BASIC CALCULUS

Lesson 2: ONE-SIDED LIMITS

I. Overview:

 This lesson will demonstrate key concepts of limits and continuity of a function.

II. Objectives:

 At the end of the lesson, the student is able to:

(1) evaluate one sided limits
(2) describe the relationship among the limit of a function and the one-sided limits associated to it

III. Content Outline:

Please take time to read and understand this part because all graded activities and quizzes will be coming
from these contents.

IV. Lesson Content

ONE – SIDED LIMITS

- Limits where x approaches a number only from one direction.
Right – hand Limit
Let f be a function defined on some open interval (a, d). The limit of f(x) as x approaches a from
the right is L, written as lim ¿ if the values of f get closer and closer to one and only one
+¿
x→ a f ( x ) =L¿
number L as x approaches a through values that are close to, but greater than a.
Left – hand Limit
Let f be a function defined on some open interval (c, a). The limit of f(x) as x approaches a from
the left is L, written as lim ¿ if the values of f get closer and closer to one and only one
−¿
x→ a f ( x )= L¿
number L as x approaches a through values that are close to, but less than a.
Remark:
 If the left-hand limit and right-hand limit both exist and are both equal to L, then the two-
sided limit exists and is equal to L.
 If the left-hand limit and the right-hand limit exist but are not equal, or if one of these
exists while the other does not, then the two-sided limit does not exist.
EXAMPLES:
RATIONAL FUNCTION
1 lim 1
1. lim ⁡ 2. x→ 3
x →0 x
x−3
Solution: Solution:
lim ⁡
x →0
+¿ 1
=+∞ ¿
lim ¿
x 1+¿ 1
x→ 3 = ¿
x−3 0+¿ =+∞ ¿
lim ⁡
1 −¿
lim ¿
x →0 =−∞ ¿ 1 1
x x→ 3
−¿
= ¿
x−3 0−¿ =−∞ ¿

Thus,
Thus,
1 lim 1
lim ⁡ =does not exist (DNE)
x →0 x
x→ 3
=DNE
x−3
M.A. SALAZAR, A. CABATAÑA, R. CORNELIO
SQUARE ROOT FUNCTION

3. lim √x
x →0
Solution:
lim
+¿
¿ lim
−¿
¿ Thus, lim √ x=DNE
x→ 0 √ x= √ 0=0 ¿ x→ 0 √ x=DNE ¿ x →0

4. Evaluate the following:

a. lim ¿
−¿
x→ 2 √ x−2¿
b. lim ¿
+¿
x→ 2 √ x−2 ¿
c. lim √ x−2
x →2

Solution: √ x−2is not defined for x <2

a. −¿
lim ¿ b. +¿
lim ¿ c. lim √ x−2=DNE
x→ 2 √ x−2=DNE ¿ x→ 2 √ x−2= √2−2=0 ¿ x →2

PIECEWISE FUNCTION

{
−1 , x< 0
5. f ( x ) = 0 , x=0 find a. lim ¿ b. lim ¿ c. lim f (x)
−¿ +¿
x→ 0 f ( x ) ¿ x→ 0 f ( x ) ¿ x →0
1 , x> 0
Solution:
lim ¿
a. x→ 0 f ( x )= lim
−¿
−¿
¿¿
x→0 −1=−1 ¿

lim ¿
b. +¿
x→ 0 f ( x ) = lim +¿
¿¿
x→0 1=1 ¿

c. lim f ( x )=DNE
x →0

6. f ( x )= {xx−1−7,,xx≤>33
2 find a. lim
−¿
x→ 3 f (x)¿
¿ b. lim
+¿
x→ 3 f (x)¿
¿ c. lim
x →3
f (x )

Solution:
lim ¿
a. −¿
x→ 3 f ( x ) = lim
−¿
¿¿
x →3 x−1=2 ¿

lim ¿
b. +¿
x→ 3 f ( x )= lim ¿¿
+¿ 2
x→3 x −7=2¿

c. lim f ( x )=DNE
x →3

ABSOLUTE VALUE FUNCTION

lim ¿ lim ¿ lim x

7. Find the following: a. x→ 0
+¿ x
¿
b. x→ 0
−¿ x
¿
c. x→0
|x| |x| |x|
Solution:
lim ¿
a. x→ 0
+¿ x
= lim ¿¿
|x| x →0 x = lim
+¿
¿¿
x x → 0 +¿ 1 =1 ¿

M.A. SALAZAR, A. CABATAÑA, R. CORNELIO

 lim ¿
b. x→ 0
−¿x
= lim ¿¿
|x| x→ 0 −¿ x
= lim ¿¿
−x x → 0+ ¿−1=−1¿

lim x
c. x→0
=DNE
|x|

V. Activity:
NAME/SECTION: __________________________________ DATE: ______________

ACTIVITY 2 ONE-SIDED LIMITS

Evaluate the following one-sided limits.

lim 1
1. x →4
2
( x−4)

2. lim √ 4 x−4
x →1

{
2
3. Let g ( x )= x +2 x−1 , x <2
x +2 , x ≥ 2
Find the following:
a. lim ¿
−¿
x→ 2 g( x)¿

b. lim ¿
+¿
x→ 2 g (x)¿

c. lim g (x)
x →2

VI. Assignment
Answer the problem below: Let

{
−2 x−4 , x ≤−2
f ( x )= √ 4−x 2 ,−2< x ≤2
2 x−8 , 2< x

M.A. SALAZAR, A. CABATAÑA, R. CORNELIO

find

a. lim ¿ d. lim ¿
−¿ −¿
x→−2 f (x)¿ x→ 2 f (x)¿

b. lim ¿ e. lim ¿
+¿ +¿
x→−2 f (x)¿ x→ 2 f (x)¿

c. lim f (x) f. lim f (x )

x→−2 x →2

M.A. SALAZAR, A. CABATAÑA, R. CORNELIO