CHAPTER 7

LIMITS & CONTINUITY

MATHEMATICS T (TERM2)
Concept Map
Limits &
Continuity

Limits Continuity

Asymptotes Continuity of a Function

Intermediate Value Theorem

Learning Outcome
a.  determine the existence and values of the left-hand
limit, right-hand limit and limit of a function

y x→a
()
lim f x = L
Œ  If x approaches the number a
from the right-hand side:

L x→a
()
lim+ f x = L
Right-Hand
Limit
  If x approaches the number a
from the left-hand side:
Left-Hand
x→a
()
lim− f x = L
Limit

0 a x
() () ()
If lim f x = lim f x = L, then lim f x exists and equals L.
x→a+ x→a− x→a

If lim f ( x ) ≠ lim f ( x ) , then the lim f ( x ) does not exist.

x→a+ x→a− x→a
 2
(
lim x +1
x→1
)
x approaches from the left side of 1 x approaches from the right side of 1
2 2
x x +1 ( ) x x +1( )
0.9 3.61 1.1 4.41
0.99 3.9601 1.01 4.0401
0.999 3.996001 1.001 4.004001
0.9999 3.99960001 1.0001 4.00040001

2 2 2
( ) (
lim x +1 = 4 and lim x +1 = 4, then lim x +1
x→1+ x→1−
) x→1
( ) exists and equal to 4.

Note:
If we substitute value x=1 into the function, it produces the
same answer, that is 4.

THE DIRECT SUBSTITUTION NOT ALWAYS TRUE

 x 2 −1
lim
x→1 x −1

x approaches from the left side of 1 x approaches from the right side of 1
2
x −1 x 2 −1
x x
x −1 x −1
0.9 1.9 1.1 2.1
0.99 1.99 1.01 2.01
0.999 1.999 1.001 2.001
0.9999 1.9999 1.0001 2.0001

x 2 −1 x 2 −1 x 2 −1
Since lim = 2 and lim = 2, hence, lim exists and equal to 2.
x→1 x −1
+ x→1 x −1
− x→1 x −1
The limit can be det er min ed by simplifying the function first

lim
x 2 −1
= lim
(
x −1 x +1 )( )
x→1 x −1 x→1 x −1
= lim x +1
x→1
( )
= 1+1
=2
 1
lim
x→0 x

1
When x get closer to "0", increases without bound.
x
1
lim does not exist.
x→0 x
A function f is defined by
⎧ −x − 5, x≤0
⎪⎪
()
f x = ⎨ 2x − 6, 0< x≤3
⎪ 2
⎪⎩ x − 9, x>3
Sketch the graph of y=f(x).

a.  Find x→3

( ) and lim f ( x) . Does lim f ( x) exist?
lim− f x
x→3+ x→3

b.  Find lim f ( x ) and lim f ( x ) . Does lim f ( x ) exist?

x→0
x→0− x→0+

 () ( )
lim− f x = lim− 2x − 6
x→3 x→3

= 2 (3) − 6
=0

x→3
() x→3
(
lim+ f x = lim− x 2 − 9 )
2
()
= 3 −9
=0

() ()
Since lim− f x = lim+ f x = 0,
x→3 x→3

then lim f ( x ) exists.

x→3
 ()
lim f x = lim− −x − 5
x→0− x→0
( )
= −0 − 5
= −5
() ( )
lim f x = lim− 2x − 6
x→0+ x→0

= 2 ( 0) − 6
= −6

() ()
Since lim− f x ≠ lim+ f x ,
x→0 x→0

then lim f ( x ) does not exists.

x→0
Learning Outcome
b.  use the properties of limits

lim c = c lim 7 = 7
x→a x→4

lim x n = a n lim x 3 = 23
x→a x→2
⎡ 2 ⎤
()
lim cf x = c lim f x
x→a x→a
() x→5
( )
lim 4 3x 2 − 50 = 4⎢3 5 − 50⎥
⎣ () ⎦
= 100
CP 7.1 (Pg9-10)
Q1 (d)
Q2 (b)
Q3 (c)
Q4 (c)
Q5
Q6
Q7
Learning Outcome
c.  determine the continuity of a function at a point and on
an interval

A function f is continuous at x = a if both the lim

x→a
() ()
f x and f a

exist and are equal, i.e. lim

x→a
() ()
f x =l= f a

It means the graph of the function is unbroken

STPM 2013/P2/Q1(b)
STPM 2014/P2/Q1(b)
STPM 2016/P2/Q1(b)
STPM 2017/P2/Q1
 () () ()
If lim f x = lim f x = L, then lim f x exists and equals L.
x→a+ x→a− x→a

() () ()
If lim f x = lim f x = L, then lim f x exists and equals L.
x→a+ x→a− x→a

()
lim f x = f a
x→a
()

Limit exist Continuous

A function f is defined by
⎧ 2
⎪⎪ x −1 if x < 0
()
f x = ⎨ x −1 if 0 ≤ x < 3
⎪ 2
⎪⎩ 12 − x if x ≥ 3

Discuss the continuity of the function f at x=0 and x=3.

⎫
( )
lim− x 2 −1 = 0 −1 = −1 ⎪
x→0
( )
⎬ lim x −1 = −1
lim+ x −1 = 0 −1 = −1 ⎪ x→0
( )
x→0 ⎭

()
f 0 = 0 −1 = −1

()
∴lim f x = f 0 = −1
x→0
()
∴ f is continuous at x = 0
 ⎧ 2
⎪⎪ x −1 if x < 0
()
f x = ⎨ x −1 if 0 ≤ x < 3
⎪ 2
⎪⎩ 12 − x if x ≥ 3

⎫
( )
lim− x −1 = 3−1 = 2
x→3 ⎪
2 () ()
⎬ lim− f x ≠ lim+ f x
x→3
( 2
)
lim+ 12 − x = 12 − 3 = 3 ⎪ x→3
() ⎭
x→3

()
⇒ lim f x does not exist.
x→3

∴ f is not continuous at x = 3
Given f is a function defined by
⎧ x + 2a x < −2
⎪
()
f x = ⎨ 3ax + c −2 ≤ x ≤ 1
⎪ 3x − 2c x > 1
⎩
Find the values of a and c if f is a continuous function.

()
Since f x is continuous

() () ( )
lim f x = lim+ f x → lim− x + 2a = lim+ 3ax + c
x→−2− x→−2 x→−2 x→−2
( )
( )
−2 + 2a = 3a −2 + c → c − 8a = −2 ...... 1()
x→1
()
lim− f x = lim+ f x
x→1
() → lim (3ax + c) = lim (3x − 2c)
x→1− x→1+

3a (1) + c = 3(1) − 2c → a +c =1 ...... ( 2)

(2) − (1) ⇒ 9a = 3
1
∴a =
3
1 2
()
From 2 ⇒ ∴c = 1− =
3 3
A function f is continuous on the closed interval [a, b], if it is
() ()
continuous on the interval (a, b) and lim+ f x = f a and lim
x→a
() ()
f x = f b
x→b−

y

a b x
 ⎡ ⎤
Show that the function f x = 1− 1− x is continuous on the interval ⎣−1, 1⎦
2
()

If −1< a < 1, then using the Limit Laws, we have

x→a
() x→a (
lim f x = lim 1− 1− x 2 )
= 1− lim 1− x 2
x→a

= 1− 1− a 2
()
=f a
Thus, f is continuous at a if and only if −1< a < 1
2
()
lim+ f x = 1− 1− −1 = 1
x→−1
( )
2
()
lim− f x = 1− 1− 1 = 1
x→1
()
∴ Therefore f is continuous from the right at −1 and continuous
from the left at 1. Hence, f is continuous on ⎡⎣−1, 1⎤⎦.
CP 7.2 (Pg18-19)
Q1
Q2
Q6
Q7
Q8
Learning Outcome
d.  use the intermediate value theorem.

If f is continuous on the closed interval [a, b] and

k is any number between f(a) and f(b), then there
exists at least one number c in [a, b] such that f(c)=k
 c should between [-2, 1]

k should between [3, 6]

✗
✗
✗
✔
If f is continuous on the closed interval [a, b] and
k is any number between f(a) and f(b), then there c is value of x and [a, b]
exists at least one number c in [a, b] such that f(c)=k
If f is a continuous function in [a, b] and f(a) and f(b)
have opposite sign, then there is at least one number
c in (a, b) such that f(c)=k, that is, the equation f(x)=0
has at least one root in the interval (a, b)

f x = 2x 3 − 5x 2 −10x + 5
()
3 2
⇒ f (−1) = 2 (−1) − 5 (−1) −10 (−1) + 5 = 8
3 2
⇒ f ( 2) = 2 ( 2) − 5 ( 2) −10 ( 2) + 5 = −19
f (−1) andf ( 2) have opposite sign
∴The polynomial does have a root between −1 and 2
 () ()
If lim+ f x = ±∞ and lim− f x = ±∞
x→a x→a

()
x = a is a vertical asymptote of f x

()
If lim f x = k
x→±∞

y = k is a horizontal asymptote of f x ()
 ()
If lim+ f x = +∞ and lim− f x = −∞
x→−2 x→−2
()
x = −2 is the vertical asymptote of f x ()
2x −1
If lim f x
x→±∞
() = lim
x→±∞ x + 2

2x 1
−
= lim x x
x→±∞ x 2
+ CP 7.3 (Pg21)
x x
Q1
1
2− Q2
= lim x
x→±∞ 2
1+
x
2−0
=
1+ 0
=2
y = 2 is a horizontal asymptote of f x ()
Show that there is a root of the equation x 3 + x + 3 = 0 in the closed
interval [-2, -1].

Let f x = x 3 + x + 3
()
Note that f is continuous in the closed interval ⎡⎣−2, −1⎤⎦.
3
( ) ( ) ( )
f −2 = −2 + −2 + 3 = −7 < 0
3
f (−1) = (−1) + (−1) + 3 = 1> 0
Since f (−2) < 0 and f (−1) > 0, there is a root c in the int erval ⎡⎣−2, −1⎤⎦
such that f ( c) = 0
The function f is defined by
⎧ 2
x −1
⎪ , x <1
⎪ x −1
⎪
f x = ⎨ m2 − 2, x = 1
()
⎪
⎪ 1− x + n, x > 1
⎪⎩ x −1
Where m and n are constants.

(a) If lim
x→1
()
f x exists, find the value of n. [6m]

(b) If f is continuous at x=1, determine the value of m. [2m]

(a) ()
If lim f x exists, then
x→1
( b) If f is continuous at x = 1, then
lim f ( x ) = lim f ( x )
x→1− +
x→1 x→1
()
lim f x = f 1()
x −1 2 1− x 2 = m2 − 2
lim− = lim+ +n
x→1 x −1 x→1 x −1 m2 = 4
(
x −1 x +1)( )
− 1− x ( ) m = ±2
lim− = lim+ +n
x→1 x −1 x→1 x −1

lim−
(
x −1 x +1)( = lim+
)
x −1
+n
x→1 x −1 x→1 x −1

( )
lim− x +1 = lim+ 1+ n
x→1 x→1

1+1 = 1+ n
n =1
1− x
+n
x −1
⎧
( )
⎪ − 1− x
1− x ⇒ ⎨
(
x > 1 so that when the value always +ve )
( )
⎪ 1− x
⎩
x < 1 ( so that when the value always +ve )