MATHEMATICS FOR ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY 1

CHAPTER 1
Limits and Continuity
1.1 Concepts of Limits
1.2 Limit at a point
1.3 Limit at infinity
1.3.2 L’Hopital’s Rule: Indeterminate form of type
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
• Understand the concept of (and notation for) a limit of a rational function at a point in its domain,
and understand that “limits are local.”
• Evaluate such limits.
• Distinguish between one-sided (left-hand and right-hand) limits and two-sided limits and what it
means for such limits to exist.
• Use numerical / tabular methods to guess at limit values.
• Distinguish between limit values and function values at a point.
• Evaluate some limits involving piecewise-defined functions.
Concepts of Limits
The limit of f (x), as x approaches a, equals L

written:
lim f ( x)  L
x a

If the value of f (x) can be made as close as we like to L by taking values

of x sufficiently close to a (but not equal to a), which is read “the limit
of f (x) as x approaches a is L”.
y
y  f ( x)
L

x
a
 Example
1.1
Now examine what happens to the function as the value
•Lets let f(x) = x + 2 of x gets closer and closer to 0: –
x f(x)
– 0.1 1.9
– 0.01 1.99
– 0.001 1.999
0.001 2.001
0.01 2.01
0.1 2.1

Solution
When the value of x approaches 0, the value of f(x) gets
closer and closer to 2 but as long as x does not actually
reach 0, the value of f(x) will not equal 2.
Which is read, “The limit of the function, x + 2 , This can be stated: lim ( x  2)  2
equals 2 as x approaches 0”. x 0
STUDY CHECK 1
 Example 1.2
sin x
•Make a conjecture about the value of the limit lim 1
x 0 x
Solution
Let us look at the values of f(x) as x approaches 0 from
both right and left.

sin x sin x
x(radian) f(x) =   x(radian) f(x) =
x x
– 0.5 0.9589   0.01 0.99998
– 0.4 0.9736   0.1 0.9983
– 0.3 0.9851   0.2 0.9934
– 0.2 0.9934   0.3 0.9851
 
When the value of x approaches 0 the value of f(x)
– 0.1 0.9983 0.4 0.9736
gets closer and closer to 1 but as long as x does not
– 0.01 0.99998   0.5 0.9589 actually reach 0 the value of f(x) will not equal 1
This can be stated:
sin x
lim 1
x 0 x
One-sided Limits

Definition
One-Sided Limits

If the value of f (x) can be made as close as we like to L by taking values of x

sufficiently close to a (but greater than to a), then we write lim f ( x)  L
x a
which is read “the limit of f (x) as x approaches a from the right is L”.

If the value of f (x) can be made as close as we like to L by taking values of x

sufficiently close to a (but less than to a), then we write lim f ( x)  L
xa
which is read “the limit of f (x) as x approaches a from the left is L”.
Two-sided Limits

Definition
Relationship Between One-sided and Two-Sided Limits

The two-sided limit of a function f(x) exists at a iff both of the one-sided
limits exist at a and have the same value

lim f ( x)  L iff lim f ( x)  L  lim f ( x) .

x a x a xa
Example 1.3

Find the one-sided and the two-sided limits at x = a if they exist.

SOLUTION
Infinite Limits

We will look at limits that have infinity as a value.  To do this we first need the following definitions:

Definition
Infinite Limits

If the values of f(x) increase indefinitely as x approaches a from the right or left,
then we write
lim f ( x)   or lim f ( x)  
xa x a

Similarly if the values of f(x) decrease indefinitely as x approaches a from the

right or left, then we write
lim f ( x)   or lim f ( x)  
xa xa

Moreover, if both one-sided limits are   then we write lim f ( x)  

xa

and if both one-sided limits are   then we write lim f ( x)   .

xa
Example 1.4
Find the one-sided and the two-sided limits at x = a if they exist.

(a) (b)

2 –1

lim f ( x )   and lim f ( x)   , lim f ( x)   and lim f ( x)   ,

x2 x2 x  1 x  1

 lim f ( x)    lim f ( x) does not exist

x2 x  1
 Example 1.5
Evaluate both of the following limits.
2x 2x
lim 
2x (b) lim x 3 x  3
(a) lim x 3 x  3 Below is a graph of this function and it’s supports both of our limits.
x 3 x3
y

If we plug in x=3, we would get division by zero.

(a) As we get closer and closer to x=3 (from the left) we have a positive, x
finite number in the numerator divided by an increasingly smaller negative
number. This will result in increasing large and negative numbers. In
other words,

2x
lim  
x 3 x3

(b) The right-handed limit is similar. As we get closer and closer to x=3
(from the right) we have a positive, finite number in the numerator divided 2x
by an increasingly larger positive number. This will result in increasing lim doesn’t exist since the two one-sided limits are not the same.
x 3 x3
large and positive numbers. In other words,

2x
lim  Recall from an Algebra class that we called x = 3 a vertical asymptote. We can
x 3 x  3
define vertical asymptotes in terms of limits.
Below is a graph of this function and it’s supports both of our limits.
Note
Graph Rational Function
(a) 1 (b) 1 (c) 1
f ( x)  f ( x)  f ( x )  
xa x  a 2 x  a 2
Example 1.6

Find the one-sided and the two-sided limits if they exist at

(a) x = 4 (b) x = 0 .
 

(a)
x→0+
x→4+
(b) Solution
(a) lim f ( x)  1 and lim f ( x)  1 ,  lim f ( x)  1
x4 x 4 x 4

x→4-
(b) lim f ( x)  0 and lim f ( x )  2 ,  lim f ( x )  does not exist
x→0+ x 0  x 0 x2
 COMPUTING THE LIMITS
Definition
Basic Limits

Let a and k be real numbers.

1
(a) lim k  k (b) lim x  a (c) lim 
xa xa x 0 x

1
(d) lim   (d) lim x  0 (e) lim x  0
x 0 x x 0 x 0

Example 1.7
Find (a) lim 4 (b) lim x .
x 2 x2

Solution
(a) lim 4 = 4 (b) lim x = 2
x2 x2
Properties of Limits
Suppose lim f ( x)  L and lim g ( x)  M
x a x a
Then,
r
1. lim  f ( x)   Lr r , a real number
x a
2. lim cf ( x)  c lim f ( x)  cL c, a real number
xa xa

3. lim  f ( x)  g ( x)   L  M
x a

4. lim  f ( x) g ( x)   LM
xa

f ( x ) lim
xa
f ( x) L
5. lim   Provided that M  0
x a g ( x ) lim g ( x) M
x a
Computing Limits
Example 1.8
1.
x 3
  2
lim x 2  1  lim x  lim1
x 3 x 3

   lim1
2
 lim x
x 3 x 3

 32  1  10

2x 1 lim  2 x  1 2 lim x  lim1

2. x 1
lim   x 1 x 1
x 1 3 x  5 lim 3 x  5  3lim x  lim 5
x 1 x 1 x 1

2 1 1
 
35 8
STUDY CHECK 2
STUDY CHECK 3
 0 
Limits of Indeterminate Form of Type0 or

When both the numerator and denominator of a rational function have a zero at x =
a, we will try canceling the factor (x – a) as shown below:

Example 1.9
 0
Indeterminate Form:
0
Example 1.10

x5 0
1. lim 2 Notice form
x 5 x  25 0

x5 Factor and cancel common

 lim
x 5  x  5  x  5  factors

1 1
 lim 
x 5  x  5  10
 Limits Involving Radicals
One strategy for solving limits involving radical is to first rationalize the denominator of the function as shown
below:

Example 1.11
STUDY CHECK 4
STUDY CHECK 5
 STUDY CHECK 6

Involving complex fraction!

Steps:
1. Multiply a top and a bottom fraction by a
common denominator.
2. Cancel common factor.
3. Substitute x=3.
4. Solve!
Evaluating Piecewise-Defined Functions
• Piecewise functions are functions defined by Steps to Evaluate Piecewise Functions:
at least two equations, each of which applies
to a different part of the domain • Look at the domain to see which equation to use
• A piecewise function looks like this: • Plug in x-value
• Solve!

Domain restrictions
Example 1.12
1. Which equation would we use to find; g(-5)? g(-2)? g(1)?
Equations

SOLUTION
g (5)  (5) 2  2(5)  1  16
g (2)  (2) 2  2(2)  1  1

g (1)  1  (1) 2  0
 Limits of Piecewise-Defined Functions
For functions that are defined piecewise, a two-sided limit at an x-value where the formula changes is best
obtained by first finding the one-sided limits at that number.

Example 1.13 1

=
  1 1
 x 1, x  1

STUDY CHECK 6 Given,


f ( x)   x 2  3,  1  x  3
 6,

x3
2

3


(a) (b)
  1 (c)
 x 1, x  1 1

Given, f ( x)   x 2  3,  1  x  3 2
 6, x3
 3

Limits at infinity
In this section we will discuss algebraic techniques for computing limits at   for many functions.
Theorem
Basic Limits Example 1.14
Let k be a real number, then Find
(a) lim k  k (b) lim k  k (a) lim 5 (b) lim 3
x   x   x   x  

(c) lim x   (d) lim x  

x   x   (c) lim 2 x 3 (d) lim x 5
x   x  

1 1
(e) lim 0 (f) lim 0 1 1
x   x x   x
(e) lim  (f) lim
x   x x   x 2
Note
Basic Limits
Solution
Let n be a real number, then lim x n  , n  1,2,3 (a) lim 5  5 (b) lim 3  3
x   x   x  

  , n  1,3,5,... (c) lim 2 x 3   (d) lim x 5  

and lim x n   x   x  
x  
 , n  2,4,6,...
1 1
(e) lim  0 (f) lim 0
x   x x   x 2
Limits at Infinity
1 1
For all n > 0, lim n  lim n  0
x  x x  x

1
provided that n is defined.
x
5 1
3  2
3x 2  5 x  1 x x
Divide by
Ex. lim  lim 2
x  2  4x 2 x  2
4 x
2
x
5  1 
lim 3  lim    lim  2 
x  x   x  x   x  3 0 0 3
  
 2  04 4
lim  2   lim 4
x   x  x 
Computing Limits
2x 4  x 2  8x
(b) lim
x   5x 4  7
Discard term that
Alternative solution: insignificant
2 x 4  x 2  8x
(b) lim
x   5x 4  7 =
2x 4  x 2  8x ¿−
2
(b) lim 5
 1 8 
x42  2  3 
x   5x 4  7
x x 
= lim 
x   7  As x become large, x2 + 8x As x become large, 7 become
x4  5  4 
 x  become insignificant to 2x4 insignificant to -5x4

 1 8 
2  2  3 
x x 
= lim 
x   7 
 5  4 
 x 

200 2
= 
50 5
STUDY CHECK 7
Solution:
Multiply with to cancel the highest power of that
occur in the denominator from both the numerator
and denominator
STUDY CHECK 8
Solution:
Multiply by , to cancel the highest x value
that occur in the denominator for both top
and bottom fraction.

To put inside , we must multiply the

inside by , therefore =
STUDY CHECK 9
L’Hopital’s Rule : INDETERMINATE FORM —TYPE

Suppose f and g are differentiable functions and g'(x) ≠

0 near a (except possibly at a). Suppose that
lim f ( x)  0 and lim g ( x)  0
xa xa
or that
lim f ( x)   and lim g ( x)  
xa xa
Then
f ( x) f ( x)
lim  lim
xa g ( x) x  a g ( x )

if the limit on the right side exists (or is ±∞).

L’Hopital’s Rule

In simpler terms, if after substituting in a,

f ( x) 0 
lim  or
xa g ( x) 0 
Then
f ( x) f ( x)
lim  lim
xa g ( x) x  a g ( x )

if the limit on the right side exists (or is ±∞).

L’HOPITAL’S RULE: INDETERMINATE FORM —TYPE

INDETERMINATE FORMS

• Suppose we are trying to analyze

the behavior of the function
ln x
F ( x) 
x 1

• Although F is not defined when x = 1,

we need to know how F behaves near 1.
INDETERMINATE FORM —TYPE 0/0

• In general, if we have a limit of the form

f ( x)
lim
x a g ( x)

• where both f(x) → 0 and g(x) → 0 as x → a, then this

limit may or may not exist.

0
• It is called an indeterminate form of type .
0
L’HOPITAL’S RULE
Example 1.15

• Find ln x
lim
x 1 x  1

lim ln x  ln1  0
x 1
and lim(
x 1
x  1)  0

• Thus, we can apply l’Hopital’s Rule:

d
(ln x )
ln x dx 1/ x 1
lim  lim  lim  lim  1
x 1 x  1 x 1 d x 1 1 x 1 x
( x  1)
dx
Indeterminate Form 0/0
Example 1.16

Evaluate

Solution:
Because direct substitution results in the indeterminate form 0/0.
Solution
You can apply L’Hôpital’s Rule, as shown below.
Example 1.17
ex
• Calculate lim 2
x  x • As ex → ∞ and 2x → ∞ as x → ∞,
x
• We have lim e   and lim x2   the limit
x  x 
on the right side is also
indeterminate.
• So, l’Hospital’s Rule gives:
ex ex ex
d x lim 2  lim  lim  
x  x x  2 x x  2
x (e ) x
e e
lim 2  lim dx  lim • However, a second application of
x  x x  d x  2 x
2
(x ) l’Hopital’s Rule gives:
dx Sometimes we will need to apply L’Hospital’s Rule more than
once.
Example 1.18

5 (1) 4 − 4 (1)2 −1 0 Indeterminate form!

¿ ¿
10 −1 −9(1) 3
0
STUDY CHECK 10
If we direct substitute , we
will get =

Or we can use factor:

INDETERMINAT
E FORM!

Can apply L’hopital’s rule:

*However, it depends on the

question.
 STUDY CHECK 11

INDETERMINAT
E FORM!

Can apply L’hopital’s rule:

Can apply L’hopital’s rule for second:

Can apply L’hopital’s rule for second: