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    2 1limits

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    asmeegoje

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    2 1limits

    Uploaded by

    asmeegoje
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    Original Title

    2_1Limits

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    2 1limits

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    of 8

    2.1.

    Introduction to Limits

    Definition 2.1.1 (Intuitive Definition). The limit of f (x), as x approaches a,


    equals L means that as x gets arbitrarily close to the value a (but not actually equal
    to a), the value of f (x) gets close to the value L. This is also written
    lim f (x) = L
    x→a

    Remark 2.1.1. Note, the limit has nothing to do with the y-value at x = a, but
    rather the behavior of the graph as we approach x = a from both sides of x = a.

    Example 2.1.1. Given the graph of y = f (x) below

    (1) Find f (a) for a = −2, 0, 1, 2.

    (2) Find lim f (x) for a = −2, 0, 1, 2.


    x→a
    Section 2.1 2

    Left and Right Limits


    Definition 2.1.2. The limit of f (x), as x approaches a from the left, equals
    L means that as x gets arbitrarily close to the value a AND x < a, the value of f (x)
    gets close to the value L. This is also written
    lim f (x)
    x→a−

    Definition 2.1.3. The limit of f (x), as x approaches a from the right, equals
    L means that as x gets arbitrarily close to the value a AND x > a, the value of f (x)
    gets close to the value L. This is also written
    ” lim f (x) 09/15/2006 10:00 AM
    x→a+

    Theorem 2.1.1. lim f (x) = L if and only if


    x→a

    ermine whether f is continuous 2.1.2.


    Example from theGiven
    right, orthe
    from the left,
    graph ofory either,
    = f (x) or neither.
    below

    (1) Find limx→a− f (x) for a = −6, −4, −2, 5, 7.

    (2) Find limx→a+ f (x) for a = −6, −4, −2, 5, 7.

    (3) Find f (a) for a = −6, −4, −2, 5, 7.


    iven functions is discontinuous ?
    Section 2.1 3

    Theorem 2.1.2 (Limit Laws). If c is a constant and all limits involved exist (are
    real numbers), then

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


    x→a

    (2) lim [f (x) − g(x)] =


    x→a

    (3) lim [cf (x)] =


    x→a

    (4) lim [f (x)g(x)] =


    x→a

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


    x→a

    (6) lim [f (x)]n =


    x→a

    (7) If f is a function that you know from previous experience is “continuous” (for
    example, polynomials) at x = a, lim f (x) =
    x→a

    Example 2.1.3. Evaluate lim (3x + 5)


    x→−1

    Example 2.1.4. Evaluate lim −5


    x→8

    Example 2.1.5. Find lim 5x(x2 + 3)


    x→0
    Section 2.1 4

    16x2 + 1
    Example 2.1.6. Find lim
    x→−1/4 2 − 8x

    p
    4
    Example 2.1.7. Find lim 3(47 − 4x)
    x→5

    g(x) − 2f (x)
    Example 2.1.8. Find lim , if lim f (x) = 4 and lim g(x) = −1
    x→−2 3g(x) x→−2 x→−2

    What if f (x) is not continuous at x = a?


    x2 − 4
    Example 2.1.9. lim
    x→2 x − 2

    0
    Definition 2.1.4. lim f (x) = 0
    is an indeterminant form
    x→a

    Remark 2.1.2. lim f (x) = n0 where n 6= 0 is NOT an indeterminant form. The


    x→a
    steps to solving each of these limits will be different.

    x2 + 4
    Example 2.1.10. lim
    x→2 x − 2
    Section 2.1 5

    Steps to Finding Limits of (non-piecewise) Functions:


    (1) Always plug in the value x = a in the function first!
    (2) If step 1 gives you a real number, you have found the limit!
    (3) If step 1 gives you the indeterminant form 00 , then f (x) is a rational function
    and you have to simplify the function by factoring the polynomial in the
    numerator and denominator of f (x) and canceling the common factor (x − a).
    (4) If step 1 gives you the non-indeterminant form n0 , n 6= 0, then the limit does
    not exist (we will work further on this case in section 2.2)

    x2 − 9
    Example 2.1.11. Find lim
    x→3 x2 − x − 6

    x−4
    Example 2.1.12. Find lim
    x→4 x2 − 2x − 8
    Section 2.1 6

    Definition 2.1.5. The limit of a difference quotient is


    f (a + h) − f (a)
    lim
    h→0 h

    [3(x + h)2 − (x + h)] − [3x2 − x]


    Example 2.1.13. Find lim
    h→0 h

    Example 2.1.14. If f (x) = 4x − 5, find the following limit of the different quotient:
    f (5 + h) − f (5)
    lim
    h→0 h
    Section 2.1 7

    Limits of Piecewise Functions

    Example 2.1.15. f is given by



     −1 if x < −2
    f (x) = 2x + 3 if −2 ≤ x ≤ 1
     x2 if x > 1

    (1) Evaluate lim f (x)


    x→0

    (2) Evaluate lim− f (x)


    x→1

    (3) Evaluate lim+ f (x)


    x→1

    (4) Evaluate lim f (x)


    x→1

    (5) Evaluate f (1)

    (6) Evaluate lim f (x)


    x→−2
    Section 2.1 8

    |2 − x|
    Example 2.1.16. Find lim+
    x→2 2−x

    |2 − x|
    Example 2.1.17. Find lim−
    x→2 2−x

    |2 − x|
    Example 2.1.18. Find lim
    x→2 2−x

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