DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS (Mathematics of Engineering)

Lesson 1: Limits

Objective:

 Define a limit as well as give examples of limits of functions to help clarify the concept.
 Discuss the properties of limits that we’ll need to use in computing limits.
 Estimating the value of limits in this section to help us understand what they tell.

Readings:

CALCULUS is a method of counting developed by Sir Isaac Newton and Wilhelm Leibniz in the
17th Century. This chapter introduces the concepts or ideas to the student which are needed in
learning Calculus.

Function of a variable

A Function is a rule that associates, with each value of a variable, example x in a certain
set, to the exactly one value of another variable y. The variable x is the independent variable or the
set of domain of the function and the variable y is the dependent variable or range of the function.
The concept of function was considered by Leonhard Euler as any function

A Function can be classified as either algebraic or transcendental function. Examples of

algebraic functions are polynomial functions and irrational functions. The transcendental functions
are trigonometric functions, inverse trigonometric functions, exponential functions and logarithmic
functions.

Examples

Algebraic Function: y = 4x3 – 3x + 2

y= √

Trigonometric Function: y = cos 2x

Inverse Trigonometric Function: y = Arcsin

Exponential Function: y = 23x

Logarithmic Function: y = ln (3x – 2)

LIMITS

The concept of limit is one of the most crucial things to understand in order to prepare for
calculus. A limit is a number that a function approaches as the independent variable of the function
approches a given value. For example

Symbolically;

In reading this, you could say, “The limit of f(x) as x approaches a is L.” or “The limit of f(x) as x
goes to a is L.”

Provided we can make f(x) as close to L as we want for all x sufficiently close to a, from both
sides, without actually letting x be a.

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 Theorems on limits

1.

2. =0

3. =

4. = +

5. = .

6. =

7. √ = √

8. =

Example: Evaluate the following limits

1)

Solution:

= +

= 3(2) + 5

= 11 Ans.

2)

Solution:

= + –

= (1)2 + 8(1) – 3

=6 Ans.

3) √

Solution:

√ =( )( √ )

= (-2)2 [√ ]

= 4 (√ )

= 4(3)

= 12 Ans

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 4)

Solution:

=1 Ans.

Note: In the problems above, finding the limit of a funtion is just direct substitution.

5)
Recall: Any number with a divisor of zero “0”
Solution: is undefined.

= = undefined where, n= any number

= undefined

Note: A direct sustitution does not always work. Often a value of the function is
undefined.

If the limit of the function is undefined, double check it if it is really undefined. The first
thing that we should always do when evaluating limits is to simplify the function as
much as possible. In this case that means factoring both the numerator and denominator

New Solution:

= Recall: Factoring polynomial

(x2 – y2) = (x + y) (x – y)
=
(x2 – 1) can be express as (x2 – 12)
Therefore,
= (x2 – 12) = (x + 1) (x – 1)

= (1) + 1
Therefore, undefined
=2 Ans.
=2

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 HOW TOESTIMATE THE VALUE OF THE FUNCTION OF A LIMIT.

Example:

The point of this section is to give us a better idea of how limits work and what they can tell
us about the function.

To estimate the value of the limit, will choose values of x that get closer and closer to x=2 and
substitute these values into the function. Doing this gives the following table of values.

Notice that we can’t actually plug in x = 2 into the function as this would give us a division by
zero error. This is not a problem since the limit doesn’t care what is happening at the point in
question.

From this table it appears that the function is going to 4 as x approaches 2, so

=4

Note: If we are going to evaluate this function already, the

6)
√ answer will be Undefined because the denominator or the
√ divisor of the function will become “0”, so we’ll expand the
function first using factoring polynomial

√ √
=
√ √

√ Recall: Factoring Polynomial

=
√
(y2 – 9) = (y + 3) ( y – 3)
√
= 2y3 + 7y + 3 = (2y + 1) (y + 3)
√

√
=
√

√
=
√

=√ Ans.

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 Note: If we are going to evaluate this function already, the
answer will be Undefined because the denominator or the
7) divisor of the function will become “0”, so we’ll expand the
function first using factoring polynomial
=

=- Ans

8) =

=
= 4 (-1/2)
=-2 Ans.

√
9) This time, we’ll simplify the function using the conjugate method,
meaning we will multiply a number or a function to the numerator
and denominator of the given function.

Solution:

√ √ √
=
√
√ , is the function that
(√ )(√ ) we need to multiply to the
=
(√ ) numerator and denominator
of the given function
= (√ )

= (√ )

= (√ )

=
√

= Ans

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 Infinite Limits
In this section we will take a look at limits whose value is infinity or minus infinity.

Definition
We say

if we can make f (x) arbitrarily large for all x sufficiently close to x = a , from both sides,
without actually letting x = a .

We say

if we can make f (x) arbitrarily large and negative for all x sufficiently close to x = a , from
both sides, without actually letting x = a .

Let’s have some examples illustrating infinite limits.

Example 1 Evaluate each of the following limits.

1) 2) 3)

Solution:

To estimate the value of the limit, will choose values of x that get closer and closer to x=0 and
substitute these values into the function. Doing this gives the following table of values.

From this table we can see that as we make x smaller and smaller the function gets larger
and larger and will retain the same sign that x originally had. It should make sense that this
trend will continue for any smaller value of x that we chose to use. The more we put zero “0”
on x the more the function gets larger. So, we can assume that the limit of the function goes to
infinty.

1) = 2) =-

In problem no.3, the limit doesn’t exist

3) = doesn’t exist = undefined ;n= Any number

Example 2

1) = 2) =-

Limits at Infinity

Theorems on limits at Infinity

1. If r is a positive rational number and c is any real number then,
=0

2. If r is a positive rational number, c is any real number and xr is defined for x < 0 then,
=0

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 Examples: Evaluate the following limits

From this problem, x approaches to ,

1) =
NOTE: =0 ;n= Any number
0 Ans

Greatest degree of term

2)
In finding the limit of this problem well just take
= the greatest degree of term of the denominator of
the function then divide it to the numerator and
denominator.
=
In this problem, the greatest degree of term is “x3”

= You can also simplify the function by factoring if

possible.

= Ans

Greatest degree of term of the denominator is “ ”

3)

=0 Ans

References:

Printed books:

1. Jonathan B. Cabrero, Lorina G. Salamat & Antonina C. Sta. Maria (2008). “Solved
problems in differential Calculus” 1st Edition. Philippines.
2. Paul Dawkins (2018). “Calculus 1”

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 DIFFERENTIAL CALCULUS
Activity #1 (Limits and Continuity)

Name: ___________________________________
Course & year: ____________ Score: _________

Evaluate the following limits:

Place your answer in a long/short bond paper (No back to back solution)
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6. √

7. √

8.

9.

√
10.

Limits at Infinity

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.
√

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Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering Engr. Jude M. Asejo