Basic Calculus
TSU-LS Midterm Reviewer
LIMITS OF A FUNCTION
Outline
Limits of a Function
Limits from Tables and Graphs
Limit Laws
Limits of Polynomial, Rational, and Radical
Function
Infinite Limits
Limits as x Approaches 0
Limits at Infinity of Polynomials
Limits of Exponential and Logarithmic
Functions
Continuity of a Function at a Number
Continuity on an Interval
Discontinuity and its Types
Problem Involving Continuity
Consider a function 𝑓 of a single variable
𝑥. Consider a constant 𝑐 which the
variable 𝑥 will approach (𝑐 may or may
not be in the domain of 𝑓). The limit, to be
denoted by 𝐿, is the unique real value
that 𝑓(𝑥) will approach as 𝑥 approaches 𝑐.
In symbols, we write this process as:
Limits
Limits are the backbone of Calculus
Calculus is called the "Mathematics
of Change"
We will look at the functions of a single "The limit of f(x) as x approaches c is L"
variable and examine the function's
behavior as its variable approaches a
certain value (a constant).
The variable can only take values very, LIMITS FROM TABLES AND GRAPHS
very close to the constant, but it can't
be equal to the constant itself.
However, the limit can clearly describe
what happens to the function near that
constant. positive region/
negative region/left-hand limit right-hand limit
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Basic Calculus
TSU-LS Midterm Reviewer
LIMITS FROM TABLES AND GRAPHS
Left-Hand Table Right-Hand Table
x f(x) x f(x)
1 4 3 10
1.4 5.2 2.5 8.5
1.7 6.1 2.2 7.6
1.9 6.7 2.1 7.3
1.95 6.85 2.03 7.09
1.997 6.991 2.009 7.027
1.9999 6.9997 2.0005 7.0015
1.9999999 6.9999997 2.0000001 7.0000003
f(x) = 1 + 3x f(x) = 1 + 3x
f(1.4) = 1 + 3(1.4) f(3) = 1 + 3(3)
f(1.4) = 1 + 4.2 f(3) = 1 + 9
f(1.4) = 5.2 f(3) = 10
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Basic Calculus
TSU-LS Midterm Reviewer
LIMITS FROM TABLES AND GRAPHS
One Sided Limit
Left-Hand Limit
The function f(x) has a left-hand limit L if
x approaches a from the left side; from
the values less than a.
Right-Hand Limit
The function f(x) has a right hand limit L if
x approaches a from the right side; that
is from the value greater than a.
+
Example
x 2 2.5 3 3.5 3.999
f(x) 4 4.5 5 5.5 5.999
x 6 5.5 5 4.5 4.001
f(x) 8 7.5 7 6.5 6.001
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Basic Calculus
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LIMIT LAWS
Limit Law 1 Limit Law 4
The limit of a constant is that constant The limit of the sum of two functions is
equal to the sum of the individual limit
provided that the limit of each function as
𝒙→𝒂 exists
a.
b.
a.
Limit Law 2
Limit of the identity function
a.
Limit Law 5
The limit of the difference of two functions
is equal to the difference of the individual
b. limit provided that the limit of each
function as 𝒙→𝒂 exists
Limit Law 3
The limit of a constant ctimes a function
is equal to the constant ctimes the limit of
the function provided that
lim 𝒇(𝒙) exists.
𝒙→𝒂
a.
a.
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Basic Calculus
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LIMIT LAWS
Limit Law 6
The limit of the product of two functions is
the product of their limits provided that
the limit of each function as 𝒙→𝒂 exists.
a. a.
b.
b.
Limit Law 7
The limit of the quotient of two functions
is the quotient of their limits provided that
the limit of the divisor is not equal to 0
and the limit of each function exists.
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Basic Calculus
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LIMIT LAWS
Limit Law 10
If f(x) is a polynomial function and ais a
real number, then
Limit Law 8
The limit of the nth power of a function is
equal to the power of the limit of that a.
function provided that nis a positive
integer and the limit of f(x) as x→a exists.
a.
b.
Limit Law 9
The limit of the nth root of a function is
equal to the principal nth root of the limit
of that function provided nis a positive
integer and z
a.
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Basic Calculus
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LIMITS OF POLYNOMIAL, RATIONAL, AND RADICAL FUNCTIONS
Example: Evaluate
Limit of Polynomial Function
A polynomial is a special type of
algebraic expression that contains a
specific number of terms, each of which
is of the form ax n or bx my n, where a and
b are real numbers, and m and n are
(Division)
whole numbers,
Example: Determine
(Addition Theorem)
(Constant Multiple)
Example: Evaluate
Example: Determine
Limits of Radical Functions
A radical function is a function that
Limits of Rational Functions p(x) contains a square root.
____
The general form of a rational function is
q(x)
Example: Evaluate
where p(x) and q(x) are polynomials and
q(x) ≠ 0.
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INFINITE LIMITS
3.4 5
3.1 20
3.01 200
3.001 2,000
Example: Evaluate 3.0001 20,000
3.00001 200,000
x f(x)
2 -2
2.1 -2.22
2.3 -2.8571
2.6 -5
2.9 -20
2.99 -200
2.999 -2,000
Infinite Limits
2.9999 -20,000
Example: Evaluate the following limits
x f(x)
4 2
3.7 3.7
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LIMITS AS X APPROACHES 0
Limits as x Approaches 0
Evaluate the Following:
Evaluate the Following:
x f(x)
-10 -0.1
-5 -0.2 x f(x)
-1 -1 10 0.1
-0.5 -2 5 0.2
-0.1 -10 1 1
-0.01 -100 0.5 2
-0.001 -1,000 0.1 10
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LIMITS AT INFINITY OF POLYNOMIALS
0.01 100
0.001 1,000
If r is a positive integer, then:
Limits as x Approaches 0
Find:
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LIMITS AT INFINITY OF POLYNOMIALS
Find the limit of each term in the
numerator and denominator and apply
the fact that if n is a
positive integer
Find:
Recall that:
If r is a positive integer, then:
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Basic Calculus
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LIMITS OF EXPONENTIAL AND LOGARITHMIC FUNCTIONS
Limits of Exponential Function
Ex.
Limits of Exponential Function
Ex.
The Natural Exponential Function
Ex.
Remember:
Ex.
Euler's Constant is equivalent to
e = 2.71828182…
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Basic Calculus
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CONTINUITY OF A FUNCTION AT A NUMBER
Limits of Logarithmic Function Continuity
Continuity means smoothness of the
graph; that is it has no holes, no bumps,
or discontinuous path.
Is the graph continuous at x = 1?
Ans. Yes
Remember:
Natural Logarithmic
"ln"
To Logarithmic
To Exponential
Is the graph continuous at x = 0?
Ans. No
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Basic Calculus
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CONTINUITY OF A FUNCTION AT A NUMBER
The function f is said to be continuous at Determine if the function is continuous or
a number a iff the three conditions are not at x = 4:
satisfied.:
We will use the 2nd sub-function as x =
If one or more of these conditions fails to 4 is included in its domain which is x ≥ 4
hold at a, the function f is said to be
discontinuous.
a.
Example:
Determine if
is continuous or not at x = 1?
a.
b.
c.
b.
Getting the left and right hand limit:
We will use the 2nd sub-
LHL function as the left-hand
limit of this piecewise
function as it included on
c.
its domain (4 to the left)
Meaning that
is continuous at x = 1
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Basic Calculus
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CONTINUITY ON AN INTERVAL
RHL
Remember:
" [ ] " - Inclusive
LHL ≠ RHL " ( ) " - Exclusive
Meaning that this piecewise function is
continuous at 4 on its Left-hand limit, a Using the given graph, determine if the
one-sided continuity. function f is continuous on the following
intervals:
One-sided Continuity
(a) A function f is said to be continuous
from the left at x = c if
(b) A function f is said to be continuous
from the right at x = c if
Continuity of Polynomial, Absolute (a) (-1, 1) Ans. Continuous
Value, Rational and Square Root (b) (-∞, 0) Ans. Continuous
Functions (c) (0, +∞) Ans. Continuous
(a) Polynomials functions are continuous
everywhere
(b) The absolute value function f(x) = |x| is
continuous everywhere
(c) Rational functions are continuous on
their respective domains
(d) The square root function f(x) = √x is
continuous on [0, ∞).
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Basic Calculus
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CONTINUITY ON AN INTERVAL
Determine using the given graph if the Determine the largest interval over which
function f is continuous on the following the function is continuous
intervals:
(a) (-1, 1) Ans. Not Continuous
(b) [0.5, 2] Ans. Continuous
Example:
Discontinuity and its Types
Determine the largest interval over which
the function is 1. Point/Remove Discontinuity
continuous
When a function has a “hole” at a certain
point.
Most of the time, holes are removable by
redefinition
Exhibited by piecewise function
It is point removable discontinuity if:
Example:
[
What should be done to remove the
discontinuity?
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Basic Calculus
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DISCONTINUITY AND ITS TYPES
Redefine the 2nd sub-function (1) to two
(2) to move it in order to patch the hole
The 2nd sub-function patches the hole
from the 2nd sub-function; in order to
that, we need to redefine the piecewise
function to:
Example:
2. Jump Discontinuity
This happens when the one-sided limits
of functions exist but are not equal.
One function has a part where the graph
Redefine: “jump” indicating discontinuity.
There is no remedy for this type of
discontinuity
Then f is said to have a jump essential
discontinuity at x = c
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Basic Calculus
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DISCONTINUITY AND ITS TYPES
Meaning it satisfy the rule 1 and 2 but not
Example: in the rule 3
Example:
Is there a possible remedy for this?
Is there a possible remedy for this?
There is no remedy for this type of
discontinuity
FLOWCHART:
3. Infinite Discontinuity
This happens when the one-sided limits
of functions exists and are equal.
One function has a part where the graph
is “infinity swallowed” indicating
discontinuity.
Exhibited by rational function
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Basic Calculus
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PROBLEM INVOLVING CONTINUITY
Problem Involving Continuity
Example:
Since:
determine if the following function is
continuous or discontinuous at:
does not exist
a.)
This make the piecewise function is
discontinues at x = 6
The piecewise function is continuous at
x=4
b.)
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