1

TECHNIQUES OF COMPUTING LIMITS

Polynomial functions

Limits at a point Limits at infinity

Let f (x) is polynomial function Let f (x) is polynomial function
f ( x)  c0  c1 x  c2 x 2  ...  cn x n f ( x)  c0  c1 x  c2 x 2  ...  cn x n

Then, Then,
lim f ( x)  f (a ) lim f ( x) depends on the highest
xa x 
degree term.

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Activity: Find the limit of the given function.
(a)

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(b)

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Solution

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 Rational functions
Limits at a point
Let f (x) is rational function
n( x), with d(x) and n(x) polynomial function
f ( x) 
d ( x)
Then,
n(a) ,with d (a). 0 lim f ( x)  f (a)
lim f ( x)  xa
x a d (a)

But how if d (a)  0???

1 Case n(a )  0 lim f ( x) does not exist.
xa
0 , factor d(x) and n(x) then
2 Case n( a )  0 lim f ( x) 
x a 0
cancel out.

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Rational functions
Limits at a point

Activity: Find the limit of the given function.

x 9
2
lim
x 3 x  3

x 9
2
lim  lim  x  3   6
x 3 x  3 x 3

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Rational functions
Limits at a point

Activity: Find the limit of the given function.

x 8
3
(a 3  b 3 )  (a  b)(a 2  ab  b 2 )
lim
x 2 x  2
x 83 3
x 2 3
 lim x  8 lim x  2
3 3 3
 xlim
 2 x  2  xlim 2 x  2
x2 x  2 x2 x  2
( x  2)( x 2 2 x  4)
2
lim ( x  2)( x  2 x  4)
xlim
2 ( x  2)
x2 ( x  2)
 lim( x  2 x  4)  12
2 x 8 3

 xlim
 2 ( x  2 x  4)  12
2 lim  12
x2 x2 x  2
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 Rational functions
Limits at a point

x  4x
2
lim 2
x  1 x  3 x  4

x  4x
2
x( x  4) x 1
lim 2  lim  lim  lim
x  1 x  3 x  4 x  1 ( x  4)( x  1) x  1 ( x  1) x  1 0

x  4x
2
x( x  4) x 1
 lim  lim  lim Does Not Exist
2
 3x  4 x1 ( x  4)( x  1) x1 ( x  1) x1 0
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 Rational functions
Limits at infinity

Let f (x) is rational function

n( x )
f ( x) 
d ( x)
Then,
lim f ( x) Step 1 Factor out the highest degree of d(x)
x 
Step 2 Cancel it out
Step 3 Substitute   to find the answer

(i) Degree n(x) < Degree d(x), Answer =0

(ii) Degree n(x) = Degree d(x), Answer = Ratio of the leading coefficients
(iii) Degree n (x)> Degree d(x), Answer =+∞ or -∞
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 Rational functions
Limits at a infinity

2x 12
(i) Degree n(x) < Degree d(x), Answer =0
lim 5 (ii) Degree n(x) = Degree d(x), Answer = Ratio of the
x  4 x  5 x 4  x 3  2 x 2 leading coefficients
(iii) Degree n (x)> Degree d(x), Answer =+∞ or -∞
 1 
x 2  2 
2

 lim  x 
5 2 
x  5 1
x 4   2  3
 x x x 
  1 
 x2  2 2 
 lim  5  x   0
x  5 1 2 
x 
4  2  3 

  x x x  17
Rational functions
Limits at a infinity

2 x  5x
2
lim 2
x  8 x  3 x

2 x  5x 2 1
2
 lim 2  
x  8 x  3 x 8 4

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Rational functions
Limits at a infinity

3x  2 x
2
lim
x  x5
 22
xx 33 
22
33xx 22xx
22
 xx 33
lim
lim lim
lim ((
)) 

xx
 xx55 xx
   55 11
xx11 
 xx

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Solution

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Radical functions, (function involve n )
Limits at a point
Let f (x) is radical function
m( x )
f ( x)  , with e(x) and m(x) radical function
e( x )
Rationalize??
m( a ) For a  b
lim f ( x)  ,with e(a. )  0 then rationalize it
x a e( a ) ( a  b)( a  b)
But how if e(a)  0 ???  a  b2

1 Case m( a )  0 lim f ( x) does not exist.

xa
0
2 Case m( a )  0 lim f ( x)  , rationalize e (x) or m (x)
x a 0
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 Activity: Find the limit of the given function.
x  100  10
2
lim 2
x 0 x
xx2 2100
10010
10 xx 2100
2
10010
10
lim
lim 2

xx2 2100
10010
xx 2
00 xx 10
  100 10
22
xx 100
22
10
22
xx 100
100100
22
100 11 11
xx  xx 100 10 
lim
lim lim
lim lim
lim 
x
x00 22
10010 xx( ( xx 100
x
x
10010 x
x
xx 100
10010
10 20
22 00 22 22 22
10 00 20

x 2  100  10 1
lim 2
  0.05
x 0 x 20 25
Radical functions
Limits at a point

Activity: Find the limit of the given function.

x 1
lim
x 1 x 1

x 1 1
lim 
x 1 x  1 2
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Radical functions
Limits at a point

Activity: Find the limit of the given function.

4 x
lim
x4 2  x
4
4  xx 2 2 xx
 lim
 lim 

4
 4 2  xx
xxx  4
2  xx 2 2
(4
( 4 xx)(
)(22 xx ))
 lim
 lim
4

xxx  4
4 4
4  xx 4 x
lim 4
 lim
 lim((2 2  xx )) 4 4 x4 2  x
x4
4
xx  4 27
Limits at infinity
Let f (x) is radical function
m( x )
f ( x) 
e( x )

Case 1 Case 3
f (x) can be rationalize f (x) can’t be rationalize
Rationalize m (x) or e (x) Step 1 Factor out the highest degree of e(x)

Step 2 Cancel it out

Case 2
f (x) with e (x) = 1 Step 3 Substitute x  to find the answer
Rationalize m (x)

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 x3
lim
x  xx2 3 4
Radical functions lim
Limits at infinity
x 
x 
2
x4 3
 3
x3 x
 lim xx2  x 2x
2 2
lim
x 
x 4
2
 x 
lim x2 2
4
x 
x 2 4 2
x 3 x2  2x
 x x
2 2 3
 lim x x 1  3
1 x 1
1 0 0
x 
x 2 
4
 lim x    1
 lim
x 
2  4 10
 0 1
11 2 2
x 2
x
x 4 1
xx
3
1
x 1 0
 lim  1
x  4 1 0 29
 Radical functions
Limits at infinity

x x33  x, x  0 
limlim x  3 x  x 
2

x  
2x  4
2
 x , x  0 
 
xlim
x2  4
x  
x x4 3 x    x  0
x
x 2x  3
3 2x 2
 x
2

 lim lim x 2 2
x   x x
 xlim
2
  2x 4
x 22x2 42x 2
x  
x 4
x2  x2
x x3
 1  3
 1  3( x)
    100
 lim   1
lim 1 ( x ) 1
x   (  x )   1  0  
 0 11
 xlim
  4  1 10
1 1 42x 2
4
x   1 0
1 x2
x 30
 Continuity of a function
A function f is continuous at a if

lim f ( x)  f (a)
x a

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Continuity
We perceive the path of moving object as an unbroken curve without gaps,
breaks, holes or asymptote. In this section, we translate the unbroken
curve into a precise mathematical formulation called continuity.

A function f (x) is said to be continuous at x = a if

lim f ( x)  f (a )
xa

3 Steps to determine either the function is continuous or not

Step 1 Find lim f ( x). If this limit exists, go to step 2.

xa

Otherwise, not continuous.

Step 2 Find f (a). If f (a) defined, go to step 3.

Otherwise, not continuous.

Step 3 Check either lim f ( x)  f (a )

xa
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If yes, the function f (x) is continuous. Otherwise, not continuous.
Example:
x  2 x  2 is continuous at x=0
4
f ( x)  6
x  2x  1
4

x 
4 4
4x2 2
x 2x 2
limlim  lim6 6 x4 4 2x 2
f ( xf)(x)lim 22
x 0x 0 lim f x( 0 lim
x0)x 
x x 2x 2 
x 1  1 2
x 0 x 0 x  2 x  1
6 4
4 4
(0)(0)  2(0) 4  2 2
 2(0)
f (0)   6 6(0) 4 2(0)
f (0)  
222
f(0)  2(0)
(0)(0)  62(0) 1 14
4 2
(0)  2(0)  1
limlimf ( xf)(x) f(0)  2 2
f (0)
x 0x 0 lim f ( x)  f (0)  2
x 0 33
 x  x6
2

Activity: Show that f ( x)  ,x  2

x 4
2

is continuous at x = 2.

x  x6
2
x3 5
lim 2  lim   f (2)
x 2 x 4 x 2 x  2 4
Activity:
Given the graph of f(x), shown below, determine if
function f(x) is continuous at x = −2, x = 0 , and x = 3

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 Continuity : curve must be NOT broken,
gaps, breaks, holes or asymptote

when x  2,
lim f ( x)  2, f (2)  2
x  2

lim f ( x) Does not exists

x  2

The function value and the limit NOT THE SAME and so the function is NOT
CONTINUOUS at this point.

This kind of discontinuity is called a jump discontinuity

(graph has a break) 36
 Continuity : curve must be NOT : broken,
gaps, breaks, holes or asymptote

when x  0,
lim f ( x)  1
x 0

f (0)  1

The function is CONTINUOUS at this point (x=0) since the function and limit
have the same value.

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 when x  3,

The function is NOT CONTINUOUS at this point. This kind of discontinuity is

called a removable discontinuity

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Exercise 2:The graph of f (x) is given below. Based on this graph
determine where the function is discontinuous.

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3. Activity: For what value of a is
 x  1, x  3
2
f ( x)  
 2ax, x  3
such that f(x) is continuous at every x.
Hint :
lim f ( x)  lim f ( x) 4
x 3 x 3
a
lim f ( x)  f (3) 3
x 3
if the function is continuous 40