Outline Left and right handed limits Squeeze theorem

MATH 101 - Right and left handed limits

S Sial

Dept of Mathematics
LUMS

June 2018
Outline Left and right handed limits Squeeze theorem

Outline

Left and right handed limits

Squeeze theorem
Outline Left and right handed limits Squeeze theorem

Regular limits

Idea
We are considering the values f (x) that f takes for x in small
punctured intervals (x0 − δ, x0 + δ) \ {x0 } as positive δ gets smaller
and smaller.
Outline Left and right handed limits Squeeze theorem

Regular limits

Punctured interval

(x0 − δ, x0 + δ) \ {x0 } = (x0 − δ, x0 ) ∪ (x0 , x0 + δ)

Outline Left and right handed limits Squeeze theorem

Directional limits

How does a function behave on shrinking half intervals?

(x0 , x0 + δ) or (x0 − δ, x0 )
Outline Left and right handed limits Squeeze theorem

Right handed limit

Notation

lim f (x) = L
x→x0+

means that as x gets arbitrarily close to x0 taking values greater

than x0 but never equal to x0 , f (x) takes values arbitrarily close to
L.
Outline Left and right handed limits Squeeze theorem

Left handed limit

Notation

lim f (x) = L
x→x0−

means that as x gets arbitrarily close to x0 taking values less than

x0 but never equal to x0 , f (x) takes values arbitrarily close to L.
Outline Left and right handed limits Squeeze theorem

Example

Let f : R → R be defined by
(
1 , x >0
f (x) =
0 , x ≤0
Outline Left and right handed limits Squeeze theorem

Example contd

What are the domain, codomain, and range of this function?

Outline Left and right handed limits Squeeze theorem

Example contd

Directional limit

lim f (x) = lim 0 = 0

x→0− x→0−
Outline Left and right handed limits Squeeze theorem

Example contd

Directional limit

lim f (x) = lim 1 = 1

x→0+ x→0+
Outline Left and right handed limits Squeeze theorem

Directional and regular limits

If the directional limits exist and are different,

then the regular limit does not exist.

Outline Left and right handed limits Squeeze theorem

Example contd

Regular limit
As
lim f (x) 6= lim f (x)
x→0+ x→0−

the regular limit

lim f (x)
x→0

does not exist.

Outline Left and right handed limits Squeeze theorem

When the regular limit exists at x0

If the regular limit exists at x0

lim f (x) = L
x→x0

The directional limits exist and are equal to L

lim f (x) = lim f (x) = L

x→x0+ x→x0−
Outline Left and right handed limits Squeeze theorem

Example

sin and cos are continuous everywhere so

1
lim sin(x) = sin(π/4) = √
x→π/4 2

Since the regular limit exists

1
lim sin(x) = √
x→π/4+ 2
1
lim sin(x) = √
x→π/4− 2
Outline Left and right handed limits Squeeze theorem

When directional limits exist and are equal

If

lim f (x) = lim f (x) = L

x→x0+ x→x0−

Then

lim = L
x→x0
Outline Left and right handed limits Squeeze theorem

Example

Consider f : R → R defined by
(
x2 , x ≥0
f (x) =
−x , x <0
Outline Left and right handed limits Squeeze theorem

Example contd

What are the domain, codomain, and range of this function?

Outline Left and right handed limits Squeeze theorem

Example contd

Directional limits at 0?

lim f (x) = lim x 2 = 02 = 0

x→0+ x→0+

lim f (x) = lim −x = − 0 = 0

x→0− x→0−
Outline Left and right handed limits Squeeze theorem

Example contd

Regular limit at 0?
As the directional limits are both 0

lim f (x) = 0
x→0
Outline Left and right handed limits Squeeze theorem

When a directional limit does not exist

If one or both directional limits do not exist

Then the regular limit does not exist

Outline Left and right handed limits Squeeze theorem

Example

Consider f : R → R defined
(
1/x , x >0
f (x) =
−x , x ≤0
Outline Left and right handed limits Squeeze theorem

Example contd

What are the domain, codomain, and range of this function?

Outline Left and right handed limits Squeeze theorem

Example contd

Directional limit at 0

lim f (x) = lim 1/x

x→0+ x→0+
The limit does not exist.
Outline Left and right handed limits Squeeze theorem

Example contd

Directional limit at 0

lim f (x) = lim −x

x→0− x→0−
= −0
= 0
Outline Left and right handed limits Squeeze theorem

Example contd

Since one of the directional limits at 0 does not exist,

the regular limit at 0 does not exist.

Outline Left and right handed limits Squeeze theorem

When directional limits exist but are not equal

Then the regular limit does not exist

Outline Left and right handed limits Squeeze theorem

Example

Consider f : R → R defined by
(
x2 + 1 , x ≥0
f (x) =
−x , x <0
Outline Left and right handed limits Squeeze theorem

Example contd

What are the domain, codomain, and range of this function?

Outline Left and right handed limits Squeeze theorem

Example contd

What are the directional limits at 0?

lim = 02 + 1 = 1
x→0+

lim = −0 = 0
x→0−
Outline Left and right handed limits Squeeze theorem

Example contd

Regular limit at 0?
Since the directional limits at 0 are different, the regular limit at 0
does not exist.
Outline Left and right handed limits Squeeze theorem

Squeeze theorem

Squeeze theorem for directional limits.

Outline Left and right handed limits Squeeze theorem

Example

Let f : [0, ∞) → R be defined by

√
 
1
f (x) = x sin
x
Outline Left and right handed limits Squeeze theorem

Example contd

What are the domain, codomain, and range of this function?

Outline Left and right handed limits Squeeze theorem

Example contd

Use the squeeze theorem to show

lim f (x) = 0
x→0+
Outline Left and right handed limits Squeeze theorem

Example contd

Note that

−1 ≤ sin(1/x) ≤ 1
Outline Left and right handed limits Squeeze theorem

Example contd

For positive x
√ √ √
− x ≤ x · sin(1/x) ≤ x
Outline Left and right handed limits Squeeze theorem

Example contd

Limits of the bounding functions

√ √
lim+ − x = 0 = lim+ x
x→0 x→0
Outline Left and right handed limits Squeeze theorem

Example contd

Then by the squeeze theorem

lim f (x) = 0
x→0+
Outline Left and right handed limits Squeeze theorem

Example

Let f : R → R be defined by
(
1 + x2 , x rational
f (x) =
1 , x irrational
Outline Left and right handed limits Squeeze theorem

Example contd

Show that

lim f (x) = 1
x→0+
Outline Left and right handed limits Squeeze theorem

Example contd

Consider that

1 ≤ 1 ≤ 1 + x2
and
1 ≤ 1 + x2 ≤ 1 + x2
Outline Left and right handed limits Squeeze theorem

Example contd

Then

1 ≤ f (x) ≤ 1 + x 2
Outline Left and right handed limits Squeeze theorem

Example contd

Limits of the bounding functions

lim 1 = 1 = lim 1 + x 2
x→0+ x→0+
Outline Left and right handed limits Squeeze theorem

Example contd

Then by the squeeze theorem

lim f (x) = 1
x→0+