Limit

Limit of a function: When x approaches a constant quantity a from either side, if there exists a
definite finite number l , towards which f x  approaches such that the numerical difference of
f x  and l can be made as small as we please by taking x sufficiently close to a , then l is
defined as the limit of f x  as x tends to a . This is symbolically written as lim f  x   l .
xa

 2 x 3 , 0 x  2
P.1: A function f x  is defined as follows: f x    2 , Does
x  3 , 2 x4
lim f  x  exist?
x2

Solution:
L.H.L = lim f  x  R.H.L = lim f x 
x 2 x2

 lim 2 x  3  lim x 2  3
x 2 x2

 2.2  3  22  3
4 3 4  3
1 1

Since L.H.L.=R.H.L, then lim f  x  exist

x2

Continuity

Continuity of a function: Geometrically, If the graph of a function y  f x  is a continuous

curve we naturally call the function a continuous one. It means there should not be any sudden
change in the value of the function i.e. a small change in the value of x should produce a small
change in the value of y and so the graph of the function should be a continuous curve without
any break in it.

Page 1 of 6
 2 x  3 , x  4

Problem 1: Determine whether the function f ( x)   16 is continuous at x  4 .
7 , x4

 x
Solution:
L.H.L = lim f x  R.H.L = lim f x 
x4 x4

 lim 2 x  3  16 
x 4  lim  7  
x4  x
 11
 11
and f 4  2.4  3  11
Since L.H .L  R.H .L  f 4 , f x  is continuous at x  4 .
 1x
 e , when x  0

Problem-2: Test the continuity of f x  at x  0 , where f x    1x .
e  1
0 , when x  0
Solution:
L.H.L = lim f x  R.H.L = lim f x 
x 0 x 0
1 1
x
e ex
 lim 1
 lim 1
x0 x0
e x
1 e x
1
1 1
 lim 1
 lim 1
x0  x0 
1 e x
1 e x

1 1
 1
 1
 
1 e 0
1 e 0
1
1 
 1  e
1  e 1
1 
 1 0
1 0 1
1

and f 0  0
Since L.H.L. = R.H.L.  f 0 , the given function is discontinuous at x  0 .

 2 1
 x sin , when x  0
Problem-3: Test the continuity of f x  at x  0 where f  x    x .
0 , when x  0

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Solution:
L.H.L = lim f x  R.H.L = lim f x 
x 0 x 0

1 1
 lim x 2 sin  lim x 2 sin
x 0 x x 0 x
 0  a finite number between  1 and 1  0
0

and f 0  0
Since L.H.L. = R.H.L. = f 0 , the given function is continuous at x  0 .
 1x
 e  1 , when x  0

Problem 4: Test the continuity of f x  at x  0 , where f x    1x .
 e  1
0 , when x  0
Solution:
L.H.L = lim f x  R.H.L = lim f x 
x 0 x 0
1 1

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

10 1 0
 
1 0 1 0
1 1

and f 0  0
Since L.H.L. =R.H.L.  f 0 , the given function is discontinuous at x  0 .
Problem-5: Find the value for the constant k , that will make the function
7 x  2 , x  1
f ( x)   continuous at x  1.
 kx , x  1
2

Solution:
L.H.L = lim f x  R.H.L = lim f x 
x 1 x 1

 lim 7 x  2  lim kx 2
x 1 x 1

5 k

and f 1  7.1  2  5

Since f x  is continuous at x  1 , for L.H .L  R.H .L  f 1

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So, k  5  5 .
Therefore, k  5 .

Problem-6: Find the value for the constant k , that will make the function
 kx 2 , x  2
f ( x)   continuous at x  2 .
2 x  k , x  2
Solution:
L.H.L = lim f x  R.H.L = lim f x 
x2 x2

 lim kx 2
 lim 2 x  k 
x2 x 2

 4k  4k

and f 2   k .( 2) 2  4k
Since f x  is continuous at x  2 ,
So, L.H .L  R.H .L  f 2
 4k  4  k  4k
i.e., 4k  4  k
3k  4
4
k 
3
4
Therefore, k  .
3

 tan kx
 ,x0
Problem 7: Find a nonzero value for the constant k that makes f ( x)   x
3x  k 2 , x  0
continuous at x  0.
Solution:
L.H.L = lim f x  R.H.L = lim f x 
x 0 x 0

tan kx  lim 3 x  k 2
 lim x0
x 0 x
tan kx  3 0   k 2

 lim k
x 0 kx k 2
tan kx
 lim  .k
kx  0 kx
1 . k
k
and f 0  3.0  k 2
k 2
Since the given function is continuous at x  0 ; L.H.L. = R.H.L. = f 0

Page 4 of 6
which gives k 2  k
k k 1  0
k  0 ,1
Therefore the nonzero value of the constant k is 1.

Problem-8: Determine the value of a, b, c for which the following function



 sin  (a  1) x   sin x , x  0
 x

f ( x)   c , x  0 is continuous at x  0 .
 1 1
  x  bx 2  2  x 2
 ,x 0

3
 bx 2
Solution:
L.H.L = lim f x 
x 0

sin  (a  1) x   sin x
 lim
x 0 x
sin  (a  1) x  sin x
 lim  lim
x 0 x x 0 x
sin  (a  1) x 
 lim  a  1  1
( a 1) x  0   a  1 x
 (a  1).1  1

R.H.L = lim f x 
x 0

x  bx 
1 1
2 2
x 2
 lim 3
x 0
2
bx
1
x(1  bx)2  x 2
1

 lim 3
x 0
bx 2
1 1
x 2 1  bx 2  x 2
1

 lim 3
x 0
2
bx
 1 1  1  bx 1  1  1  bx 
1 2 3 1
x 1  bx    1
2
   1  2     x 2
 2 2  2  2! 2  2  2  3! 
 lim 3
x 0
bx 2

Page 5 of 6
 1 2 1  1  bx 2 1  1  1  bx 2
3 2 1 3 1
bx    1 x    1  2  x  
2 2  2  2! 2  2  2  3!
 lim 3
x 0
2
bx
1
 R.H .L. 
2

and f 0  c
Since f x  is continuous at x  0 ,
So, L.H .L  R.H .L  f 0
1
a  2   c
2
1 1 3
i.e. , c  and a  2   a  
2 2 2
If b  0 the function is undefined.
So, b  0 .

Page 6 of 6