?

Figure 5:

Solution:
From the graph, we can see that the function f is discontinuous at x = 1 because f (1) is not
defined. At x = 5, the function f is defined but

lim f (x) 6= f (5).

x→5

The graph has also a break at x = 3. The reason for discontinuity is that one side limits are defined
but lim f (x) 6= lim f (x). Therefore lim f (x) does not exist.
x→3− x→3+ x→3

Example 17:
Where are each of the following function continuous?
x2 − x − 2
1. f (x) =
x−2
 2
 x −x−2
, x 6= 2
2. g(x) = x−2
1, x=2


19
Solution:
To find the continuity interval of the given function, we need to find the discontinuity points of the
function.
22 − 2 − 2 0
1. Notice that f (2) = = is not defined, so f is discontinuous at x = 2 . Thus, the
2−2 0
given function is continuous everywhere except x = 2 i.e. x ∈ R {2} = (−∞, 2) ∪ (2, ∞).

2. Since f (2) = 1 is defined and

x2 − x − 2 (x − 2)(x + 1)
lim f (x) = lim = lim = lim (x + 1) = 3
x→2 x→2 x−2 x→2 x−2 x→2

exists but limx→2 f (x) 6= f (2). Therefore f is not continuous at x = 2.

Theorem 5

1. Any polynomial function is continuous everywhere, that is continuous on R = (−∞, ∞)

2. Any rational function is continuous on its domain.

3. All trigonometric functions are continuous on its domain.

Theorem 6

All arithmetic combination of algebraic functions are continuous on its domain i.e. f ± g, f.g,
f
, g(x) 6= 0, cf are continuous.
g

Theorem 7

f g(x) is continuous at b, and f (x) is continuous at g(b) then the composite function (f ◦g)(x) =
f (g(x)) is continuous at b.

4.2 Discontinuous Point of a Function

A function f may not be continuous at a point c due to several reasons. For example, c is not in
the domain of f , or the limit of f at c does not exist, or the limit may exist but does not equal
f (c).

Definition 13: Discontinuous Point

For any function f discontinuous point is a point c such that point c satisfies one of the
followings:

1. either c is in the domain of f but f is not continuous at c,

20
 2. or c is not in the domain of f but f is defined in the interval of the form (a, c) and (c, b).

Example 18:
Determine whether function h(x) is continuous at the point given

x2 + x − 2
h(x) = , c = 1.
x−1

Solution:
12 + 1 − 2 0
It is easy to compute h(1) = = undefined. Hence h(x) is discontinuities at c = 1.
1−1 0
 2
Example 19:  x +x−2
, x 6= 1
Determine whether g(x) = x−1 is continuous or discontinuous
2, x=1


at every real number.

Solution:
Choose the point c = 1.

i. Since g(1) = 2, then g(x) is defined and

x2 + x − 2 x2 + x − 2
ii. One sided limits lim = lim = 3 exist.
x→1+ x−1 x→1− x−1
iii. but g(1) 6= limx→1 g(x).

Hence, g(x) is continuous at every real number except x = 1.

21
5 L’HOPITAL RULE
John Bernoulli, who used it to measure the limit of the fraction where the denominator and the
numerator were close to zero, found the rule. However the French mathematician, Guillaume Fran-
cois Antoine De L’Hopital, was the first mathematician to be formally introduced in a calculus
book.

Theorem 8

Suppose that we have one of the following cases,

f (x) 0 f (x) ±∞
lim = OR lim =
x→a g(x) 0 x→a g(x) ±∞

where a can be any real number, infinity or negative infinity. In these cases we have,

f (x) f 0 (x)
lim = lim 0
x→a g(x) x→a g (x)

L’Hopital’s Rule tells us that if we have an indeterminate form 0/0 or ∞/∞ all we need to do is
differentiate the numerator and differentiate the denominator and then take the limit.
Example 20:
Evaluate each of the following limits.
sin x
1. lim
x→0 x

5t4 − 4t2 − 1
2. lim
t→1 10 − t − 9t3

ex
3. lim
x→∞ x2

Solution:
1. So, we have already established that this is a 0/0 indeterminate form so let’s just apply
L’Hopital’s Rule.
sin x cos x 1
lim = lim = =1
x→0 x x→0 1 1

2. In this case we also have 0/0 indeterminate form and if we were really good at factoring we
could factor the numerator and denominator, simplify and take the limit. However, that’s
going to be more work than just using L’Hopital’s Rule.

5t4 − 4t2 − 1 20t3 − 8t 20 − 8 3

lim = lim = =−
t→1 10 − t − 9t3 t→1 −1 − 27t2 −1 − 27 7

3. This was the other limit that we started off looking at and we know that it’s the indeterminate
form ∞/∞ so lets’s apply L’Hopital’s Rule.

ex ex
lim = lim
x→∞ x2 x→∞ 2x

22
Now we have small problem. This new limit is also a ∞/∞ indeterminate form. However, it’s
not really a problem. We know how to deal with these kinds of limits. Just apply L’Hopital’s
Rule one again.
ex ex ex
lim = lim = lim =∞
x→∞ x2 x→∞ 2x x→∞ 2

23
6 EXERCISE 2
8 − x3
1. For the function f (x) = answer each of the following items.
x2 − 4
(a) Evaluate the function using the following values of x (use 8 decimal places):

(i) 2.5 (ii) 2.1 (iii) 2.01 (iv) 2.001 (v) 2.0001

(vi) 1.5 (vii) 1.9 (viii) 1.99 (ix) 1.999 (x) 1.9999

8 − x3
(b) Use the information from (a) to estimate the value of lim .
x→2 x2 − 4

(a) (i) -3.388889 (ii) -3.075610 (iii) -3.007506 (iv) -3.000750 (v) -3.000075

(vi) -2.642857 (vii) -2.925641 (viii) -2.992506 (ix) -2.999250 (x) -2.999925

(b) -3

sin(7θ)
2. For the function g(θ) = , answer each of the following items.
θ
(a) Evaluate the function using the following values of θ (use 8 decimal places). *Make sure
your calculator is set to radians for the computations.:

(i) 0.5 (ii) 0.1 (iii) 0.01 (iv) 0.001 (v) 0.0001

(vi) -0.5 (vii) -0.1 (viii) -0.01 (ix) -0.001 (x) -0.0001

sin(7θ)
(b) Use the information from (a) to estimate the value of lim .
θ→0 θ

(a) (i) -0.7015665 (ii) 6.4421769 (iii) 6.9942847 (iv) 6.9999428 (v) 6.9999994

(vi) -0.7015665 (vii) 6.4421769 (viii) 6.9942847 (ix) 6.9999428 (x) 6.9999994

(b) 7

3. Straightforward limits. Find the limits.

x+3
(a) lim (2x + 5) (b) lim (−x2 + 5x − 2) (c) lim
x→2 x→2 x→2 x + 6

y+2 3
(d) lim (5 − y)4/3 (e) lim (f) lim √
y→−3 y→2 y 2 + 5y + 6 y→0 3y + 1 + 1
5
(a) 9 (b) 4 (c)
8
1 3
(d) 16 (e) (f)
5 2

24
4. One side limits: Find the following limits
      
x 2x + 5 1 x+6 3−x
(a) lim (b) lim
x→−2+ x + 1 x2 + x x→1− x+1 x 7
√ √
2(x − 1) 2(x − 1)
(c) lim (d) lim
x→1+ |x − 1| x→1− |x − 1|

|x + 2| |x + 2|
(e) lim (x + 3) (f) lim (x + 3)
x→−2+ x+2 x→−2− x+2
√ √ √ √
h2 + 4h + 5 − 5 6− 5h2 + 11h + 6
(g) lim (h) lim
h→0+ h h→0− h
√ √
(a) 1 (b) 1 (c) 2 (d) − 2
2 −11
(e) 1 (f) -1 (g) √ (h) √
5 2 6

5. Evaluate the limit, if it exists.

6 + 4x x2 − 4x − 21
(a) lim 8 − 3x + 12x2


(b) lim (c) lim
x→2 x→−3 x2 + 1 x→7 3x2 − 17x − 28

(6 + x)2 − 36 5x3 + 8x2 4x − x2

(d) lim (e) lim (f) lim √
x→0 x x→0 3x4 − 16x2 x→4 2 − x

√ √
x2 + 12 − 4 2 − x2 − 5 x+2
(g) lim (h) lim (i) lim √
x→2 x−2 x→3 x+3 x→−2 x2+5−3
3 2
(a) 50 (b) − (c)
5 5
1
(d) 12 (e) − = (f) 16
2

1 3
(g) (h) 0 (i) −
2 2

6. Find a limit of a trigonometric function.

sin x 3(1 − cos x) cos x tan x

(a) lim (b) lim (c) lim
x→0 5x x→0 x x→0 x

tan2 x 1 − tan x
(d) lim (e) lim x sec x (f) lim
x→0 x x→π x→π/4 sin x − cos x

1
(a) (b) 0 (c) 1
5
√
(d) 0 (e) −π (f) − 2

25
7. Limit at infinity: Find the corresponding limits
√
2+ x x−1 + x−4
(a) lim √ (b) lim −2
x→∞ 2 − x x→∞ x − x−3
√
x − 5x + 3
3 p p 
(c) lim (d) lim x2 + x − x2 − x
x→−∞ 2x + x2/3 − 4 x→−∞

5
(a) -1 (b) ∞ (c) − (d) -1
2

8. Asymptotes: Find the vertical and horizontal asymptotes of the functions.

x2 − 3x + 2
 
3
(a) lim 2 − 1/3 (b) lim
x→0 x x→2 x3 − 4x

x+3 √ √

(c) lim (d) lim x+9− x+4
x→∞ x + 2 x→∞

(a) x = 0 (b) x = 0, x = −2

(c) 1 (d) 0

sin x
9. Using lim = 1, find the following limits
x→0 x

sin kx sin 2x
(a) lim , k is constant (b) lim
x→0 x x→0 x

x + x cos x sin(1 − cos x)

(c) lim (d) lim
x→0 sin x cos x x→0 1 − cos x

sin x −5x2 − x + sin x

(e) lim (f) lim
x→0 sin 2x x→0 2x
tan x
(g) lim sin x cot 2x (h) lim
x→0 x→0 x2 cot 3x

(a) k (b) 2 (c) 2 (d) 1

1 1
(e) (f) 0 (g) (h) 3
2 2

26
10. Evaluate each of the following problems.
f (x) − 5
(a) If lim = 1, find lim f (x)
x→4 x − 2 x→4

f (x) f (x)
(b) If lim 2
= 1, find lim f (x) and lim
x→−2 x x→−2 x→−2 x

f (x) − 5
(c) If lim = 3, find lim f (x)
x→2 x−2 x→2

f (x) f (x)
(d) If lim 2
= 1, find lim f (x) and lim
x→0 x x→0 x→0 x

f (x)
(a) lim f (x) = 7 (b) lim f (x) = 4; lim = −2
x→4 x→−2 x→−2 x
f (x)
(c) lim f (x) = 5 (d) lim f (x) = 0; lim =0
x→2 x→0 x→0 x

11. Use the Sandwich theorem or Squeeze Theorem to find lim f (x)
x→c

(a) c = 0; 4 − x2 ≤ f (x) ≤ 4 + x2

(b) c = a; b − |x − a| ≤ f (x) ≤ b + |x − a|

(c) c = 0; 2 − x2 ≤ f (x) ≤ 2 cos x

(a) 4 (b) b (c) 2

12. Prove the following statements


 2x, x<0
(
x2 , x 6= 1

(a) lim f (x) = 1 if f (x) = (b) lim f (x) = 0 if f (x) = x
x→1 2, x=1 x→0  ,
 x≥0
2

13. Please use the limit properties, one-sided limit properties (if needed) and the definition
of continuity to determine whether the given function is continuous or discontinuous at
indicated points.
4x + 5
(a) f (x) =
9 − 3x
(i) x = −1 (ii) x = 0 (iii) x = 3
6
(b) f (x) =
x2 − 3x − 10

(i) x = −2 (ii) x = 0 (iii) x = 5

(
2x, x<6
(c) g(x) =
x − 1, x ≥ 6

27
 (i) x = 4 (ii) x = 6
(
x2 , x < −2
(d) g(x) =
x + 6, x ≥ −2

(i) x = −2 (ii) x = 10

(a) (i) Continuous (ii) Continuous (iii) Not continuous

(b) (i) Not continuous (ii) Continuous (iii) Not continuous
(c) (i) Continuous (ii) Not continuous
(d) (i) Continuous (ii) Continuous

14. Find constant a and b such that f (2) + 3 = f (0) and f is continuous at x = 1.

 ax + b,
 if x > 1
f (x) = 3, if x = 1

 2
x − 4x + b + 3, if x < 1

a=0 b=3

15. For what values of a and b the following functions continuous at every x.

 ax + 3,
 if x > 5
(i) f (x) = 8, if x = 5

 2
x + bx + 1, if x < 5

sin ax

 x , if x < 0


(ii) f (x) = 5, if x = 0


x + b, if x > 0



 ax + 2b,
 if x ≤ 0
(iii) f (x) = x2 + 3a − b, if 0 < x ≤ 2

3x − 5, if x > 2


18 3 3
(i) a = 1 b=− (ii) a = 5 b=5 (iii) a = − b=−
5 2 2

16. Use L’Hopital’s Rule to evaluate each of the following limits.

x3 − 7x2 + 10x sin(πx) ln(3x)

(a) lim (b) lim (c) lim
x→2 x2 + x − 6 x→−4 x2 − 16 x→∞ x2

28
 x2 2
(d) lim (e) lim [cos(2x)]1/x (f) lim [ex + x]1/x
x→−∞ e1−x x→0+ x→∞

6 π
(a) − (b) − (c) 0
5 8

(d) 0 (e) e−2 (f) e1

29