Limits, Continuity & Differentiability

INTRODUCTION
This book is based on our experience over the past few

years. This material covers extensively the fundamental
principles and concepts involved, solved problems which
highlight the application of these concepts, exercises and
assignments for practice by the students.
In order to get maximum benefit from this material, ‘word of

Advice’ given overleaf has to be carefully followed.
The book besides IITJEE will also prove useful to students

for other Engineering examinations as well as their school
curriculum.
Wishing you all success.

A WORD OF ADVICE
 Try to do the solved problems and exercises given, after

completion of related topics in the chapter. Attempt the
assignments.
 The purpose of the assignments is to give you a practice in

solving various levels and varieties of problems. Each problem
has some important concept which it highlights. When you do a
problem from an assignment, make sure that you have completed
the study material, have committed the formulae to your memory
and have solved the solved problems (most of them on your own
before seeing the solution). Do not open the study material to
refer to formulae/theoretical concepts while doing the
assignment problems unless it is absolutely essential to do so.
 Do full justice to the exercises and assignment problems. Even

if you do not get the answer to a problem, keep trying on your
own and only approach your friends or teachers after making lot
of attempts.
 Do not look at the answer and try to work backwards. This would
defeat the purpose of doing the problem. Remember the purpose
of doing an assignment problem is not simply to get the answer
(it is only evidence that you solved it correctly) but to develop
your ability to think. Try to introduce twists and turns in given
problem to create similar problems.
ABOUT THE CHAPTER
This chapter deals with the fundamental aspects of limits,

continuity and differentiability of functions. The basic concept of
limit (of a function) is presented and developed in a novel manner
and is further clarified through solved examples of wide and varied
choice.
The treatment of continuity and differentiability of a function

follows as a natural extension of the idea of limit. This is well
illustrated through carefully selected solved (and, of course,
unsolved) problems of different levels.
It is for the student to confront and meet the challenge posed in

the form of assignment given at the end of the chapter.
CONTENT
JEE Syllabus …1
Limit …1
Solved Problems …6
Subjective …6
Objective …8
Exercise  1 …9
Continuity …10
Subjective …13
Objective …13
Exercise  2 …15
Differentiability …16
Subjective …18
Objective …19
L’ Hospital’s Rule …24
Subjective …24
Objective …26
Answers to Exercises …28
Formulae & Concepts at a Glance …29
Chapter Practice Problems …30
Subjective …30
Objective …31
Assignments …33
Section-I …33
Section-II …35
Section-III …41
Answers to CPP and Assignments …43
LIMITS, C ONTINUITY & D IFFERENTIABILITY
Syllabus
Limit and Continuity of a function, limit and continuity of sum,
difference, product and quotient of the functions, continuity of
composite functions. Derivative of a function, derivative of the
sum, difference, product and quotient of two functions,
derivative of composite (chain rule) and implicit functions,
derivatives of polynomial, rational, trigonometric, inverse
trigonometric, exponential and logarithmic functions-
Derivatives upto order two.
Limits
Let y = f(x) be a given function defined in the neighbourhood of x = a, but not necessarily at the point
x = a. The limiting behaviour of the function in the neighbourhood of x = a when x – a is small, is called
the limit of the function when x approaches ‘a’ and we write this as lim f(x).
x a
Let lim f(x) =  . It would simply mean that when we approach the point x = a from the values which are
x a
just greater than or just smaller than x = a, f(x) would have a tendency to move closer to the value ‘  ’.
This is same as saying, “difference between f(x) and  can be made as small as we like by suitably
choosing x in the neighbourhood of x = a”. Mathematically, we write this as, lim f(x) =  , which is
x a
equivalent to saying that f  x       x such that 0 < x  a   and  depends on  where  and 
are sufficiently small positive numbers.
It should be clear that the limit of f(x) at x = a would exist if and only if, f(x) is well defined in the
neighbourhood of x = a (not necessarily at x = a) and has a unique behaviour in the neighbourhood of
x = a.
Remarks: Normally students have the perception that limit should be a finite number. But it is not really
so. It is quite possible that f(x) had infinite limit as x  a. If lim f(x) = , it would simply
x a
mean that functions has tendency to assume very large positive values in the neighbourhood
of x = a, for example lim 1/ x   .
x 0
Left and Right Limit

Let y = f(x) be a given function, and x = a is the point under consideration. Left tendency of f(x) at x = a is
called it’s left limit and right tendency is called it’s right limit.
Left tendency (left limit) is denoted by f(a – 0) or f(a–) and right tendency (right limit) is denoted by
f(a + 0) or f(a+) and are written as
f  a  0   lim f  a  h  
h 0 
 where ‘h’ is a small positive number.
f  a  0   lim f  a  h  
h 0 
Thus for the existence of the limit of f(x) at x = a, it is necessary and sufficient that f(a – 0) = f(a + 0), if
these are finite or f(a – 0) and f(a + 0) both should be either +  or – .
IITJEE-2223-MATHEMATICS-LIMITS, CONTINUITY AND DIFFERENTIABILITY

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Remark: For the existence of the limit at x = a, f(x) need not be defined at x = a. However if f(a)
exists, limit need not exist or even if it exists then it need not be equal to f(a).
mx  3 , when x< 2


Illustration 1: For what values of m does the lim f  x  exist when f(x) =  x ?
x 2
 m , when x  2
Solution: lim f  x   lim  mx  3   2m  3 ;

x 2  x 2
x 2
lim f  x   lim
 .
x 2 x2 m m
lim f  x  exists when lim f  x   lim f  x 
x 2 x 2 x 2
 2m – 3 = 2/m
 2m2 – 3m – 2 = 0
 m = – 1/2, 2.
Algebra of limit
The following are some of the Basic Theorems on limits which are widely used to calculate the limit of the
given functions.
Let lim f(x) = 1 and lim g(x) = 2 where 1 and 2 are finite, then
x a x a
 lim (c1f(x)  c2g(x)) = c1 1  c2 2, where c1and c2 are given constants.

x a
 lim f(x).g(x) = lim f (x). lim g (x) = 1. 2.

x a x a x a
f(x) xlim f(x) 

 lim  a  1 , 2  0 .
x a g(x) lim g(x)  2
x a
 lim f (g(x)) = f ( lim g(x)) = f(2), if and only if f(x) is continuous at x = 2.
x a x a
In particular, lim ln (g(x)) = ln ( lim g(x)) = ln 2 if 2 > 0.

x a x a
Illustration 2: Find lim (2x3  3x2  x  1) .

x 3
Solution: lim (2x3  3x2  x  1)

x 3
 2 lim x3  3 lim x 2  lim x  lim (1)

x 3 x 3 x 3 x 3
   3  lim 
3 2
 2 lim x 3 1
x 3 x 3
 2  33  3  32  3  1  23.

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Some Important Results on Limits
 If p(x) is a polynomial, lim p(x) = p(a). sin x tan x

x a  lim  lim  lim cosx = 1 (where
x 0x x 0 x x0
1  x 
1/ x
 lim =e ‘x’ is in radians)
x 0
x
 1
ex  1  lim 1   = e
 lim =1 x   x
x 0 x
(1  x)n  1 ax  1
 lim =n  lim = n(a) , a  R+.
x 0 x x 0 x
n 1  x  xm  am m m n
 lim =1  lim n n
 a
x 0 x x a x  a n
sin x 1
tan x 1 loga (1  x)
 lim  1  lim  lim = loga e, a > 0, 1
x 0 x x 0 x x 0 x
If lim f(x)  0 then the following results will be holding true:
x a
sin f(x) tan f(x)

 lim  lim  lim cos f(x) = 1
x a f(x) x a f(x) xa
sin1 f(x) tan1 f(x)

 lim  lim =1
x a f(x) x a f(x)
bf ( x)  1
 lim = ln b ( b> 0)
x a f(x)
lim 1  f(x) 
1/ f ( x)
 =e
x a
Frequently Used Series Expansions
Following are some of the frequently used series expansions:

x3 x5 x7
sin x = x     
3! 5! 7!
x2 x 4 x 6
cos x = 1     
2 ! 4! 6!
x 3 2x 5
tanx = x    
3 15
x2 x 3
ex = 1  x    
2! 3!
x 2 x2 +
a = 1 + (lna)x + (lna) +……. , a  R
2!
n(n  1) 2 n(n  1)(n  2) 3
(1+ x)n = 1 + nx + x  x  , n  R. |x|<1, n is any real number
2! 3!
x2 x3
ln(1+ x) = x    , – 1 < x  1.
2 3

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Limits using Sandwich Theorem

Let f (x), g (x) and h (x) be three real functions having a common domain D such that h (x)  f (x)  g (x) 
x  D. If lim h(x)  lim g(x)   , then lim f(x)   . This is known as Sandwich Theorem.
x a x a x a
1  cos x
Illustration 3: Examine lim .
x 0 x
- 2sinx/2, x<0

Solution: 1  cos x  
 2sinx/2, x  0
x
 2 sin
1  cos x 2  1 ,
Therefore lim  lim
x 0 x x 0 x 2
x
2 sin
1  cos x 2  1
lim  lim
x 0  x x 0 x 2
1  cos x 1  cos x
Since, lim  lim ,
x 0x x 0 x
1  cos x
lim does not exist.
x 0 x
Illustration 4: Evaluate the following limits, if these exist;

ax  1
(i) lim , (ii) lim (sin x)x .
x 0 1  x  1 x 0
ax  1 ax  1 ax  1
Solution: (i) lim
x 0 1 x  1
 lim
x 0 1 x  1

1 x  1
1 x  1
 lim
x 0 x
 
1  x  1 = loge a  2 = 2 loge a.
(ii) lim (sinx)x

x 0
Clearly in this case (sinx)x in not defined towards the left of x = 0.

Hence the given limit will not exist.
2
ex  1
Illustration 5: Evaluate lim 2
.
x 
ex  1
Solution: This is of the form /.

x2
1  1/ e 
2 2
ex  1 1  e x 1 0
lim = lim = lim  = 1.
x 
e x2
1 x 
1 e  x2 x 
1  1/ e 
x2 1 0
13 +23 +...+n3
Illustration 6: Evaluate lim .
n (n2  1)2
 2 1
n4  1+ + 2 
13 +23 +...+n3 n2 (n+1)2  n n  1
Solution: lim = lim = lim  .
n (n2  1)2 2
n 4(n  1)2 n  2 1  4
4n4  1+ 2 + 4 
 n n 

5
 1
Illustration 7: Prove that lim x5  3   0 , where [.] denotes the greatest integer function.
n x 
Solution: We know that x  1 < [x]  x  x  R

1  1 1  1   1  1 
So, 3  1   3   3  x 5  3  1  x 5  3   x 5  3  for x > 0
x x  x x  x  x 
 1
and lim x 2  x5  lim x 2  0  lim x 5  3   0
x 0 x 0 x 0 x 
 
1  
1  1 
Also, x 5  3   x 5  3   x 5  3  1 for x < 0
x  x  x 
 1  1
 lim x5  3   0  lim x5  3   0 .
x 0 x  x 0 x 
 x    2x   3x   ......... nx 

Illustration 8: Evaluate lim , where [.] denotes the greatest integer
n n2
function.
Solution: We know that x – 1<  x   x

n
 x  2x    nx  n   [rx]
r 1
 x  2x    nx
x.n n  1 n
x.n(n  1)

2
n   rx 
r 1
2
n
x 1 1 1
 rx  2 1  n  .
x 1
 1  
2  n  n n2 r 1
x 1 x x 1 1 x
Now, lim  1    and lim  1    .
n 2  n 2 n 2  n n 2
Using Sandwich theorem we find that lim

 x    2x     nx  = x .
x  n2 2
Alternative solution:
We know that [rx] = rx – {xr} for r = 1, 2, 3, ……, n and 0  {xr} < 1 for each r.
n n n n
n(n  1)
Also  rx   (rx)  {xr }   x r   {xr }  x
r 1 r 1 r 1 r 1
2
k
where k < n (since each {xr} < 1).

n n
x k  x
  2 1  n  
1 1
2 
Hence lim rx   nlim  .
n n
r 1

r 1    n2  2
Illustration 9: Evaluate the following limits, if these exist. Here {x} denotes the fractional part and [.] the
greatest integer part.
c  dx
x tan 2x  2x tan x  1 
(i) lim (ii) lim  1   (a, b, c, d are positive).
x 0 (1  cos 2x)2 x   a  bx 
[x]  3
(iii) lim .
x 3 (x  3)

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 8x 3 64x 5   x 3 2x 5 
x 2x        2x  x      
x tan 2x  2x tan x  3 15   3 15 
Solution: (i) lim  lim
x 0 (1  cos 2x)2 x 0 4 sin4 x
 8 2  
x 4     terms containing positive powers of x
 lim  3 3  
x 0 4 sin4 x
1 1 1 1 1
  2 4
  
4  sinx  2 1 2
lim  
x 0  x 
c  dx
 1 
c  dx  1 
(a  bx)  a bx
(ii) lim  1   lim  1  
x   a  bx  x   
 a  bx  
c
d
lim x
c  dx 0d
lim   1
x  x  a
b
d
 ex  a bx as lim  1    e    e 0 b  e b .
e x
 x   x 
[x]  3
(iii) lim
x 3 x  3
Towards the right of x = 3, [x] = 3  [x] – 3 = 0, in the right neighbourhood of x = 3

[x]  3
 lim  0.
x 3  0 x  3
Towards the left of x = 3, [x] = 2  [x] – 3 = – 1, in the left neighborhood of x = 3

[x]  3 1 [x]  3
 lim  lim   . Thus lim does not exist.
x 3 0 x  3 x 3  0 x  3 x 3 x  3
SOLVED PROBLEMS
SUBJECTIVE
| x 3  6x 2  11x  6 |
Problem 1: Let f(x) = . Find the set of points ‘a’ where lim f(x) does not exist.
x 3  6x 2  11x  6 xa
Solution: We write,
 1 , x<1
 1 , 1 < x <2
 |x-1|   |x-2|   |x-3|  
f(x)          1
 x-1   x-2   x-3   , 2 < x <3
 1 , x>3
Therefore the limits exists at all points except at x = 1, 2, 3. For example, at x = 1.
lim- f(x)  1 and lim+ f(x)  1
x 1 x 1
Since lim- f(x)  lim+ f(x)
x 1 x 1
lim f(x) does not exist.
x 1
Similarly lim f(x) does not exist when a = 2, 3.
xa

7
Problem 2: Find the following limits

(cos  )x  (sin  )x  cos 2
lim 1  sin x 
1/ x 2
(i) (ii) lim ,   (0,  / 2) .
x 0 x 4 (x  4)
1/ x2   
Solution: (i) lim 1  sin x   1 form 
x 0  
 
sin x 1  sin x 
lim
x2
lim
x 0
.
x  x  0, when x0 from left,
= e x0
= e = 
, when x0 from right.
Thus the given limit does not exist.
(cos  )x  (sin  )x  cos 2 0 
(ii) lim ,  form 
x 4 (x  4) 0 
(cos  )x  (sin  ) x  (cos2   sin2  ) (cos2   sin2  )
= lim
x 4 (x  4)
(cos  )x  (sin  ) x  cos 4   sin 4 
= lim
x 4 (x  4)
= lim
 
(cos  )4 (cos  )x 4  1  sin4  (sin  )x  4  1  
x 4 (x  4)
x4
(cos  ) 1 (sin  )x  4  1
= cos4 . lim  sin4 . lim
x 4 x4 x4 x4
4 4
= cos . ln(cos  )  sin . ln(sin  ) .
tan1 x  sin1 x
Problem 3: Find lim .
x 0 sin3 x
tan1 x  sin1 x tan1 x  sin1 x tan1 x  sin1 x

Solution: lim = lim = lim
x 0 sin3 x x 0  sin3 x  x 0 x3
x 3  3 
 x 
 x 
x 
tan1  1  x2 
 x 1 x2  x 
 x  x2  tan1  
tan1 x  tan1    1 
 2     x2  1  x2 
 1  x  = lim  1 x2   
= lim = lim
x 0 x3 x 0 x3 x 0 x3
 
 x 1 x2  x 
tan1   x 1  x2  x
 x2  1  x 2 
= lim  
 
x 0  x 1  x2  x 
x3 .   x2  1  x 2
 x2  1  x 2 
 
1 x2  1 1  x2  1 1
= lim  lim =– .
x 0

x2 x 2  1  x2  x 0

x 2 x2  1  x2  1  x  1
2 2

8
Problem 4: Evaluate a, b, c and d, if

Lt
x 
 x 4  ax 3  3x 2  bx  2  
x 4  2x 3  cx 2  3x  d  4 .
Solution: Given that 4 = lim

x 
 x 4  ax 3  3x 2  bx  2  x 4  2x 3  cx 2  3x  d 
(a  2)x3  (3  c)x 2  (b  3)x  2  d
= lim .
x 
x 4  ax3  3x 2  bx  2  x 4  2x3  cx 2  3x  d
Since the limit is finite, the degree of the numerator must be at the most 2
 a – 2 = 0 i.e., a = 2.
b3 2d
(3  c)   2
x x 3c
Hence 4 = lim  .
x  a 3 b 2 2 c 3 d 2
1  2  3  4  1  2  3  4
x x x x x x x x
Therefore c = 5.
Hence a = 2, c = 5 and b, d are any real numbers.
OBJECTIVE
x5
Problem 1: lim equals to
x 5 x5
(A) 2 (B) 0
(C) – 2 (D) none of these
x 5
Solution: lim  lim 1= 1,
x 5 x 5 x 5
because for values to the right of 5, x – 5 > 0, so x  5 = (x – 5).

x 5
lim  lim  1 = – 1
x 5 x 5 x5
because for values to the left of 5, x – 5 < 0, so x  5 = – (x – 5)

x 5
 lim doesn’t exist
x 5 x 5
Hence (D) is the correct answer.
 sin[x]
 for [x]  0
Problem 2: If f(x) =  [x] , where [x] denotes the greatest integer less than or equal to
 0 for [x]  0

x, then lim f  x  equals to
x 0
(A) 1 (B) 0
(C) –1 (D) none of these
sin  x  sin  1

Solution: lim f  x   lim  = sin 1
x 0 x 0  x  1
and lim f(x)  0 as it is given that f(x) = 0 for [x] = 0  lim f(x) doesn’t exist.
x 0 x 0

9
sin xn
Problem 3: For m, n  I+, lim is equal to
x 0
 sin x
m
(A) 1, if n < m (B) 0, if n > m

(C) m/m (D) none of these
Solution: Writing the given expression in the form

m
 sin x n   x n   x  sin 
   m    and noting that the 
lim = 1, we see that the
 x
n
  x   sin x  0 
required limit equals to 1 if n = m, and 0 if n > m.
Hence (B) is correct answer.
Problem 4: If lim (1  ax  bx 2 )2/x  e3 , then

x 0
(A) a = 3, b = 0 (B) a = 3/2, b  1
(C) a = 3/2, b = 4 (D) a = 2, b = 3
1 2(ax bx2 )
2 2/x 2 ax  bx 2
Solution: lim (1  ax  bx )  lim (1  ax  bx ) x
x 0 x 0
2
2(ax bx )
lim 3
= ex0 x  e3  a 
, b any real number.
2
Hence (C) is the correct answer.
EXERCISE  1
Evaluate the following (18):
cos x  sin x x2  x  2

1. lim 2
2. lim
x  x x 2
x2  4
 x  1
x 2
 2  x 40  4  x 5
3. lim   4. lim
x   x  1 
2  x
x  45
5. lim
x 
 x x  x  6. lim
n
an  bn
an  bn
, where a > b > 1
(1  x  x 2 )  ex sin1 x  tan1 x
7. lim 8. lim
x 0 x2 x 0 x2
x  sin x
9. If f(x) = , then lim f(x) is
x  cos2 x x 
(A) 0 (B) 
(C) 1 (D) none of these
x
10. lim 1
is equal to
x 0 tan 2x
(A) 0 (B) 1/2
(C) 1 (D) 
(1  cos 2x)
11. lim is equal to
x 0 2x
(A) 1 (B) –1

10
Continuity
A function f(x) is said to be continuous at x = a if lim f(x)  lim f(x) = f(a)

x a x a
i.e. L.H.L.= R.H.L. = f(a) = value of the function at a i.e. lim f(x)  f(a) .
x a
If f(x) is not continuous at x = a, we say that f(x) is discontinuous at x = a.

f(x) will be discontinuous at x = a in any of the following cases:
 lim f(x) and lim f(x) exist but are not equal.
x a x a
 lim f(x) and lim f(x) exist and are equal but not equal to f(a).
x a x a 
 f(a) is not defined.

 At least one of the limits does not exist.
Properties of Continuous Functions

Let f(x) and g(x) be functions, both continuous at x = a. Then
 cf(x) is continuous at x = a where c is any constant.
 f(x)  g(x) is continuous at x = a.
 f(x) . g(x) is continuous at x = a.
 f(x) / g(x) is continuous at x = a, provided g(a)  0.
Continuity in an Interval
f(x) is said to be continuous in an open interval (a, b) if it is continuous at every point in this interval.
f(x) is said to be continuous in the closed interval [a, b] if
 f(x) is continuous in (a, b)
 lim f(x)  f(a)
x a
 lim f(x)  f(b).

x b 
Continuity of some of the common Functions
Function f(x) Interval in which f(x) is continuous

Constant C (– , )
xn, n is an integer  0. (– , )
|x – a| (– , )
x-n, n is a positive integer. (– ,) – {0}
a0xn + a1xn-1+...+an-1x + an (– , )
p(x)/q(x), p(x) and q(x) are polynomials in x R – {x :q(x) = 0}
sin x R
cos x R
 (2n  1) 
R–  : n  0,  1,. . .
tan x  2 
cot x R – n : n  0,  1, ...

11
 (2n  1) 
R–  : n  0,  1,  2, . . .
Secx  2 
cosecx R – n : n  0,  1,  2,...
x
e R
Ln x (0, )
  
1/ x
 tan   x   , x0
Illustration 1: Let f(x)    4  . For what value of k is f(x) continuous at x = 0 ?

 k , x=0
1/ x 1/ x
    1+tan x 
Solution: lim f(x)  lim  tan(  x)  lim  
x 0 x 0  4  x 0  1-tan x 

   
tan x / x   tan x / x 
 xlim (1  tan x)1/ tan x   xlim (1  tan x)1/ tan x 
0 0
= e  e = e2
Since f(x) is continuous at x = 0, lim f(x)  f(0)
x a
2
 e = k.
Hence f(x) is continuous at x = 0 when k = e2.
| x  1|, x<-2
2x+3, -2  x<0

Illustration 2: Discuss the continuity of f(x)   2
 x +3, 0  x<3
 x3 -15, x  3.

  x  1, x<-2
 2x+3, -2  x<0

Solution: We rewrite f(x) as f(x)   2
 x +3, 0  x<3
 x3 -15, x  3.

As we can see, f(x) is defined as a polynomial function in each of the intervals (– , – 2),
(– 2, 0), (0, 3), and (3, ). Therefore it is continuous in each of these four intervals.
At the point x = – 2,
lim  f(x)= lim  (-x-1)=1, and lim  f(x)  lim  (2x  3)  -1,
x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2
Therefore, lim f(x) does not exist.
x 2
Thus f(x) is discontinuous at x = – 2. At the point x = 0

lim f(x)  lim f(x)  f(0)  3,
x 0 x 0
Therefore f(x) is continuous at x = 0. At the point x = 3

lim f(x)  lim f(x)  f(3)  12,
x 3 x 3
Therefore, f(x) is continuous at x = 3.

So, we conclude that f(x) is continuous at all points in R except at x = – 2.

12
Illustration 3: Let f(x) be a continuous function and g(x) be a discontinuous function. Prove that
f(x) + g(x) is a discontinuous function.
Solution: Suppose that h(x) = f(x) + g(x) is continuous. Then, in view of the fact that f(x) is
continuous, g(x) = h(x) – f(x), a difference of continuous functions, is continuous.
But this is a contradiction since g(x) is given as a discontinuous function.
Hence h(x) = f(x) + g(x) is discontinuous.
Continuity of Composite Functions

If the function u = f(x) is continuous at the point x = a, and the function y = g(u) is continuous at the point
u = f(a), then the composite function y = (gof)(x) = g(f(x)) is continuous at the point x = a.
1 1
Illustration 4: Find the points of discontinuity of y  2
where u = .
u u2 x-1
1
Solution: The function u = f(x) = is discontinuous at the point x = 1.
x-1
1 1
The function y = g(u) = 2 =
u u2 (u+2) (u-1)
is discontinuous at u = – 2 and u = 1.
When u = – 2
1
 = – 2  x = 1/2 ;
x-1
When u = 1
1
 =1  x = 2.
x-1
Hence the composite function y = g(f(x)) is discontinuous at three points
x = 1/2, x = 1 and x = 2.
Removable discontinuity
If lim f  x  exists but is not equal to f(a), then f(x) has removable discontinuity at x = a and it can be
xa
removed by redefining f(x) for x = a.
Illustration 5: Redefine the function f(x) = [x] + [– x] in such a way that it becomes continuous for
x  (0, 2).
Solution: Here lim f(x) = –1 but f(1) = 0.

x 1
Hence, f(x) has a removable discontinuity at x = 1.

To remove this we define f(x) as follows
f(x) = [x] + [– x], x  (0, 1)(1, 2)
= – 1, x = 1.
Now, f(x) is continuous for x (0, 2).

13
Non - Removable Discontinuity

If lim f(x) does not exist, then we can not remove this discontinuity so that this becomes a non–
x a
removable or essential discontinuity
e.g. f(x) = [x + 3] has essential discontinuity at any x  I.
SOLVED PROBLEMS
SUBJECTIVE
Problem 1: Let f(x + y) = f(x) + f(y) for all x and y. If the function f(x) is continuous at x = 0, show that
f(x) is continuous for all x.
Solution: We are given that
f(x + y) = f(x) + f(y) ; for all x and y.
Since f(x) is continuous at x = 0, we have lim f(x)  f(0) .
x0
To show that f(x) is continuous at any point a, we shall prove that lim f(x)  f(a)
xa
or, lim f(a  h)  f(a) .
h0
Indeed, lim f(a  h)  lim  f(a)  f(h) = f(a)  lim f(h) = f(a)+f(0) = f(a+0) = f(a).
h0 h0 h0
1
Problem 2: Given the function f(x) = , find the points of discontinuity of the composite function
x 1
y = f [f{f(x)}].
1
Solution: We know that f(x) = is discontinuous at x = 1.
x 1
1 x 1
For, x  1, f f(x)   is discontinuous at x = 2.
1 2x
1
x 1
1 2x
For x1 and 2, f  f f(x)   which is discontinuous at x = 3/2.
x 1 2x  3
1
2x
Hence the points of discontinuity are x = 1, x = 3/2 and x = 2.
OBJECTIVE
1
Problem 1: The number of points at which the function f(x) = is discontinuous is
log x
(A) 1 (B) 2
(C) 3 (D) 4
Solution: The function log x is not defined at x = 0, so, x = 0 is a point of discontinuity.

Also, for f(x) to be defined, log x  0 that is x  1.
Hence, 1 and –1 are also points of discontinuity.

14
Clearly f(x) is continuous for x  R – {0, 1, –1}.

Thus, there are three points of discontinuity.
Problem 2: In order that the function f(x) = (x + 1)cotx is continuous at x = 0, f(0) must be defined as
(A) 0 (B) e
(C) 1/e (D) none of these
lim f(x)  lim  x  1

cot x
Solution: (1 form)
x 0 x 0
x
or lim f(x)  lim [(1  x)1/ x ] tan x  e1  f(0) = e.
x 0 x 0
Hence (B) is the correct answer.
log 1  ax   log 1 bx 

Problem 3: The function f(x) = is not defined at x = 0. The value which
x
should be assigned to f at x = 0, so that it is continuous at x = 0 is
(A) a – b (B) a + b
(C) log a + log b (D) none of these
 log (1  ax)   log(1  bx) 

Solution: f(x)  a   b  
 ax   ( bx) 
 log(1  x) 
so that lim f(x)  a. 1  b.1  a  b  f(0) .  xlim  1
x 0   0 x 
Alternative Solution:
a  ab x  b  abx
lim =a+b (by L’Hospital’s Rule)
x 0 1  ax  1  bx 
 f(0) = a + b, if f is continuous.
1
Problem 4: The number of points at which the function f(x) = ([.] denotes, the greatest integer
x  [x]
function) is not continuous is
(A) 1 (B) 2
Solution: x– [x] = 0 when x is an integer,

so that, f(x) is discontinuous for all x  I. i.e. f(x) is discontinuous at infinite number of
points.
Problem 5: The number of points where f(x) = [sinx + cosx] (where [.] denotes the greatest integer
function), x(0, 2) is not continuous is
(A) 3 (B) 4
(C) 5 (D) 6

15
Solution: f(x) will be discontinuous at those points, where sinx + cosx is an integer, which is the
  3 3 7 
case for x   , , , ,  . Thus f(x) is discontinuous exactly for five values
 2 4 2 4
of x.
Hence (C) is correct answer.
EXERCISE  2
 x, x0

1. If f(x) =  x, x  0 then test the continuity of f(x) at x = 0.
 0, x0

 x 2  x  1, 0  x 1
2. Test the continuity of f(x), where f(x) = 
2
 x  2, 1 x  2
 x3  x 2  16x  20
 , x2
3. If f(x) =   x  2 2 and if f(x) is continuous at x = 2, find the value of k.

k, x2
4. A function f(x) is defined as follows

 sin x
 , when x  0
f(x) =  x . Is f(x) continuous at x = 0?
2, when x  0
If not, redefine it so that it become continuous at x = 0.
5. Prove that f(x) = [x 2]  [x]2 is discontinuous for all integral values of x except only at x = 1.
cos(sin x)  cos x
6. Define f (0) such that the function f(x) = , x 0, is continuous at x = 0.
x2
ax  1 , x<1

7. Let f(x) = 3 , x=1 . For what values of a and b is f(x) continuous at x = 1.
 2
bx +1 , x>1
 x  1 if x 1
8. Let f(x) =  2
. The value of a for which f(x) is continuous is
3  ax if x  1
(A) 1 (B) 2
(C)  1 (D) 2
9. lim ([x] | x |) , (where [.] denotes the greatest integer function)

x 1
(A) is 0 (B) is 1
(C) does not exits (D) none of these

16
Differentiability
Let y = f(x) be continuous in (a, b). Then the derivative or differential coefficient of f(x) w.r.t. x at x  (a, b),
denoted by dy/dx or f '(x), is
dy f(x  x)  f(x)
 lim ... (1)
dx x 0 x
provided the limit exists and is finite and the function is said to be differentiable.
To find the derivative of f(x) from the first Principle

dy f  x  h  f  x 
If we obtain the derivative of y = f(x) using the formula  lim , we say that we are finding
dx h0 h
the derivative of f(x) with respect to x from the definition or from the first principle.
For example, y = cos 2x.
Here f(x) = cos 2x and
dy f  x  h  f  x  cos 2  x  h   cos 2x
 lim = lim
dx h 0 h h 0 h
2  x  h   2x 2x  2  x  h 
2sin sin
2 2  sin h 
= lim = lim  2sin(2x  h)    = – 2 sin 2x.
h 0 h h0  h 
Right Hand Derivative

Right hand derivative of f(x) at x = a is denoted by, Rf(a) or f(a+) and is defined as
f a  h   f  a 
R f   a  = lim , h > 0.
h0 h
Left Hand Derivative
  and is defined as
Left hand derivative of f(x) at x = a is denoted by Lf   a  or f  a
f a  h   f  a 
Lf   a  = lim , h > 0.
h0 h
Clearly, f(x) is differentiable at x = a if and only if R f (a) = Lf (a).
Illustration 1: A function is defined as follows:

 x3 ; x 2  1
f(x)   . Discuss the differentiability of the function at x = 1.
2
 x ; x  1
f(1  h)  f(1) (1  h)  1
Solution: We have R.H.D = Rf(1) = lim  lim 1
h
h 0 h 0 h
f(1  h)  f(1)
and L.H.D = Lf(1) = lim
h0 h
(1  h)3  1
 lim  lim(3  3h  h2 )  3
h 0 h h 0
 Rf(1)  Lf(1)  f(x) is not differentiable at x = 1.

17
Illustration 2: Discuss the continuity and differentiability of the function

 | x | (3e1 |x|  4)
 , x0
f(x)   2-e1 |x| at x = 0.
0 , x 0

  x (3e1 x  4)
 , x0
 2-e1 x

Solution: The given function may be written as f(x)  0 , x=0
 1x
 x (3e  4) , x 0
 2-e1 x
 x (3e1/ x  4)
For continuity, lim f(x)  lim
x 0 x 0 2  e1/ x
x (3  4e1/ x )
= lim =0
x 0 2e1/ x  1
lim f(x)  lim


x 3e1/ x  4  lim
x (3  4e
1
x)
0.
x 0 x 0 2  e1/ x 1
x 0 1
2e x
Since lim f(x) = f(0) = lim f(x) , f(x) is continuous at x = 0.
x 0 x 0
For differentiability,

f (0 )  lim
f(h)  f(0)
 lim
 h 3e1 h  4  
h 0 h h 0 h 2  e1 h  
 lim

 34e 1/ h
 
 3 and f (0 )  lim

h 3e1 h  4
h 2  e 
1/ h
h 0 2e 1 h 0 1h
 lim
 3  4e  1 h
 3 .
h 02e1 h  1
Since f (0)  f (0+), f(x) is not differentiable at x = 0.
Geometrical Interpretation of Differentiability

f(x  h)  f(x)
Geometrically we interpret f (x) = lim as the slope of the tangent to the graph of y = f (x) at
h0 h
the point (x, f (x)). Thus if there is no tangent line at a certain point, the function is not differentiable at that
point. In other words, a function is not differentiable at a corner point of a curve, i.e., a point where the
curve suddenly changes direction. See the following graphs:
y f (x) is not y
y differentiable at
f (x) is not this point f (x) is not
differentiable at differentiable at
b this point this point
a x 1 x
a x
f(x) = |x  a| + b  x 2 , 0  x 1
 x 2 , x0 f(x) = 
f(x) =  2  x, 1 x  2
 x, x0

18
Note that if a function is discontinuous at the point x = a then there is necessarily a break at that point in
the graph of function. So, every differentiable function is continuous but the converse is not true. That is,
a continuous function need not be differentiable.
Illustration 3: Let f : R  R is a function defined by f (x) = max {x, x3}. Find the set of all points on which
f (x) is discontinuous and f (x) is not differentiable.
Solution: We have from the graph of y = x y = x3

and y = x3 y
 x if x  1
 3
 x if  1  x  0
y=x
f (x) =  .
x if 0  x  1
x3 1
 if x  1
3 1 x
Clearly, there is no break in the y=x
graph so f (x) is everywhere
continuous but there are sudden
change of directions at x =  1, 0,
y=x
1.
So, f(x) is not differentiable at
x  {1, 0, 1}
SOLVED PROBLEMS
SUBJECTIVE
Problem 1: A function f : R  R satisfies the equation f(x + y) = f(x)f(y) for all x, y  R, f(x)  0.
Suppose that the function is differentiable at x = 0 and f'(0) = 2. Prove that f '(x) = 2 f(x).
Solution: We are given that

f(x + y) = f(x) f(y) …. (1)
f(h)  f(0)
and f '(0)  lim  2. …. (2)
h 0 h
f(x  h)  f(x) f(x  h)  f(x  0)
Now, f '(x)  lim = lim
h 0 h h 0 h
f(x) f(h)  f(x) f(0)
 lim , by (1)
h 0 h
f(h)  f(0)
 f(x) lim  2f(x), by (2)
h 0 h
sin (2[ 2 x])

Problem 2: If f(x) = ([.] denotes the greatest integer function), then find the value of f(x).
5  [x]2
Solution: Since  2 x  is an integer whatever be the value of x and so 2  2 x  is an integral

multiple of .
Thus, sin (2[2 x]) = 0 and 5 + [x]2  0 for all x.

19
Hence f(x) = 0  x  R.
Thus, f(x) is a constant function and so it is continuous and differentiable any number of
times for all x  R.
OBJECTIVE
Problem 1: The set of all points where the function f(x) = x x is differentiable is
(A) (– , ) (B) (– , 0)  (0, )
(C) (0, ) (D) [0, ]
 x
2
if x  0
Solution: f(x) = x x = 
2
 x if x  0
2x if x  0
f(x) = 
2x if x  0
f(x) is differentiable for all x  R except possibly at x = 0.
But f(0+) = f  (0–) = 0.
Hence f is differentiable every where.
Hence (A) is the correct answer.
Problem 2: Let f(x) = [tan2x], where [.] denotes the greatest integer function. Then
(A) lim f(x) doesn’t exist (B) f(x) is continuous at x = 0
h o
(C) f(x) is not differentiable at x = 0 (D) f(0) = 1
Solution: lim [tan2(0 + h)] = lim [tan2(0 – h)] = [tan20] = 0

h o h o
 f(x) is continuous at x = 0.
Since f(x) = 0 in the neighbourhood of 0, f(0) = 0.
Problem 3: If f(x) = x  25 and g(x) = f(f(x)) then for x > 50, g (x) is equal to
(A) 0 (B) 1
Solution: g(x) = f(f(x)) = f( x  25 ) = x  25  25

and for x > 50, g(x) = x  25  25  x  50 = x – 50  g (x) = 1.
Problem 4: If f(x) = x  x 
x  1 , then
(A) R f(0) exits but L f(0) does not exist (B) L f(0) exists but R f(0) does not exist
(C) f(x) is differentiable at x = 0. (D) none of these
Solution: Since domain of f(x) is [0, ),

Lf(0–) does not exist.

20
Problem 5: If f(x) = [x sinx], (where [.] denotes the greatest integer function) then f(x) is
(A) continuous in (–1, 1) (B) differentiable at x = –1
(C) differentiable at x = 1 (D) none of these
Solution: By the definition of [x], it is obvious that f(x) = [x sin x] = 0 when –1x  1
and f(x) = [x sinx] = – 1 when 1 < x < 1 + h, (h small).
Thus f(x) is constant and equal to 0 in [–1, 1] and hence f(x) is continuous and
differentiable in (– 1, 1).
At x = 1, clearly f(x) is discontinuous since lim f(x) = – 1 and lim f(x) = 0.
x 1 x 1
sin x2
Problem 6: The function f defined by f(x) = for x  0
x
=0 for x = 0 is
(A) continuous and derivable at x = 0 (B) neither continuous nor derivable at x = 0
(C) continuous but not derivable at x = 0 (D) none of these
Solution: The function is continuous at x = 0, because

sin x2  sin x 2 
lim f  x   lim  lim   . x = 0 = f(0).
x 0 x 0 x x 0  2
 x 
sin h2
f 0  h  f 0 0
h sin h2
Also, Rf   0   lim  lim  lim =1
h 0 h h 0 h h 0 h2
sinh2
f 0  h  f 0  0
sinh2
and Lf   0   lim  lim h  lim =1
h 0 h h 0 h h 0 h2
so that, f(x) is derivable at x = 0.

 1
 x sin for x 0
Problem 7: If f(x) =  x . Then
0 for x  0
+ –
(A) f(0 ) and f(0 ) do not exist (B) f(0+) exists but f(0– ) does not exist
(C) f(0+) = f(0–) (D) none of these
Solution: As for the derivative f’(0) we have,

1
h sin 0
+ h 1
f(0 ) = lim  lim sin which doesn’t exist
h 0 h h 0 h
Similarly, the limit f(0–) doesn’t exist.
Problem 8: The function f(x) = x3 is

(A) differentiable everywhere (B) continuous but not differentiable at x = 0
(C) not a continuous function (D) none of these

21
3
Solution: The range of the function x is (– , ), and the range of f(x) is [0, ), f is clearly
differentiable except possibly at the point x = 0.
Now, clearly by definition Rf   0   L f  (0) = 0
so that, f is differentiable at x = 0 and hence every where.
 x ,  3x , x  0
3 2
x0
Here f (x) =  so that f (x) = 
3 2
 x , x  0, 3x , x0
 the function is differentiable everywhere including x = 0.
 1  x2 
Problem 9: sin1   is
 2x 
(A) Continuous but not differentiable at x = 1 (B) Differentiable at x = 1
(C) Neither continuous nor differentiable at x = 1 (D) Continuous every where
 1  x2 
Solution: sin1   is defined only for x = – 1 and x = 1.
 2x 
EXERCISE  3
1. Function f(x) is defined as
 x 1
 2 , x 1
f(x) =  2x  7x  5 . Is f(x) differentiable at x = 1 if yes find f(1)?
 1 , x 1
 3
2. Check the differentiability of the following functions at x = 0

(a) cos(|x|) + |x|, (b) sin(|x|) − |x|.
3. If  2  x  2, then find the points at which f (x) = x  |x  x2| is not differentiable.
4. Let f (x) = max {1  x, 1 + x, 2}. Prove that f (x) is continuous at all points but not differentiable
at x = 1 and x =  1.
 x  y  f x  f y
5. Let f   for all real x and y. If f(0) exists and equals –1 and f(0) = 1, find f(2).
 2  2
f x
2t
6 Suppose f : R  R is a differentiable function and f (1) = 4, then find the value of lim
x 1 
4
x 1
dt .
7. Let h (x) = min {x, x2}, x  R, then h (x) is

(A) differentiable everywhere (B) non- differentiable at three values of x
(C) non- differentiable at two values of x (D) none of these

22
ax 2  b , x  1
8. If (x) =  b  0, then f(x) is continuous and differentiable at x = 1 if
2
bx  ax  c , x  1
(A) c = 0, a = 2b (B) a = b, c  R
(C) a = b, c = 0 (D) a = b, c  0.
x3 , x0

9. If f (x) = 0, x  0 , then
 3
x , x0
(A) f is derivable at x = 0 (B) f is continuous, but not derivable at x = 0
(C) LHD at x = 0 is 1 (D) none of these
List of Derivatives of Important Functions

d n d
 (x ) = nxn-1  (cosec x) =  cosec x cot x
dx dx
d d x
 (x) = 1  (e ) = ex
dx dx
d  1 1 d 1
    2  (ln |x|) =
dx  x  x dx x
d  1  n d 1
     n1 , x > 0  (sin-1 x) =
dx  xn  x dx 1  x2
d d 1
 (sin x) = cos x  (cos-1 x) =
dx dx 1  x2
d d 1
 (cos x) = – sin x  (tan-1 x) =
dx dx 1 x2
d d 1
 (tan x) = sec2 x  (cot-1 x ) =
dx dx 1 x2
d d 1
 (cot x) = – cosec2 x  (sec-1 x) =
dx dx x x2  1
d
 (sec x) = sec x tan x d 1
dx  (cosec-1 x) =
dx x x2  1
General Theorems on Differentiation

d
 (c)  0
dx
d
 [a f(x) + b g(x)] = af'(x) + b g'(x)
dx
d
 [f(x) g(x)] = f'(x) g(x) + f(x) g'(x)
dx
d g(x) f '(x) - f (x) g' (x)
  f(x) g(x) 
dx g(x)2
d  g(x) 
 (f(x))g(x)   (f(x))g( x)  f (x)  g(x)ln f(x)  .
dx    f(x) 

23
Chain Rule
dy dy du
If y = f(u) and u = g(x), then  . = f '(g(x)) g'(x).
dx du dx
n n
e.g. Let y = [f(x)] . We put u = f(x), so that y = u .
Therefore, using chain rule, we get
dy dy du
 nun1f '(x) = n [f(x)] f '(x).
n-1
 .
dx du dx
Differentiation of parametrically defined functions

 If x and y are function of parameter t, first find dx/dt and dy/dt separately.
dy dy / dt
 Then  .
dx dx / dt
e.g., x = a( + sin), y = a(1 – cos) where  is a parameter.
dx dy
 a(1  cos ) ,  a(0  sin  )  a sin  ,
d d
 
2sin cos
dy dy / d a sin  2 2 
    tan .
dx dx / d a(1  cos ) 2  2
2 cos
2
Higher Order Derivatives

d2 y d  dy  d3 y d  d2 y 
 ,   
dx 2 dx  dx  dx 3 dx  dx 2 
dn y d  dn1y  dn y
  ; is called the nth order derivative of y with respect to x.
dxn dx  dx n1  dx n
d2 y dy
Illustration 1: If y = (sin-1x)2 + k sin-1x, show that (1 – x2) 2
x  2.
dx dx
Solution: Here y = (sin-1x)2 + k sin-1x.

Differentiating both sides with respect to x, we have
2
dy sin1 x k  dy 
 2 +  (1  x 2 )    4y  k 2 .
dx 1 x2 1  x2  dx 
Differentiating this with respect to x, we get
2
dy d2 y  dy  dy d2 y dy
(1 – x2) 2 . 2  2x    4  (1 – x2) 2
x  2.
dx dx  dx  dx dx dx
2 d2 x
Illustration 2: If y  esin x , find , in terms of x.
dy 2
2
Solution: Here y  esin x
. Differentiating with respect to x, we get
dy 2 dx 2
 sin2x.esin x   cosec 2x.e- sin x .
dx dy
Differentiating with respect to y, we get

24
d2 y d 2 d dx
(cosec 2x.e- sin x )  (cosec 2x.e- sin x )
2
=
dx 2 dy dx dy

= -2cosec 2x cot2x e-sin x -e-sin
2 2
x
 cos ec2x .e  sin2 x
 
2
= - 2cosec 2 2x cot2x +cosec2x e 2sin x
.
L' Hospital's Rule

We have dealt with problems which had indeterminate form either 0/0 or /.
The other indeterminate forms are  – , 0. , 00, 0, 1.
We state below a rule, called L' Hospital's Rule, meant for problems on limit of the form 0/0 or /.
Let f(x) and g(x) be functions differentiable in the neighbourhood of the point a, except may be at the point
f(x) f '(x)
a itself. If lim f(x)  0  lim g(x) or , lim f(x)    lim g(x) , then lim  lim provided
x a x a x a x a x a g(x) x a g'(x)
that the limit on the right either exists as a finite number or is  .
1-x+n x
x 1 1  cos  x
1
1 
1-x+n x x
Solution: lim (of the form 0/0) = lim (still of the form 0/0).
x 1 1  cos  x x 1  sin  x
x-1
= lim (algebraic simplification).
x 1 x sin  x
1
= lim (L'Hospital's rule again).
x 1  sin  x  2 x cos x
1
 2.

xy  y x
x y xx  y y
xy  y x yx y-1  y x log y 1-logy

Solution: lim ; [0/0] = lim  .
x y x log(ey)
x y x y x y x log(ex)
SOLVED PROBLEMS
SUBJECTIVE
x(1  a cos x)  b sin x
Problem 1: Find the values of a and b so that lim may be equal to 1.
x 0 sin3 x
Solution: We write,
3
x(1  a cos x)  b sin x
 x(1  a cos x)  b sin x   x 
lim   lim   xlim
x 0 3
sin x  x  0 x 3
   0 sin x 
x(1  a cos x)  b sin x 0 
 lim 3  form 
x 0 x 0 

25
1  a cos x  ax sin x  b cos x

 lim (Using L' Hospital Rule)
x 0 3x 2
The denominator being 0 for x = 0, the expression will lead to a finite limit if and only if
the numerator is also zero for x = 0. This happens when
1 + a – b = 0. …. (1)
Assuming that (1) is satisfied, we have
1  (a  b)cos x  ax sin x 0 
lim 2  form 
x 0 3x 0 
(b  2a)sin x  ax cos x 0 
= lim  form 
x 0 6x 0 
(b  3a)cos x  ax sin x b-3a
 lim =
x 0 6 6
b-3a
As given, =1  b – 3a = 6. …. (2)
6
5 3
From (1) and (2), we get, a   , b =  .
2 2
We write
  x2 x 4   x3 
x 1  a  1    ...   b  x   ... 
x(1  a cos x)  b sin x   2 24   6 
lim 3
= lim  3
.
x 0 x x  0 x
b a
x(1  a  b)  x 3     terms of order x 4
= lim  6 2 = 1 (given)
x 0 x3
b a 5 3
 1 + a – b = 0 and   1  a = – , b = – .
6 2 2 2
1 x  1 x 2x
Problem 2: Differentiate tan1 with respect to cot -1 .
1 x  1 x 1  x2
1 x  1 x
Solution: Let y = tan1 …. (1)
1 x  1 x
-1 2x
and, u = cot …. (2)
1  x2
dy
We have to find .
dx
In (1) put x = cos
 
cos  sin
We have, y = tan 1 2 2
 
cos  sin
2 2

1  tan
1 2         1
 tan  tan-1  tan        cos 1 x .
   4 2  4 2 4 2
1  tan
2

26
dy 1
This gives,  .
dx 2 1  x 2
2 tan 
In (2), put x = tan, then u=cot -1 2
 cot 1 {tan2}
1  tan 
    
 cot 1 cot   2   =  2   2 tan1 x .
  2   2 2
du 2 dy dy dx 1 x2
This given  . Hence,  .   .
dx 1 x2 du dx du 4 1  x2
 4 , 4  x  0
Problem 3: Let f(x) =  2
 x  4 , 0  x  4.
Discuss the continuity and differentiability of g(x) = f(|x|) + |f(x)|.
 4 4  x  0
Solution: – 4  x  4  0  |x|  4  |f(x)| =  2
 x  4 0  x  4
 4 4  x  0

i.e. |f(x)| = 4  x2 0  x  2 and f (|x|) = x2 – 4, –4  x  4
 2
x  4 2  x  4
 x2 4  x  0

 g(x) =  0 0x2
 2
2x  8 2  x  4
At x = 0, g(x) is continuous as well as differentiable.
At x = 2, g(x) is continuous but not differentiable.
OBJECTIVE
 
sin   x 
Problem 1: lim 3  is equal to
x
 2 cos x  1
3
1 1
(A) (B)
2 3
2
(C) 3 (D)
3
 
sin   x 
Solution: lim 3  (form
0
) By L  Hospital’s rule
x
 2 cos x  1 0
3
 
 cos   x
 3   cos 0 1 1
lim   .
 2 sin x  3 3
x
3  2 sin 2.
3 2

27
   
    x   x
sin   x   3   3 
2 sin cos
 3  2 2
lim  lim
x  / 3 2cos x  1 x  / 3  
2  cos x  cos 
 3
     
  x   x   x
 3   3   3 
sin cos cos
2 2 2 1 1
= lim  lim =  .
x  / 3       x  / 3    3 3
  x    x    x  2 
3  sin  3 3
2sin   2sin   2
2 2 2
EXERCISE  4
dy dy
1. If y = sin x 2 , find 2. For y = sin3 ax 2  bx  c, find
dx dx
dy dy
3. If x cos y = sin (x + y), find 4. If x = a cos2, y = a sin2, find
dx dx
dy
5. If y = x 2x  3 , then find at x = 1.
dx
d2 x 
6. If x = t cos t and y = t + sin t, then find 2
at t = .
dy 2
7. Let f (x) = sin x, g (x) = x 2, h (x) = loge x. If u (x) = h (f (g (x))), then prove that
d2u
= 2 cotx2  4x2 cosec2 x2.
dx 2
y  ...  dy
8. If x = e y e , then is
dx
x 1
(A) (B)
1 x x
1 x 1 x
(C) (D)
x x
dy 
9. If x = a (  sin ), y = a (1  cos ), then at  = is
dx 2
(A) 1 (B) 2
(C) 0 (D) 3
 1  x2  dy
10. Let sin1  , then is
 1  x 2  dx
 
2 1
(A) (B)
1 x2 
2 1 x2 
2 2
(C) 2
(D)
1 x 2  x2

28
ANSWERS TO EXERCISES
Exercise  1
1
1. 0 2.
2
3. e–2 4. −1
5. 1/2 6. 1
7. 1/2 8. 0
9. C 10. B
11. D
Exercise  2
1. Continuous at x = 0 2. f(x) is continuous in [0,2]

3. k=7 4. f (x) = 1 at x = 0
6. 0 7. a=b=2
8. A 9. C
Exercise  3
2
1. f(1) = –
9
2. (a) not differentiable (b) differentiable
3. x  {0, 1} 5 1
6. 8f (1) 7. C
8. A 9. A
Exercise  4
x cos x 2
1.
sin x2
3 sin2 ax 2  bx  c . cos ax 2  bx  c
2. (2ax  b)
2 ax 2  bx  c
cos y  cos (x  y)
3. 4. 1
x sin y  cos (x  y)
4
5. 5 6.  
 2 
8. C 9. A
10. C

29
FORMULAE AND CONCEPTS AT A GLANCE

 For the existence of the limit at x = a, f(x) need not be defined at x = a. However if f(a) exists, limit
need not exist or even if it exists then it need not be equal to f(a). lim f (g(x)) = f ( lim g(x)) = f(2),
x a x a
if and only if f(x) is continuous at x = 2.
Continuity in an Interval
f(x) is said to be continuous in an open interval (a, b) if it is continuous at every point in this interval.
f(x) is said to be continuous in the closed interval [a, b] if
 f(x) is continuous in (a, b)
 lim f(x)  f(a)
x  a
 lim f(x)  f(b).
x b
Removable discontinuity
If lim f  x  exists but is not equal to f(a), then f(x) has removable discontinuity at x = a and it can be
xa
removed by redefining f(x) for x = a.
Non-Removable Discontinuity
If lim f(x) does not exist, then we can not remove this discontinuity so that this becomes a non–
xa
removable or essential discontinuity e.g. f(x) = [x + 3] has essential discontinuity at any x  I.
Right Hand Derivative
Right hand derivative of f(x) at x = a is denoted by, Rf(a) or f(a+) and is defined as
f  a  h  f a 
R f   a  = lim , h > 0.
h 0 h
Left Hand Derivative
Left hand derivative of f(x) at x = a is denoted by Lf   a  or f  a   and is defined as
f  a  h  f a
Lf   a  = lim , h > 0.
h 0 h
Clearly, f(x) is differentiable at x = a if and only if R f (a) = Lf (a).
L' Hospital's Rule
We have dealt with problems which had indeterminate form either 0/0 or /.
The other indeterminate forms are  – , 0. , 00, 0, 1.
We state below a rule, called L' Hospital's Rule, meant for problems on limit of the form 0/0 or /.
Let f(x) and g(x) be functions differentiable in the neighbourhood of the point a, except may be at the point
f(x) f '(x)
a itself. If lim f(x)  0  lim g(x) or , lim f(x)    lim g(x) , then lim  lim provided
x a x a x a x a x a g(x) x a g'(x)
that the limit on the right either exists as a finite number or is  .
If lim f(x)  0 then the following results will be holding true:
x a
sin f(x) tan f(x)
 lim  lim  lim cos f(x) = 1
x a f(x) x a f(x) xa
sin1 f(x) tan1 f(x)

 lim  lim =1
x a f(x) x a f(x)
bf ( x)  1
 lim = ln b ( b> 0)
x a f(x)
lim 1  f(x) 
1/ f ( x)
 =e
x a

30
CHAPTER PRACTICE PROBLEMS

SUBJECTIVE
dy 1
1. If x 1  y  y 1  x  0 , for 1 < x < 1, prove that 
dx (1  x)2
ax 2  b, if | x | 1

2. If f(x)   1 is differentiable at x = 1, find a, b.
 | x |, if | x | 1

 ax  1, if x  3
3. Find the relationship between a and b so that the function f defined by f(x)   is
bx  3, if x  3
continuous at x = 3.
4. Solve the following limits.
(a) lim
x 0
x2  1  1
2
x 9 3
(b) lim x 3/2
x 
 x3  1  x3  1 
x  x 2  x3  ....  x n  n [2x]
(c) lim (d) lim (where [x] denotes greatest
x 1 x 1 x  x
integer  x)
2x  23  x  6 1  cos3 x
(e) lim (f) lim
x 2 x 0 x sin x cos x
2 x  21 x
sin(ex  2  1) x cos x  log(1  x)
(g) lim (h) lim
x 2 log(x  1) x 0 x2
x4
(1  cos 2x) sin 5x x 7
(i) lim (j) lim  
x 0 x2 sin 3x x   x  2 
x
e x  (1  x)
 tdt
0
(k) lim (l) lim
x 0 x2 x 0 x tan(x  )
1
 6 cos x 
(m) Lim  , where [.] denotes the GIF (n) lim (cos x  a sin bx) x
  2x    x 0
x
2
nx
 1 1 1 
 a1x  a2x  .....  anx 
(o) lim  
x   n 
 
 
 sin x, x 0
5. (a) If f(x)   , then show that f(|x|) is non-differentiable for exactly three
cos x  | x  1|, x 0
value of x.

31
 x2  1 x  0

(b) f(x)   0 x  0 then prove that f(x) is non differentiable at x = 0
 2
(x  1) x  0
OBJECTIVE
n
r
6. The rth term of a series is given by tr 
1  r2  r 4
, then lim
n
 tr is
r 1
(A) 1/4 (B) 1
(C) 1/2 (D) none
 1 x
 t2 1 1 
7. lim 
x  0  x5
e dt 
x4
  is equal to
3x 2 
 0
(A) 0 (B) 10
1
(C) (D) none of these
10
8. f(x) = maximum{4, 1 + x 2, x2 –1}  x  R. Total number of points, where f(x) is non-differentiable,

is equal to
(A) 2 (B) 4
sin(1  [x])
9. If f(x)  for [x]  0 (where [.] represents the greatest integer x), then lim f(x)
[x] x 0
equals
(A) 1 (B) 0
(C)  1 (D) none of these
n2 2
enx  (1  nx  x )
10. The value of lim 2 (n  0) is
x 0 x3
n2 n3
(A) (B)
6 3
n3 1
(C) (D)
6 16
11. Solve lim (sin x)tan x

x 0
(A) 1 (B) 1
cos(2x  4)  33 x 2 | 4x  8 |
12. If f : (1, 2)  R satisfies the inequality  f(x)  , x  (1, 2), then
2 x2
lim f(x) is
x 2 
(A) 16
(B) cannot be determined from the given information
(C) 16 (D) does not exist

32
(x  1)2n  1
13. f(x)  lim is discontinuous at
(x  1)2n  1
n
(A) x = 0 only (B) x = 2 only

(C) x = 0 and 2 (D) none of these
x 2  10x  25
14. If f(x)  for x  5 is continuous at x = 5, then the value of f(5) is
x 2  7x  10
(A) 0 (B) 5
(C) 10 (D) 25
1
15. The number of values of x[0,2] at which f(x)  x   | x  1|  tan x is not differentiable at
2
(A) 0 (B) 1

33
ASSIGNMENTS
SECTION - I
1. Evaluate the following limits:
sin3x cos2x x 2  3x  2
(i) lim (ii) lim
x 0 sin2x x 1 x 2  x  sin(x  1)
1 x  1 x x
(iii) lim 1
(iv) lim
x 0 sin x x 
4x 2  1  1
x(e x  1)
(v) lim
x 0 1  cos 2x
 1 dy
2. If 5f (x) + 3f   = x + 2 and y = xf (x), then find at x = 1.
x dx
2  cos   sin 
3. Lim
 4 (4  )2
asin x  atan x
4. f(x) = for x > 0
tan x  sin x
ln(1  x  x 2 )  ln(1  x  x 2 )
= for x < 0, if f is continuous at x = 0, then find 'a'.
sec x  cos x
 x
now if g(x) = ln  2   ·cot(x – a) for x  a, a  0, a > 0. If g is continuous at x = a, then show that
 a 
g(e–1) = –e.
5. Determine the following limits:

sin(  x)  sin(  x) sin   cos 
(i) lim (ii) lim
x 0 cos(   x)  cos(   x)  / 4   / 4
1 1 1
1    ...  n
2 4 2
(iii) lim x(e1 x  1) (iv) lim
x  n 1 1 1
1    ...  n
3 9 3
1
 1  tan x  sin x (1  sin x)2
(v) lim   (vi) lim
x 0  1  sin x 
 / 2  x
x  / 2 2
cos(m  2)x  cos mx x  [x]

(vii) lim (viii) lim
x 0 cos(m  4)x  cos(m  2)x x 3 x3
1
| x3  x |    log x
(ix) lim (x) lim tan(  log x) 
x 1 x  x3 x 1 
 4 
2/ x
 1 1 1   3x  4x 
(xi) lim    ...   (xii) lim  
n  1.4 4.7 (3n  2)(3n  1)  x 0  2
 
6. If f(x) is twice differentiable function such that f(x) =  f(x) and f(x) = g(x) and h(x) = (f(x))2 +
(g(x))2, then find h (10) if h (5) = 11.

34
x f x 
7. (i) If f     y, f (y)  0 and f (1) = 2, find f(x) .
 y  f y 
(ii) Suppose that f is differentiable function with the property f (x + y) = f (x) + f (y) + x 2y and
f(x)
lim  0 , then find the value of f (10).
x 0 x
min(x, x2 ), x0
8. If f (x) =  , then find the number of non-differentiable points of f (x).
2
min(2x, x  1), x0
f(x)
9. Let f(x) = x3 – x2 – 3x – 1 and h(x) = where h is a function such that
g(x)
1
(a) it is continuous every where except when x = –1, (b) Lim h(x)   and (c) Lim h(x)  .
x  x 1 2
Find Lim  3h(x)  f(x)  2g(x) 
x0
10. If f (x) be a differentiable function, such that f (x) f (y) + 2 = f (x) + f (y) + f (xy); f(0) = 0, f(1) = 2,
then find f (x).


 1 for   x  0
 
11. A function f is defined as follows: f(x) =  1  sin x for 0x
 2
  
2

2   x   for  x  
  2 2
Discuss the continuity & differentiability at x = 0 & x = /2.
8x  4x  2x  1
 , x0
12. f (x) =  x2 . If f (x) is continuous at x = 0, then prove that
 x
e sin x  x  a log 4, x0
a = log 2.
max f  t  : 0  t  x , 0 x 1
13. Let f (x) = x3  x2 + x + 1 and g (x) =  . Discuss the continuity
3  x, 1 x  2
and differentiability of the function g (x) in the interval (0, 2).

 
3
 4x  1
 , x0
If f (x) =  sin x log  1  x 
2 3
14. be continuous at x = 0, then prove that p = 12 (log 4) .
 
 4  3 

p, x0
 e x   x  2 
15. f(x) = x .   , x  0 & f(0) = –1 where [x] denotes greatest integer less than or equal to x.
  x  x 
 
Test the differentiability of f(x) at x = 0.

35
SECTIONII
MULTI CHOICE SINGLE CORRECT
x2  1
1. lim is equal to
x  2x  1
(A) 1 (B) 0
(C)  1 (D) 1/2
2 cos x  1
2. lim is equal to
x 
4
cot x  1
1 1
(A) (B)
2 2
1
(C) (D) 1
2 2
 1 2 n 
3. lim  2
 2
 .....   is equal to
n  1  n 1 n 1  n2 
(A) 0 (B) –1/2
(C) 1/2 (D) none of these
4. lim x1/ x equals

x 
(A) 0 (B) 1
(C) e (D) 
x
5. lim  1 , where [x] is the greatest integer function, is equal to
x 2
(A) 1 (B) –1
(C) 1 (D) none of these
x 3
 x  3
6. lim   is given by
x   x  1 
(A) 1 (B) e3
(C) e (D) e4
7. Which of the following functions have finite number of points of discontinuity ?

(A) tan x (B) x[x]
x
(C) (D) sin [n x]
x
x 2n  1
8. Let f(x) = lim , then
x 2n  1
n
(A) f(x) = 1 for x > 1 (B) f(x) is not defined for any value of x
(C) f(x) = 1 for x = 1 (D) none of these
 1  n2 
9. If lim  an   = b, a finite number, then
n  1  n 

(A) a = 1, b = 1 (B) a = 1, b = 0
(C) a = –1, b = 1 (D) none of these

36
  cos1 x
10. lim  is equal to
x 1 x 1
(A) 1/ (B) 1/(2)
(C) 1 (D) 0
11. If [x] denotes the greatest integer less than or equal to x, then the value of
lim (1  x + [x –1] + [1 – x]) is
x 1
(A) 0 (B) 1
(C)  1 (D) none of these
12. If f (x) = [2x], where [.] denotes the greatest integer function, then
(A) lim  f  x  = 0 (B) lim  f  x  = 1
x 1/ 2 x 3 / 4
(C) lim f  x  = 0 (D) lim f  x  = 2
x 1/ 2 x 3 / 4
13. If f(x) = lim (sin x)2n ,then f is

n
(A) continuous at x = /2 (B) discontinuous at x = /2

(C) discontinuous at x =  (D) none of these
14. If f (x) = x, x  1 and f (x) = x 2 + bx + c (x > 1) and f (x) exists finitely for all x  R, then
(A) b = –1, c  R (B) c = 1, b  R
(C) b = 1, c = – 1 (D) b = – 1, c = 1
 Ax  B , x  1

15. If the function f(x) = 3x , 1 x 2 be continuous at x = 1 and discontinuous at
 2
Bx  A , x  2
x = 2, then
(A) A = 3 + B, B  3 (B) A = 3 + B, B = 3
(C) A = 3 + B (D) none of these
2f  x   3f  2x   f  4x 
16. Let f  (x) be continuous at x = 0 and f  (0) = 4. Then lim
x 0 x2
is equal to
(A) 11 (B) 2
MULTI CHOICE MULTI CORRECT

 x3 , x2  1
1. A function is defined as follows: f (x) =  , then function is
 x, x2  1
(A) continuous at x = 1 (B) differentiable at x = 1
(C) continuous but not differentiable at x = 1 (D) none of these
2. If x + 4 |y| = 6y, then y as a function of x is

(A) defined for all real x (B) continuous at x = 0
dy 1
(C) derivable at x = 0 (D)  for x > 0
dx 2

37
  1 
 x sin   ; x  0
3. If g (x) = xf (x), where f  x    x  , then at x = 0
0; x  0 

(A) g is differentiable but g is not continuous (B) g is differentiable while f is not differentiable
(C) both f and g are differentiable (D) g is differentiable but g is continuous
If lim  cos x  a sinbx 

1/ x
4.  e2 , then (a, b) is equal to
x 0
 1
(A) (1, 2) (B)  2, 
 2
 1 
(C)  2 3,  (D) (4, 2)
 3
NUMERICAL BASED TYPE
sin x  sin  sin x 

1. The value of 6 lim is
x 0 x3
e x2  x , x<0
2. If f(x)   , then the value of a so that f(x) is continuous and has a derivative at
ax  b , x0
x = 0 is
  1
n 1

3. The value of lim 1  ln1    is equal to
n 
  n 
 f x 
4. If f(x) is a continuous function  x  R and the range of f(x) = (2, 26 ) and g(x) =   is
 a 
continuous  x  R ([.] denotes the greatest integer function), then the least positive integral
value of a is
NUMERICAL BASED DECIMAL TYPE

 x2  1 
1. The value of constant a such that lim   ax  b   0 is
x 
 x 1 
2. Let f (x) be a continuous function defined for 1  x  3. If f (x) takes rational values for all x and
f (2) = 5, then f (1.5) is equal to
x 3 sin1 / x   2x 2
3. The value of lim is
x  1  3x 2
1  sin x  ln sin x 
, x 

 , then the value of f(/2) so that the function
  2x  ln 1    4x  4 x  
4. If f(x) =
2 2 2 2
is continuous at x = /2

38
LINKED COMPREHENSION TYPE

Read the following write up carefully and answer the following questions:
f(x) is not differentiable at x = c if either Lf(c)  Rf(c) [if they both exist]
or Lf(c) exists but Rf(c) does not exist,
or Lf(c) does not exist, Rf(c) exists
or f(x) is not continuous at x = c.
  1
 x  1  x sin  , x 0
  x 
  1
1. If f(x)     x  1  x sin  , x  0 , then f(x) is
  x
0 , x 0


(A) continuous as well differentiable at x = 0
(B) continuous at x = 0, but not differentiable at x = 0
(C) neither continuous at x = 0 nor differentiable at x = 0
(D) none of these
 x[x] , 0x2
2. If f(x)   , where [x] denotes the greatest integer function, then
(x  1)[x] , 2  x  3
(A) both f(1) and f(2) does not exist (B) f(1) exist but f(2) does not exist
(C) f(2) exists but f(1) does not exist (D) both f(1) and f(2) exist
sin x  aex  be x  c ln 1  x 
If L = lim , then
x 0 x3
3. The value of L is
(A) 1/2 (B) -1/3
(C) -1/6 (D) 3
4. Equation ax2 + bx + c = 0 has

(A) real and equal roots (B) complex roots
(C) unequal positive real roots (D) unequal roots
The answer to each question is a NUMERICAL VALUE.
Let there is a function f : R  R such that f  x   x 2  3 | x | 2

Assume a function g  x  such that
 min f  t  ;   t  x ;   x  1

max f  t  ; 1  t  x ; 1  x  1
g x  
 min f  t  ; 1 t  x ; 1 x  2
max f  t  ; 2tx ; 2x

5. Number of points at which g  x  is discontinuous is _______
g x
6. lim is equal to _____
x 2 f  x

39
MATCH LIST TYPE

This section contains 1 multiple choice question. This question has matching lists. The codes for the
lists have choices (A), (B), (C) and (D) out of which ONLY ONE is correct.
1. Observe the following lists

List  I List  II
2
x  10x  25 1. 4
P. If f (x) = 2
, for x  5 and it is continuous at x = 5, then
x  7x  10
2
{f (5)} + 4 is equal to
tan  2  x 2  2  x 2 2. 6
   
Q. lim is equal to, where [.] denotes the
x 0 sin2 x
greatest integer function
 sin 3x 3. 1
 , x0
R. If the function f (x) =  x is continuous at x = 0, then k =
k , x0
 2
a2 cos2 x  b2 sin2 x, x0 4. 0
S. If f : R  R defined by f (x) =  is
ax b
e , x0
| a |2
continuous function, then is equal to
eb
Codes :
P Q R S
(A) 1 4 2 3
(B) 1 3 4 2
(C) 4 1 3 2
(D) 4 2 3 1
MATCH FOLLOWING TYPE

Each question contains statements given in two columns which have to be matched. Statements (A, B, C,
D) in column I have to be matched with statements (p, q, r, s) in column II.
[x] ; x  [ 2, 0) 
1. Let f(x)   ; where [.] represent G.I.F. and g(x) = sec x, x  R – (2n + 1) .
 x ; x  [0, 2] 2
 3 3 
Match the following statements in column–I with their values in column–II in interval   , .
 2 2 
Column – I Column – II
(A) Limit of fog exist at (p) –1
(B) Limit of gof does not exist at (q) 
(C) Points of discontinuity of fog is/are 5
(r)
6
(D) Points of differentiability of fog is/are (s) –
(t) /3

40
MATCHING TYPE
Answer questions 1, 2 and 3 by appropriately matching the information given in the three columns of the
following table.
Column  I contains the function f(x). Column  II tells the continuity and differentiability of function at
x = 0. Column  III tells the limit of function at infinity.
Column–I Column–II Column–III

1
(I) f(x) = x sin , x ≠ 0 (i) continuous but not
x (P) 
differentiable at x = 0
0, x ≠ 0
1
xe x
(II) f(x) = , x ≠ 0 (ii) left continuous
1 (Q) 0
1 e x at x = 0
0, x ≠ 0
1
(III) f(x) = 1
, x ≠ 0 (iii) continuous and
 (R) 1
1 e x
differentiable at x = 0
0, x = 0
1
x
1
e
(IV) f(x) = 1 , x ≠ 0 (iv) right continuous
(S) –
at x = 0
e 1
x
1, x = 0
1. Which of the following combination is CORRECT?
(A) (I) (iii) (Q) (B) (I) (i) (R)
(C) (III) (ii) (Q) (D) (IV) (ii) (Q)
2. Which of following combination is CORRECT?
(A) (I) (ii) (Q) (B) (III) (ii) (P)
(C) (III) (iii) (S) (D) (II) (i) (Q)
3. Which of the following combination is CORRECT?
(A) (IV) (iv) (Q) (B) (III) (i) (R)
(C) (IV) (ii) (Q) (D) (I) (iv) (R)
MATCH LIST TYPE
FOUR options are given representing matching of elements from LIST‐I and LIST‐II. ONLY ONE of
these four options corresponds to a correct matching.
[x] ; 2  x  0
1. Let f(x)   ; (where [.] denotes greatest integer function), and
x ; 0x2
g(x) = cosecx ; x  R  n ; n  I.
Match the following statements in List-I with their values in List-II in the interval  0,2  .
LIST–I LIST–II
P. 1. 0
lim f(g  x  ) 
4
x
3
Q.  lim g(f(x))  2. 4
 x 1 

41
R. 5 3. 1
Derivative of f(g(x)) at x =
4 2
S. lim  f  g(x)   g(f(x))  = 4. 2

x
6
5. 3
6. 1
The correct option is :
(A) P  5; Q  1; R  2; S  4 (B) P  3; Q  6; R  4; S  2
(C) P  3; Q  4; R  2; S  5 (D) P  4; Q  6; R  1; S  2
ASSERTION-REASONING TYPE
This question contains STATEMENT-1 (Assertion) and STATEMENT-2 (Reason).
Option (A) if both the statements are TRUE and STATEMENT-2 is the correct explanation of
STATEMENT-1
Option (B) if both the statements are TRUE but STATEMENT-2 is NOT the correct explanation of
STATEMENT- 1
Option (C) if STATEMENT-1 is TRUE and STATEMENT-2 is FALSE.
Option (D) if STATEMENT-1 is FALSE and STATEMENT-2 is TRUE.
1. STATEMENT I: If f (x) =
e kx

 1 sin kx
, (x  0) and f (0) = 9; is continuous at x = 0, then k =  6
4x2
because
STATEMENT II:For continuous function lim f  x   f  0  .
x 0
SECTION - III
1 x 
1. If (x) = cos (log x), then f (x)  f (y)   f    f  xy   has the value
2  y 
(A)  2 (B)  1
(C) 0 (D) 1/2
2. If 2f (x) + 3f ( x) = x2  x + 1, then the value of f (1) is equal to

(A) 3/5 (B) 4/5
(C) 6/5 (D) 7/5
x3
3. The value of lim is equal to
x 3 x2  4x
(A) 2 (B) 3
(C) 1 (D) 0
4. Let f (a) = g (a) = k and their nth derivative fn (a), gn (a) exist and are not equal for some x, further
f  a  g  x   f  a   g  a  f  x   g a 
if lim  4 , then the value of k is equal to
x a g  x  f  x
(A) 0 (B) 1
(C) 2 (D) 4

42
 cos x  ,
1/ x
x0
5. If the function f (x) =  is continuous at x = 0, then the value of k is
k, x 0
(A) 1 (B)  1
(C) 0 (D) e
6. Let f (x + y) = f (x)  f (y)  x, y  R, suppose that f (3) = 3 and f (0) = 11, then f (3) is given by
(A) 22 (B) 44
(C) 28 (D) 33
 x3  1 ; 1  x  
7. The function defined by f(x)   is
 x  1 ;   x  1
(A) differentiable at x = 1 (B) continuous at x = 1
(C) differentiable at  x (D) none of these
8. The value of derivative of (sinx 2  sin2x)2 at x = 0 is equal to

(A)  1 (B) 0
(C) 1 (D) 2
9. In order that the function f(x) = (x + 1)cotx is continuous at x = 0, f(0) is equal to

(A) 1/e (B) 1
(C) 0 (D) e
10. If f : R  R is a function such that f (x) = x 3 + x2f (1) + xf (2) + f (3) for x  R, then the value of
f(5) is equal to
(A) 33 (B) 32
(C) 16 (D) 12
 3 sin x 
1. If f (x) =   , x  0, then the value of f (0) so that the function f (x) is continuous at x = 0, is
 x 
2. Let f(x + y) = f(x). f(y), for all x and y. If f(5) = 2 and f   0  = 3, then f   5  is equal to
3. Number of points at which f (x) = |x 2 + x| + |x – 1| is non-differentiable is

1  cos x
x 0 x2
1  cos 2x  sin 5x
x 0 x 2 sin 3x
2x sin1 x
3. The value of f(0) so that the function f(x) = , is continuous at each point in its
2x  tan1 x
domain, is equal to

43
ANSWERS TO CHAPTER PRACTICE PROBLEMS

1 3 2
2. a   ,b   3. a b 
2 2 3
n(n  1) 3 1 10
4. (a)3 (b)1 (c) (d) 2 (e) 8 (f) (g) 1 (h) (i)
2 2 2 3
1 1
(j) e5 (k) (l) (m) 3 (n) eab (o) a1a2 ...an
2 2
6. C 7. C 8. A 9. B
10. C 11. B 12. C 13. C
14. A 15. C
ANSWERS TO ASSIGNMENTS
SECTION - I
1. (i) 3/2 (ii)  1/2 (iii) 1 (iv) 1/2 (v) 1/2
1 1
2. 7/8 3. 4.
16 2 16 2
5. (i) cot (ii) 2 (iii) 1
(iv) 4/3 (v) 1 (vi) 0
m 1
(vii) (viii)  (ix) limit does not exist
m3
(x) e2 (xi) 1/3 (xii) 12
6. 11 7. (i) f (x) = x 2 (ii) 100

39
8. 3 9. g(x) = 4(x + 1) and limit = –
4
10. f (x) = 1 + x2
11. conti. but not diff. at x = 0 ; diff. & conti. at x = /2
13. continuous throughout the interval (0, 2). Differentiable throughout the interval (0, 2) except x = 1.
15. not derivable at x = 0
SECTIONII
(MULTI CHOICE SINGLE CORRECT)
1. D 2. B 3. B 4. B
5. D 6. D 7. C 8. A
9. A 10. B 11. C 12. B
13. B 14. D 15. A 16. C
MULTI CHOICE MULTI CORRECT

1. A, C 2. A, B, D 3. A, B 4. A, C

44

1. 1 2. 1 3. 0 4. 6

1. 1.00 2. 5.00 3.  0.3333 4.  0.0156
LINKED COMPREHENSION TYPE

1. B 2. A 3. B 4. D
5. 3 6. 1
MATCH LIST TYPE

1. A
MATCH FOLLOWING TYPE
1. (A)  (p, q, r, s) (B)  (p) (C)  (q, s) (D)  (p, r)
MATCHING TYPE
1. B 2. B 3. A
MATCH LIST TYPE

1. D
ASSERTION-REASONING TYPE
1. A
SECTION - III
1. C 2. D 3. C 4. D
5. A 6. D 7. B 8. B
9. D 10. C

1. 2 2. 6 3. 3

1. 0.50 2. 3.3333 3. 0.3333

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INTRODUCTION

This book is based on our experience over the past few

In order to get maximum benefit from this material, ‘word of

The book besides IITJEE will also prove useful to students

Wishing you all success.

 Try to do the solved problems and exercises given, after

 The purpose of the assignments is to give you a practice in

 Do full justice to the exercises and assignment problems. Even

This chapter deals with the fundamental aspects of limits,

The treatment of continuity and differentiability of a function

It is for the student to confront and meet the challenge posed in

Left and Right Limit

IITJEE-2223-MATHEMATICS-LIMITS, CONTINUITY AND DIFFERENTIABILITY

mx  3 , when x< 2

Solution: lim f  x   lim  mx  3   2m  3 ;

 lim (c1f(x)  c2g(x)) = c1 1  c2 2, where c1and c2 are given constants.

 lim f(x).g(x) = lim f (x). lim g (x) = 1. 2.

f(x) xlim f(x) 

In particular, lim ln (g(x)) = ln ( lim g(x)) = ln 2 if 2 > 0.

Illustration 2: Find lim (2x3  3x2  x  1) .

Solution: lim (2x3  3x2  x  1)

 2 lim x3  3 lim x 2  lim x  lim (1)

IITJEE-2223-MATHEMATICS-LIMITS, CONTINUITY AND DIFFERENTIABILITY

Some Important Results on Limits

 If p(x) is a polynomial, lim p(x) = p(a). sin x tan x

sin f(x) tan f(x)

sin1 f(x) tan1 f(x)

Frequently Used Series Expansions

Following are some of the frequently used series expansions:

IITJEE-2223-MATHEMATICS-LIMITS, CONTINUITY AND DIFFERENTIABILITY

Limits using Sandwich Theorem

- 2sinx/2, x<0

Illustration 4: Evaluate the following limits, if these exist;

(ii) lim (sinx)x

Clearly in this case (sinx)x in not defined towards the left of x = 0.

Solution: This is of the form /.

IITJEE-2223-MATHEMATICS-LIMITS, CONTINUITY AND DIFFERENTIABILITY

Solution: We know that x  1 < [x]  x  x  R

 x    2x   3x   ......... nx 

Solution: We know that x – 1<  x   x

Using Sandwich theorem we find that lim

where k < n (since each {xr} < 1).

IITJEE-2223-MATHEMATICS-LIMITS, CONTINUITY AND DIFFERENTIABILITY

Towards the right of x = 3, [x] = 3  [x] – 3 = 0, in the right neighbourhood of x = 3

Towards the left of x = 3, [x] = 2  [x] – 3 = – 1, in the left neighborhood of x = 3

IITJEE-2223-MATHEMATICS-LIMITS, CONTINUITY AND DIFFERENTIABILITY

Problem 2: Find the following limits

tan1 x  sin1 x tan1 x  sin1 x tan1 x  sin1 x

IITJEE-2223-MATHEMATICS-LIMITS, CONTINUITY AND DIFFERENTIABILITY

Problem 4: Evaluate a, b, c and d, if

Solution: Given that 4 = lim

because for values to the right of 5, x – 5 > 0, so x  5 = (x – 5).

because for values to the left of 5, x – 5 < 0, so x  5 = – (x – 5)

sin  x  sin  1

Hence (D) is the correct answer.

IITJEE-2223-MATHEMATICS-LIMITS, CONTINUITY AND DIFFERENTIABILITY

(A) 1, if n < m (B) 0, if n > m

Solution: Writing the given expression in the form

Problem 4: If lim (1  ax  bx 2 )2/x  e3 , then

cos x  sin x x2  x  2