Calculus WIs
Addition problems for Lecture 3 Limits of Functions, Continuity
for the more ambitious student
1. Find the following limits (factor the terms)
𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 1 x 2 − 10x + 21
𝑎) lim 𝑏) lim
𝑥→1 𝑥3 + 1 x→3 x 2 − 8x + 15
𝑥−5 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 1
L 𝑐) lim 2
𝑑) lim
𝑥→5 𝑥 − 3𝑥 − 10 𝑥→1 𝑥3 − 1
2. The “e limit”:
3
1 1 3𝑥 + 1 2−𝑥
𝑎) lim(1 + 𝑥) 𝑥 𝑏) lim(1 − 4𝑥) 𝑥 𝑐) lim ( )
𝑥→0 𝑥→0 𝑥→2 2𝑥 + 3
1 1 1
𝑑) lim (cos2 𝑥)sin2 𝑥 𝑒) lim(1 + sin 𝑥)x 𝑓) lim+ (𝑥 − 1)2−𝑥
𝑥→0 𝑥→0 𝑥→2
3. The “sinx/x limit“:
cos 𝑥 sin2 𝑥 sin(sin 2𝑥))
𝑎) lim𝜋 𝜋 𝑏) lim 𝑐) lim
𝑥→ 𝑥−2 𝑥→0 1 − cos 𝑥 𝑥→0 sin(sin(𝑥))
2
sin (sin 5𝑥) sin (sin 5𝑥)
𝑑) lim 𝑒) lim
𝑥→0 3𝑥 𝑥→0 sin (2 sin 5𝑥)
4. The Squeeze Principle
2𝑥 2 1
𝑎) lim 𝑒 𝑥+sin 𝑏) lim √𝑥 sin 𝑐) lim 𝑥 3 arctg
𝑥→−∞ 𝑥→0 𝑥2 𝑥→0 𝑥
2 + sin 𝑥 1
L 𝑑) lim 𝑒) lim+ 𝑓) lim (sin 𝑥 − 𝑥 5 )
𝑥→∞ 𝑥2 𝑥→0 2𝑥 − sin 𝑥 𝑥→∞
𝑔) lim 2𝑥 (2 + cos 𝑥)
𝑥→∞
5*. Show that the following limit does not exist (hint: use two sequences or RH / LH limits):
2
𝑎) lim cos L 𝑏) lim sin √𝑥
𝑥→0 𝑥2 𝑥→∞
6*. Show that 𝑥 5 − 3𝑥 = 1 has at least one root in the interval (1,2), use the Intermediate
Value Theorem.
7. Find all the asymptotes of the following functions:
3 3
𝑎) 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥 3 − 𝑥 𝐿 𝑏) 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑥 3 − 𝑥 2
8*. Show that for any 𝑎 ∈ 𝑅 the inequality
𝑎 + ln(4𝑥 2 + 12𝑥 + 9) < ln(4𝑥 2 + 16𝑥 + 15)
3
has at least one solution in the interval ( − 2 , 0) .
Inventing functions.
9. Sketch the hypothetical graph of a function which satisfies all the given conditions
𝑎) lim 𝑓(𝑥) = ∞ , lim− 𝑓(𝑥) = 1 , 𝑓(2) = 0, lim 𝑓(𝑥) = −1.
𝑥→−∞ 𝑥→0 𝑥→∞
𝑏) lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑒 , lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 0 , the function is even.
𝑥→∞ 𝑥→2
𝑐) the line 𝑦 = 𝑥 + 1 is the slant asymptote of 𝑓 at ∞, the line 𝑦 = 𝑥 − 1 is the slant
asymptote at ∞, the line 𝑥 = 1 is the left handed vertical asymptote? The function 𝑓 does
not have any other asymptotes.
𝑑) lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 0 , lim 𝑓(𝑥) = −∞ , lim+ 𝑓(𝑥) = 1, lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 5.
𝑥→−∞ 𝑥→0− 𝑥→0 𝑥→∞
𝑒) lim 𝑓(𝑥) = ∞ , lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 0, function 𝑓 has a period 𝑇 = 3.
𝑥→1 𝑥→2
𝑑) lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 4 , lim 𝑓(𝑥) = ∞ , function 𝑓 is odd.
𝑥→−∞ 𝑥→1
10. Determine a function (the formula) that satisfies the given conditions and sketch its graph
(the answers are not unique). Feel free to use formulas defined in pieces if that will help
although one-piece formulas are preferred.
𝑎) lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 0, lim 𝑓(𝑥) = ∞, and 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑓(𝑥) = ∞
𝑥→±∞ 𝑥→2− 𝑥→2+
𝑏) lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 0, lim 𝑔(𝑥) = −∞, and lim 𝑔(𝑥) = ∞
𝑥→±∞ 𝑥→3− 𝑥→3+
𝑐) lim ℎ1 (𝑥) = −1, lim ℎ1 (𝑥) = 1, lim ℎ1 (𝑥) = −1, 𝑖 lim ℎ1 (𝑥) = 1
𝑥→−∞ 𝑥→∞ 𝑥→0− 𝑥→0+
𝑑) lim ℎ2 (𝑥) = −1, lim ℎ2 (𝑥) = 1, lim ℎ2 (𝑥) = −∞, 𝑖 lim ℎ2 (𝑥) = ∞
𝑥→−∞ 𝑥→∞ 𝑥→0− 𝑥→0+
𝑒) lim 𝑘(𝑥) = 1, lim 𝑘(𝑥) = ∞, and lim 𝑘(𝑥) = −∞
𝑥→±∞ 𝑥→1− 𝑥→1+
𝑓) lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 3, lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 3, and there is no such 𝑥0 that 𝑓(𝑥0 ) = 0.
𝑥→−∞ 𝑥→−∞
11*. Determine a function 𝑓(𝑥) which is discontinuous at infinitely many points, but it limit
at infinity is 6, lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 6.
𝑥→∞
12*. Write a closed formula of a function which has exactly one left handed asymptote 𝑥 = 7.
13*. Write a closed formula of a function which has exactly one asymptote 𝑦 = 1.
14*. Find an example of a function which is not defined for 𝑥0 = 2 and does not have an
asymptote at this point.
15*. Give an example of a function, which has a vertical and slant asymptote.
16*. Is it possible that a function has an asymptote at a point which belongs to the domain? If
it is give an example, if not explain why.
17*. Give an example of a function which has different righthand and left hand horizontal
asymptotes.
𝑓(𝑥)
18*. If functions 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑔(𝑥) are continuous for 𝑥 ∈ [0,1], could possibly be
𝑔(𝑥)
discontinuous at a point of [0,1] ? Give a reason for your answer.
19**. Give an example of both continuous 𝑓 and 𝑔 at 𝑥 = 0, for which the composite 𝑓 ∘ 𝑔 is
discontinuous at 𝑥 = 0. Give a reason to your answer. Note: (𝑓 ∘ 𝑔)(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑔(𝑥)).
20*. Give an example of two functions 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑔(𝑥) such that:
lim 𝑓(𝑔(𝑥)) ≠ 𝑓 ( lim 𝑔(𝑥)).
𝑥→0 𝑥→0
