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Module 1 LIMIT OF A FUNCTION

I. Objectives
1. Define the limit of a function
2. Evaluate the limit of a function using its graph

II. Directions
1. Read and understand the given text.
2. Answer the required exercises and submit online.

III. Exploration of the text

LIMIT OF A FUNCTION

y y=f(x)
L

a x

Let f be a function and let a and L be real numbers. If

a. as x takes values closer and closer(but not equal) to a on both sides of a,
the corresponding values of f(x) gets closer and closer (and perhaps equal)
to L; and
b. the value of f(x) can be made close to L as desired by taking values close
to a;
then L is the limit of f(x) as x approaches a, written
lim f (x) = L read as “the limit of f(x) as x approaches a is equal to L”.
x→a

Given the table of f (x) = 2x + 1 , find the following:

a. lim f (x) b. lim f (x) c. lim f (x)
x→2 x→2 x→2
− +

x approaches 2 from the left x approaches 2 from the right

x 1 1.02 1.99 1.999 2 2.001 2.01 2.2 2.8 3
f(x) 3 3.04 4.98 4.998 5 5.002 5.02 5.4 6.6 7

f(x) approaches 5 f(x) approaches 5

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Solution:

a. lim f (x) is read as “ the limit of f(x) as x approaches 2 from the left ”. It means we will
x→2
−

find the value to which f(x) approaches as x approaches to 2 from the left. Based on
the table, f(x) approaches 5 as x approaches 2 from the left. Thus, lim f (x) = 5. This
x→2
−

is called the left-hand limit.

b. lim f (x) is read as “ the limit of f(x) as x approaches 2 from the right ”. It means we will
x→2
+

find the value to which f(x) approaches as x approaches to 2 from the right. Based
on the table, f(x) approaches 5 as x approaches 2 from the right. Thus, lim f (x) = 5.
x→2 +

This is called the right-hand limit.

c. lim f (x) is read as “ the limit of f(x) as x approaches 2 from both sides ”. It means we will
x→2

find the value to which f(x) approaches as x approaches to 2 from both sides. Based
on the table, f(x) approaches 5 as x approaches 2 from both sides. Thus, lim f (x) =
x→2

5. This is called the two-sided limit.

Note:
The lim f (x) = 5 does not imply that lim f (x) =f(2) since the limit of a function only
x→2 x→2

tells us to what value does f(x) approaches as x approaches 2 while f(2) tells us the
value of the function when x =2.

Here, we are more interested in finding the limit of a function as x approaches

from both sides. In finding the limit of the function from both sides, we have to consider
the three conditions.

Let f be a function and a be any real

number. The lim f (x) exists if:
x→a

a. lim f (x) = M where M is any real number or

x→a −

the limit exists.

b. lim f (x) = N where N is any real number or
x→a+
the limit exists.
c. lim f (x) = lim f (x) , that is M = N.
x→a− x→a+
d. Thus, lim f (x) =M or lim f (x) =N.
x→a x→a

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Three situations when the lim f (x) exists in relation to f(a)

x→a

a. f(a) is undefined but limit exists where lim f (x) = L .

y x→a

a x

b. f (a) = lim f (x)

x→a
y
L

a x

c. f (a)  lim f (x)

x→a
y
f(a)
L

a x

Graphical Representation on Conditions When Limit Does not Exist:

a. oscillating graph

b. the graph is discontinuous at x = a and lim f (x)  lim f (x)

x→a− x→a+

c. the graph is increasing or decreasing infinitely at x = a.

a
a a

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Illustrative Examples:

I. Given the graph of the function f above, find what is asked:

1. 𝑙i𝑚𝑥→−8− ƒ(𝑥) = 1 9. 𝑙i𝑚𝑥→−1− ƒ(𝑥) = −∞ 17. 𝑙i𝑚𝑥→4+ ƒ(𝑥) = 6

2. 𝑙i𝑚𝑥→−8+ ƒ(𝑥) = 2 10. 𝑙i𝑚𝑥→−1 ƒ(𝑥) = 𝑑𝑜𝑒𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑒𝑥i𝑠𝑡 18. 𝑙i𝑚𝑥→4 ƒ(𝑥) = 6

3. 𝑙i𝑚𝑥→−8 ƒ(𝑥) = 𝑑𝑜𝑒𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑒𝑥i𝑠𝑡 11. ƒ(−1) = 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒ƒi𝑛𝑒𝑑 19. ƒ(4) = 2

4. ƒ(−8) = 2 12. 𝑙i𝑚𝑥→1− ƒ(𝑥) = 0 20. 𝑙i𝑚𝑥→7− ƒ(𝑥) = 1

5. 𝑙i𝑚𝑥→−4− ƒ(𝑥) = 2 13. 𝑙i𝑚𝑥→1+ ƒ(𝑥) = 0 21. 𝑙i𝑚𝑥→7+ ƒ(𝑥) = 1

6. 𝑙i𝑚𝑥→−4+ ƒ(𝑥) = −1 14. 𝑙i𝑚𝑥→1 ƒ(𝑥) = 0 22. 𝑙i𝑚𝑥→7 ƒ(𝑥) = 1

7. 𝑙i𝑚𝑥→−4 ƒ(𝑥) = 𝑑𝑜𝑒𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑒𝑥i𝑠𝑡 15. ƒ(1) = 0 23. ƒ(7) = 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒ƒi𝑛𝑒𝑑

8. 𝑙i𝑚𝑥→−1+ ƒ(𝑥) = −∞ 16. 𝑙i𝑚𝑥→4− ƒ(𝑥) = 6

IV. ACTIVITY

Directions:
1. Answer the exercises below.
2. Submit your answers online in WORD or PDF format not later than five days after receipt.

I. Given the graph of the function f above, find what is asked:

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1. lim f (x) 16. lim f (x) 31. f (6)

x→−7 + x→−3
2. lim f (x) 17. f (−3) 32. lim f (x)
x→−7− x→6 −

3. f (−7) 18. f (0) 33. lim f (x)

x→6 +
4. lim f (x) 19. lim f (x) 34. lim f (x)
x→−7 x→0 + x→6

5. f (−6) 20. lim f (x) 35. f (7)

x→0 −

6. lim f (x) 21. lim f (x) 36. lim f (x)

x→−6 x→0 x→7 −
−

7. lim f (x) 22. lim f ( x) 37. lim f (x)

x→−6 x→1− x→7 +
+

8. lim f (x) 23. lim f (x) 38. lim f (x)

x→−6 x→1+ x→7

9. lim f (x) 24. lim f (x) 39. f (8)

x→−6 x→2

10. f (−5) 25. lim f (x) 40. lim f (x)

x→3 x→8

11. lim f ( x) 26. f (4) 41. f (9)

x→−5−

12. lim f (x) 27. lim f (x) 42. lim f (x)

x→−5 + x→4 − x→9

13. lim f (x) 28. lim f (x) 43. lim f ( x)

x→−5 x→4 x→10
+

14. lim f ( x) 29. lim f (x) 44. f (12)

x→−3 x→4
+

15. lim f ( x) 30. lim f (x) 45. lim f ( x)

x→−3 x→5 x→12
−

V. REFERENCES

Anton, H. (1995). Calculus with Analytic Geometry. USA: John & Wiley Sons, Inc.
Comandante, F. L. (2009). CALCULUS Concepts and Applications Made Easy.
Mandaluyong City: National Book Store
Lial, M. L., Greenwell, R. N. & Ritchey, N. P. (2005). Calculus with Applications (8th ed.).
Singapore: Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd.
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Lial, M. L., Greenwell, R. N. & Ritchey, N. P. (2005). Calculus with Applications (10th
ed.).

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Singapore: Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd.

Marcelo, G. H. (2009). Basic Calculus. Quezon City: Rex Book Store, Inc.

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