Limits and Continuity

KEH1123 Eng. Math I, Dr. Irneza Ismail

Limits

Chapter Objectives
To study limits and their basic properties.
To study one-sided limits, infinite limits,
and limits at infinity.
To study continuity and to find points of
discontinuity for a function.
To develop techniques for solving
nonlinear inequalities.

KEH1123 Eng. Math I, Dr. Irneza Ismail

Limits

Limits
The limit of f(x) as x approaches a is the
number L, written as

lim f (x ) = L
x a
Example 1 Estimating a Limit from a Graph
a. Es%mate limx1 f (x) from the graph.
Solu>on:

limf x = 2
x 1

b. Es%mate limx1 f (x) from the graph.
Solu>on:

( )

limf (x ) = 2
x 1

KEH1123 Eng. Math I, Dr. Irneza Ismail

Limits

Properties of Limits
1. lim f (x ) = lim c = c where c is a constant
x a

x a

2. lim x n = a n for any positive integer n

x a
3.

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

x a

x a

x a

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

5.

x a

x a

x a

lim[cf (x )] = c lim f (x )
x a

x a

KEH1123 Eng. Math I, Dr. Irneza Ismail

Limits

Properties of Limits
f (x )
f (x ) lim
x a
6. lim
=
if lim g (x ) 0
x a g (x )
x a
lim g (x )
x a

Example 3 Applying Limit Properties 1 and 2

7. lim n f (x ) = n lim f (x )
x a

x a

a. lim x 2 = 6 2 = 36
x!6

b. lim t 4 = ("2 ) = 16
t!2

KEH1123 Eng. Math I, Dr. Irneza Ismail

Limits

Example 5 Limit of a Polynomial Function

Find an expression for the polynomial func%on,

Solu>on:
f x = cn x n + c n 1x n 1 + ... + c1x + c0



n
n 1
lim
f
x
=
lim
c
x
+
c
x
+ ... + c1x + c0
n
n 1

x a
x a
where
n
n 1

( )

( )

= cn lim x + cn 1 lim x
x a

x a

+ ... + c1 lim + lim c0

= cn a n + cn 1a n 1 + ... + c1a + c0
= f (a )

lim f (x ) = f (a)
x a

KEH1123 Eng. Math I, Dr. Irneza Ismail

Limits

x a

x a

Limits and Algebraic Manipulation

If f (x) = g(x) for all x a, then
lim f (x ) = lim g (x )
x a

x a

x2 1
Find lim
x 1 x + 1

Solu>on:

x2 1

lim
=

x 1

x +1

lim (x 1) = 1 1 = 2

x 1

f (x + h ) f (x )
If f ( x
) =
x +
1
,nd lim



h 0
h

2

f (x + h ) f (x )
x 2 + 2xh + h 2 + 1 x 2 1
= lim
Solu>on: lim
h 0
h 0
h
h
=
lim(E2ng. xM+ath hI, )Dr. =Irneza
2x Ismail
KEH1123
h 0

Limits

Limits (Continued)
Infinite Limits
Infinite limits are written as

1
lim =
x 0 x
Example 1 Infinite Limits

1
lim + =
x 0 x

Find the limit (if it exists).

2
a. lim
x 1+ x + 1

x+2
b. lim 2
x 2 x 4

Solu>on:
a. The results are becoming arbitrarily large. The limit does not exist.
b. The results are becoming arbitrarily large. The limit does not exist.
KEH1123 Eng. Math I, Dr. Irneza Ismail
Limits

and

Example 3 Limits at Infinity

4
a. lim
x (x 5 )3

b. lim

(4 x )

Solu>on:
a.

b.

Limits at Infinity for Rational Functions

If f (x) is a rational function, and
an x n
lim f (x ) = lim
x
x b x m
m

an x n
lim f (x ) = lim
x
x b x m
m
KEH1123 Eng. Math I, Dr. Irneza Ismail
Limits

Example 3 Limits at Infinity

4
a. lim
x (x 5 )3

b. lim

(4 x )

Solu>on:
a.

b.

4
lim
=0
x (x 5 )3

lim

(4 x ) =

Limits at Infinity for Rational Functions

If f (x) is a rational function, and
an x n
lim f (x ) = lim
x
x b x m
m

an x n
lim f (x ) = lim
x
x b x m
m
KEH1123 Eng. Math I, Dr. Irneza Ismail
Limits

Example 5 Limits at Infinity for Polynomial Functions

Find the limit (if it exists). a. lim
x

Solu>on:

3
2
lim x x + x 2 = lim
x

(x

x 3 =

b. lim 2x 3 + 9 x = lim 2x 3
x

x 2 + x 2 = lim x 3

KEH1123 Eng. Math I, Dr. Irneza Ismail

Limits

Chapter 10: Limits and Continuity

10.2 Limits (Continued)

Example 5 Limits at Infinity for Polynomial Functions

Find the limit (if it exists).

Solu>on:


lim x 3
x
Solu>on:

a. lim x 3 x 2 + x 2 = lim x 3
x

x 2 + x 2 = lim x 3 =
x

b. lim 2x 3 + 9 x = lim 2x 3
x

lim 2x 3 + 9 x = lim 2x 3 =

KEH1123 Eng. Math I, Dr. Irneza Ismail

Limits

Continuity
Definition
f(x) is continuous if three conditions are
met:
1. f (x ) exists
2. lim f (x ) exists
x a
3. lim f (x ) = f (a )
x a
Example 1 Applying the Definition of Continuity
a. Show that f(x) = 5 is con%nuous at 7.
Solu>on: Since ,

lim f ( x ) = lim 5 = 5 .
x!7

lim f ( x ) = 5 = f ( 7)

x!7

x!7

b. Show that g(x) = x2 3 is con%nuous at 4.

Solu>on:

2
) = Elim
lim g (xKEH1123
x
3 = g ( 4)
ng. Math I, Dr. Irneza Ismail

x 4

x 4

Limits

Example 3 Discontinuities
a. When does a func%on have innite discon+nuity?

Solu>on:
A func>on has innite discon+nuity at a when at least one of
the one-sided limits is either or as x a.

b. Find discon%nuity for

Solu>on:

f is dened at x = 0 but limx0 f (x) does not exist. f is discon>nuous at 0.

1 if x > 0

f (x ) = 0 if x = 0
ath I, D1r. Irneza ifIsmail
x<0
KEH1123 Eng. M
Limits

Example 5 Locating Discontinuities in Case-Defined Functions

For each of the following func%ons, nd all points of discon%nuity.

x + 6 if x 3
a. f (x ) =
2
x
if x < 3

x + 2 if x > 2
b. f (x ) =
2
x
if x < 2

KEH1123 Eng. Math I, Dr. Irneza Ismail

Limits

Example 5 Locating Discontinuities in Case-Defined Functions

Solu>on:

a. We know that f(3) = 3 + 6 = 9. Because

and

,
the func>on has no points of discon>nuity.

lim+ f (x ) = lim+ (x + 6) = 9

x 3

x 3

lim f (x ) = lim x 2 = 9

x 3

KEH1123 Eng. Math I, Dr. Irneza Ismail

Limits

x 3

Example 5 Locating Discontinuities in Case-Defined Functions

Solu>on:

b. It is discon>nuous at 2,

2
lim
f
x
=
lim
x
x 2
x 2

limx2 f (x) exists.

( )

= 4 = lim x + 2 = lim+ f (x )
x 2

x 2

KEH1123 Eng. Math I, Dr. Irneza Ismail

Limits

Continuity Applied to Inequalities

Example 1 Solving a Quadratic Inequality
x 2 3 x 10 > 0

Solve

Solu>on: Let


To nd the real zeros of f,

f x = x 2 3 x 10

Therefore, x2 3x 10 > 0 on (,2) (5,).

( )

x 2 3 x 10 = 0

(x + 2)(x 5) = 0
x = 2, 5
KEH1123 Eng. Math I, Dr. Irneza Ismail
Limits

Example 3 Solving a Rational Function Inequality

x 2 6x + 5
0
x

Solve

)(

x 6x + 5
x 1 x

f x =
=
Solu>on: Let
x
x
The zeros are 1 and 5.
Consider the intervals: (, 0) (0, 1) (1, 5) (5,)



Thus, f(x) 0 on (0, 1] and [5,).

( )

5)

KEH1123 Eng. Math I, Dr. Irneza Ismail

Limits