Calculus

Chapter 1
Limit & Continuity

Norhafizah Md Sarif
Faculty of Industrial Sciences & Technology
 Description
Aims
This chapter is aimed to :
1. introduce the concept of limit
2. explain the definition of one sided and two sided limit
3. evaluate limit using three different approaches.
4. compute limit at a point and infinity
5. explain the continuity concept
6. determine the continuity of the function

Expected Outcomes
1. Students should be able to describe the concept of limits
2. Students should be able to explain one sided limit and two sided limit
3. Students should be able to find limit numerically, analytically and graphically
4. Students should be able to compute the limit at infinity
 Description

Expected Outcomes
1. Students should be able to explain the continuity test
2. Students should be able to determine continuity at a given
point by referring to continuity test

References
1. Abdul Wahid Md Raji, Hamisan Rahmat, Ismail Kamis, Mohd Nor Mohamad,
Ong Chee Tiong. The First Course of Calculus for Science & Engineering
Students, Second Edition. UTM
2. Siti Zanariah Satari, Mohd Nizam Kahar, Norazaliza Mohd Jamil, Calculus for
Science & Engineering, First Edition UMP
 Contents

1. Limit of a Function 4. Evaluate Limit :

Analytical Method

2. Evaluate Limit :
Numerical Method 5. Limit at Infinity

3.Evaluate Limit :
Graphical Method 6. Continuity
 1.1 Limit of a Function

 Limit is the most important concept of all calculus.

 The main ideas of calculus, the derivative and the integral,

are defined using limits.

 All you need is to develop an intuitive understanding, and you

will see how simple these concepts are.

 The concept of limit study what will happen to a function when

variable x approaches a certain value.
 Consider an example which will help you to understand the concept of
limit. Suppose there is a huge forest blaze with a raging fire. Imagine that
you are moving closer to the forest, the distance x between you and forest
is decreases. As you keep on moving, you start feel heat all over your
body. Let the temperature on the surface of your body measured as f ( x) .

 Now as you getting closer to the fire, increased heat are felt on your body.
The closer you get, the greater the sense of heat. Now you would not want
to actually put yourself in the fire i.e. x  0 , but yet as you get close and
close to the fire you have sense that temperature on the surface of your
body will increasing until it reaches the temperature of fire.
 In limit, we are not interested in the value of f(x) when x = c

 We are more interested in the behaviour of f(x) as x comes

closer and closer to a value of c .

 The notation of one sided limit is given as follow

lim f  x   lim f  x   L
x c  x c 

Left Side Limit Right Side Limit

x approaches c from left. x approaches c from right.
 1.1 Limit of a Function

When does a limit EXIST? A limit exists if and only if both corresponding
one sided limits exist and are equal.

Definition – Limit: If the limit from the left and right sides

have the same value,

lim f ( x)  lim f ( x)  L
x c  x c

Then, lim f ( x) exist and it is written as

x c

lim f ( x)  L
x c

and we read as “the limit f  x  as x approaches c is L ”

.
 x approaches c from
right

Limit exist
because one sided limit
x approaches c from exist and the value are
left
equal.
 LIMIT

Limit can be evaluated using three methods.

1 Numerical
Evaluating
Limit

3 2
Analytical Graphical
 Numerical Method

In this method, limit is solved by

 inserting an appropriate value of x from left (left side limit) and

right (right side limit) and calculate the corresponding f(x) .

 By doing so, we are expecting to reach a certain value 

LIMIT

 Aim: to be able to interpret limit behavior based on looking at a

table of values
 Example

Evaluate lim 2 x by using table.

x 1

Compute limit from both sides as follow

x approaching 1 from left x approaching 1 from right

x 0.9 0.99 0.999 0.9999 1 1.0001 1.001 1.01 1.1

f(x) 1.8 1.98 1.998 1.9998 ? 2.0002 2.002 2.062 2.1

lim 2 x  2 lim 2 x  2
x 1 x 1

Since limit from left and right (one sided limit) exist and equal, two side limit
exist and written as

 lim 2 x  2
x 1
 Example

sin x
Evaluate lim
x 0
numerically where x is in radian.
x

x approaching 0 from left x approaching 0 from right

x -0.1 -0.01 -0.01 -0.0001 0 0.0001 0.001 0.01 0.1

f(x) 0.99833 0.99998 0.99999 0.99999 ? 0.99999 0.99999 0.99998 0.99833

sin x sin x
lim 1 lim 1
x 0 x 0  x
x

sin x
In this example, we shall summarize result as  lim 1
x 0 x
 Example

3x 2  2 x  8
Evaluate lim using numerical method.
x 2 x2

x approaching 2 from left x approaching 2 from right

x 1.9 1.99 1.999 2 2.001 2.01 2.1

f(x) 9.7 9.97 9.997 ? 10.003 10.03 10.3

lim f ( x)  10 lim f ( x)  10
x 2 x 2

Since the limits from left and right have the same values, then

3x 2  2 x  8
lim  10
x 2 x2
 Example

1
Evaluate lim
x 0
numerically.
x

x approaching 0 from left x approaching 0 from right

x -0.1 -0.01 -0.01 -0.0001 0 0.0001 0.001 0.01 0.1

f(x) -10 -100 -1000 -10000 ? 10000 1000 100 10

1 1
lim   lim  
x 0 x x 0 x

Both sides have different value, we can concluded that

1
 lim does not exist
x 0 x
 Example

 x 2  1, x  0
Evaluate lim f ( x) numerically where f ( x)   2 .
x 0
 x  1, x  0

x approaching 0 from left x approaching 0 from right

x -0.1 -0.01 -0.01 0 0.001 0.01 0.1

f(x) 1.01 1.0001 1.000001 -0.999999 -0.999 -0.99

lim  x 2  1  1 lim  x 2  1  1
x 0 x 0

Limit from left and right have different values, then

 lim f ( x) does not exist
x 0
 Graphical Method

In this method, limit is solved through a graph.

From the graph, we can determine the limit exist or not

when does a limit exist?

lim f  x   lim f  x   L
x c  x c 
 Example

Evaluate lim 2 x by graphical method.

x 1

Plot graph of y  2 x . From the f(x)4

graph plotting in Figure 1, as x 3
approached 1 from left, the
2
function f(x) goes to 2. The lim 2 x
x 1
same thing occur as x 1

approached 1 from right

0 x
lim 2 x  lim 2 x  2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
x 1 x 1
-1
Hence
-2
 lim 2 x  2 Figure 1
x 1
 Example

Evaluate lim  x  2 
2
graphically.
x 1

f(x)
This function is a quadratic
function where y   x  2  . As
2

we can see in the Figure 2,

f(x) approached 9 when x 9

comes closer to 1 from both

sides.

lim(

x  2) 2
 lim(

x  2) 2
9
x 1 x 1
-8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 x
1

 lim  x  2   9
2
Figure 2
x 1
 Example

 x  1, x  1
 3
Given f ( x)   , x  1 . Find lim
x 1
f ( x) graphically.
2
2  x, x  1

f(x)
We choose y  x  1 for the left hand 3

side function, meanwhile right hand

2
side function is y  2  x.The movement
of the graph tells us that 1

lim f ( x)  2 lim f ( x)  1
x 1 x 1 0
x
-4 -2 0 2 4
Since the value of one sided limit is
-1
different
Figure 3
 lim f ( x) does not exist -2
x 1
 Example

The diagram below shows the graph of the function, f. Find

(a) xlim
2
f ( x)
 (b) xlim
2
f ( x)
 (c) lim
x 2
f.( x)

(d) lim f ( x) (e) lim f ( x) (f) lim

x 4
f ( x)
x  4 x  4
(a) lim f ( x)  4
x  2
f(x)
(b) xlim f ( x)  2

2

4
(c) lim f ( x) does not exist
x 2
3
(d) xlim f ( x)  1

4

2
(e) xlim
4
f ( x) does not exist


1
(f) lim
x 4
f ( x) does not exist

x
- 0 1 2 3 4 5
1
Figure 4
 Analytical Method

Limits law will be used extensively in solving limit problem. If the limit cannot be
evaluated by limit laws (1), then the algebraic technique (2) will be used

1) Limits Law Technique

• Substitutions

2) Algebraic Technique

indeterminate
• Factorization
form
• Multiplication of conjugate
 Constant Rule lim k  k
x c

Identity Rule lim x  c

x c

Sum and
lim( f ( x)  g ( x))  lim f ( x)  lim g ( x)
Limits Law
Difference Rule x c x c x c

Product Rule lim( f ( x).g ( x))  lim f ( x).lim g ( x)

x c x c x c

Constant Multiple
Rule lim(k . f ( x))  k .lim f ( x)
x c x c

f ( x) lim f ( x)
Quotient Rule lim  x c
x c g ( x ) lim g ( x)
x c lim g ( x)  0
x c

 
n
Power Rule lim( f ( x))  lim f ( x)
n
x c x c
1. Constant Rule lim 6  6
x 2
• The limit of a constant is the
constant itself lim 11  11
x3

2. Identity Rule
• The limit of function f(x), where lim x  2
x 2
f(x)=x, is c since x approaches
c. lim x  7
x 7

3. Sum and Difference Rule

• The limit of the sum of two lim( x  4)  2  4  6
x 2
functions is the sum of their
limits lim( x  4)  3  4  1
x 3
4. Product Rule
lim( x  1)( x  2)
• The limit of a product of two functions x 2

is the product of their limits.  lim( x  1)  lim( x  2)

x 2 x 2

 3  4  12

5. Constant Multiple Rule

lim 2(4 x  1)
• The limit of a constant, multiply by a x 2

function is the constant multiply by  2 lim(4 x  1)

x 2
the limits of the function
 2(7)  14

6. Quotient Rule  x  1  lim( x  1)


x 3
lim 
• The limit of quotient of two functions x 3
 x  3  lim( x  3)
x 3
is the quotient of their limits, provided
the limit of the denominator is not 3 1 1
 
zero 3 3 3
7. Power Rule
• The limit of the nth power is the nth power of
the limit where n is a positive integer and
f (c )  0

 
n
lim( f ( x))  lim f ( x)
n
lim n f ( x)  n lim f ( x)
x c x c x c x c

 
2
lim(3x)  lim(3x)
2
 (3)2  9
x 1 x 1

lim 5x  4  lim(5 x  4)  20  4  4
2 2
x 2 x 2
 Example

Evaluate the following limit analytically.

(a) lim( x  5) (b) lim (3 x  5) (c) lim 2 x( x  4)
x 1 x 2 x 1

 3x  4 
  x2  x  6
1/ 3
(d) lim   (e) lim x  11
2
(f) lim
x2
 x3  x4 x2 x2

 3x  4  3(2)  4 10
(a) lim( x  5)  1  5  6 (d) lim    2
x 1 x 2
 x3  23 5

   
1/ 3 1/ 3

(b) xlim (3 x  5)  3(2)  5  1 (e) lim x  11

2
(4)  11
2
 3
2 x4

3x 2  2 x  8 0
(c) lim 2 x( x  4)  2(1  4)  10 (f) lim 
x 1 x 2 x2 0
indeterminate form
For case (f), direct substitution doesn’t always work!
 There are cases that we cannot solve using the limit laws
technique.
 x2  x  6  0
e.g. lim   
x 2
 x2  0
0
 If lim
x c
f ( x)  , it cannot be evaluated by direct substitution.
0
 Use Algebraic technique instead such as ;

Factoring

Multiplying
conjugate
 Example

Evaluate the following limit analytically.

x2  x  6 t 2 1 x 2
(a) lim (b) lim (c) lim
x2 x2 t 1 t  1 x4 x4
3t  3 3x 2  1 1
(d) lim (e) lim (f) lim
x 1 x  2
t 0 t p 2
4 p2  7

(a) lim x  x  6  lim  x  3 ( x  2)  5 3t  3

2
(d) 1
lim 
x 2 x2 x 2 x2 x 0 t 2 3

(b) lim  1  lim  t  1 (t  1)  2 3x 2  1 2

2
t (e) lim 
t 1 t  1 t 1 t 1 x 1 x  2 3

x 2 x 2 x 2 1 1

1
(c) lim  lim   (f) lim
x4 x4 x4 x  4 x 2 4
p 2
4 p2  7 3
 Limit at a Infinity

We are interested in examining the limiting behavior of functions as x

increases without bound (written x   ) or as x decreases without bound
(written x   ).

lim k  k lim
1
0
x  x  x n

Example:  1 1
lim  5    lim 5  lim  5  0  5
x 
 x  x x  x

Note: To evaluate the limit at a infinity of rational function, divide the

numerator and denominator by the largest power of the variable that appear
in the denominator
 Example

12t 2  15t  12
Evaluate lim
t  t2 1

Highest power in denominator is 2, so we can divide our fraction with t 2

15 12 lim  12  15  12 
lim
12t 2
 15t  12  / t 2

 lim
12   2 t  
t t  

t t2 
t 
t 2
 1 / t 2 t  1
1 2  1
lim 1  2 
t t 
 t 
15 12
lim12  lim  lim 2
t  t  t t  t

1
lim1  lim 2
t  t  t

12  0  0

1 0
 12
 Example

Evaluate the following limit.

x2  x  6 t 1 2 x3  2
(a) lim (b) lim (c) lim 3
x  x2 t  t  1 x  x  1

1
(d) lim e x
(e) lim tan 1 x
x  x 

(a) Highest order in denominator is 1, so divide fraction by x

lim
x2  x  6
 lim
 x2  x  6 / x
x  x2 x   x  2 / x
6
x 1
 lim x
x  2
1
x

 Example

(b) Highest order in denominator is 1, so divide fraction by t

lim
t 3
 lim
 
t 1 / t
t  t  1 t   t  1 / t
1 3

t
 lim t 0
t  1
1
t
(c) The denominator has power 3, therefore
2 x3  2
lim 3  lim
 2 x3  2  / x3
x  x  1 x 
 x3  1 / x3
2
23
 lim x 2
x  1
1 3
x
 1
(d) e not a fractional function, with the aid of mathematical
x

software we evaluate the limit of the function graphically.

lim f ( x) lim e1/ x  1 lim f ( x)

x  x  x 

https://www.desmos.com/calculator
 1
(d) tan x is an inverse trigonometric function, with the aid of
mathematical software we evaluate the limit of the function
graphically.

1
lim f ( x) lim tan x lim f ( x)
x  x  x 

https://www.desmos.com/calculator
 Continuity

 A function can be divided into two categories : continuous or

discontinuous.

 Continuous function flows nicely in smooth direction without

interruption. Opposite pattern are observed for discontinuous
functions.

 One of the easy way to detect the continuity of the function is

by looking at the graph : if its graph can be drawn without
lifting a pen/pencil, then the graph is said to be continuous.

 We will discuss the continuity of a graph (of a function) in the

next slides.
 Continuity of a function:

CONTINUOUS:

NOT CONTINUOUS:
 Example

Determine the continuity of the following graph.

f(x)

30

20

10

0 x
10 20 30
-30 -20 -10

-10

-20
 Example

Determine the continuity of the following graph.

f(x)

15

10

x
0
4 8 12
-12 -8 -4
-5

-10
 The Continuity Test

Definition – Continuity: A function is said to be continuous at

a point x  c if the following conditions are satisfied.

1 The function f is defined at x  c , that is f (c) exist.

2 lim f ( x) exists.
x c

3 lim f ( x)  f (c)
x c

Failure to meet one of these conditions, then the function is

discontinuous at x  c .
 Example Determine the continuity of the following graphs.

c c

lim f ( x)  f (c) lim f ( x) exist but lim f ( x)  f (c)

x c x c
x c
Hence, f ( x) continuous at c . Hence, f ( x) discontinuous at c .
 Example Determine the continuity of the following graphs.

c c

f (c)exist but lim

x c
f ( x) does not exist lim f ( x) and f (c) does not exist.
x c

Hence, f ( x) discontinuous at c . Hence, f ( x) not continuous at c .

Example Determine the continuity of the following graphs.

lim f ( x) exist but f (c) does not exist

x c

Hence, f ( x) not continuous at c .

 Example

x2  x  2
Determine whether the function f ( x)  , x  1 is continuous at given
x2
x value?

By using the continuity test,


1 Function is defined at x  1 .
x2  x  2 1  1  2
f (c)  f 1   2
x2 1 2

2 Limit is exist

x2  x  2 lim x2  lim x  lim 2

lim f  x   lim  x1 x 1 x 1
2
x 1 x 1 x2 lim x  lim 2
x 1 x 1


3 lim f ( x)  f (1)  2
x 1

x2  x  2
Hence, f ( x)  is continuous at x  1 .
x2
 Example
x2  x  2
Determine whether the function f ( x)  , x  2 is continuous at
x2
given x value?

By using the continuity test,


1 Function is undefined at x  2 .
22  2  2 0
f (c )  f  2   
22 0

2 Limit is exist

x2  x  2 ( x  2)( x  1)
lim f  x   lim  lim 3
x2 x2 x2 x  2 x2 indeterminate
form
3 lim f ( x)  f (2)
x2

x2  x  2
Hence, f ( x)  is discontinuous at x  2.
x2
 Example

Discuss the is continuity of piecewise function at x  0 .

 x  1, x0

f  x   1 x0
(sin x) x , x  0


To check the continuity of the graph, we use the continuity test.

 At x  0 , function is defined f (0)  1 .

 To check the existence of the limit, we need to evaluate limit from the
both sides. Using numerical approach, we obtained:

.
 x approaching 0 from left x approaching 0 from right

x -0.1 -0.01 -0.001 -0.0001 0 0.0001 0.001 0.01 0.1

f(x) 0.90000 0.9900 0.9990 0.9999 ? 0.9999 0.9999 0.9999 0.9983

lim x  1  1 lim
sin x
1
x 0
x 0 x
Notice that different function are applied on the left and right side. As a
conclusion, limit is exist since both sides have the same value.

lim f ( x)  1
x 0
 lim f ( x)  f (0)  1
x 0

All requirement are successfully meet. Therefore f ( x) is continuous at x  0 .

 Example

 sin x
x0
Given f  x    x ,
 k , x0

Find the value of k so that the function f ( x) is continuous

In order for f ( x) to be continuous, f ( x) has to satisfy all conditions in

continuity test. Condition 3 stated that,

f (0)  lim f ( x)
x 0

sin x
From previous example : x0 lim f ( x )  lim  1 . On the other hand, f is
x 0 x
defined at f (0)  k . Therefore ,
f (0)  lim f ( x)
x 0

k 1
 Example

Determine whether the function f ( x) is continuous at x  1, x  2, x  3 by

using continuity test.

f(x)

x
- 0 1 2 3 4 5
1

17
 Example

Determine whether the function f ( x) is continuous at x  2, x  4, x  8, x  10

by using continuity test.
f(x)

x
-1 0 2 4 6 8 10
 Conclusions #1

 The notation lim f  x   L is read “ the limit f  x  as x approaches c is L”

x c
and means that the functional values f  x  can be made arbitrarily, close to

L by choosing x sufficiently close to c ( but not equal to c ).

 L is a finite real number. If L can be found, then the limit of exists. If L

cannot be found or infinite, then the limit of f  x  does not exist.

 Numerical method: use table to calculate the limit (i.e. consider limit from
both sides)

 Graphical method : use graph to determine the limit (i.e. consider limit from
both sides)
 Conclusions #2

 Analytical method: use properties to determine the limit

0 
 lim f ( x)  lim
or xc f ( x )  cannot be evaluated by direct substitution or
x c 0 
using properties of limit . This kind of form must be solve using either of the
following method. Factorisation, multiplying of conjugate or fraction
reduction.
 Conclusions #3

1
 Limit at Infinity : lim f ( x)  L, lim k  k , lim 0
x  x  x  x n

 In finding limit at infinity for fractional function, division of higher power

variable is use by dividing the numerator and denominator of function
with , where is the highest power in the denominator

 A function is said to be continuous if it graph can be drawn over each

interval of its domain with a continuous motion of pen without lifting a
pen.

xc
 Conclusions #4

 Continuity Test : A function is continuous at if and only if it meets the

following conditions:

1. f  a  is defined

2. lim
x a
f ( x) exists

3. lim f ( x )  f (c )
x c

If any of these three fails, then is discontinuous at x  c .

Thank you.
I hope you have enjoyed this
lesson.