ENGINEERING CALCULUS 1
LIMITS AND CONTINUITY
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
•Evaluate limits of function using the limit definition
and theorem
•Determine the conditions for continuity of function
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LIMITS AND
CONTINUITY
In this lesson, we are going to learn the concept of limit
which is very important to the understanding of calculus.
Also, we determine the conditions where the functions
are continuous and how do these relate to the limit of a
function.
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DEFINITION OF LIMITS
Recall that there are many
ways to express a function -
two of which are by using a
table of values and by
graphing. Consider the
function 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 1.
Suppose we assign values to
x ranging from -0.5 to 0.5
and graph the function.
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DEFINITION OF LIMITS
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DEFINITION OF LIMITS
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DEFINITION OF LIMITS
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LIMIT THEOREMS
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LIMIT THEOREMS Example 01
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LIMIT THEOREMS Example 02
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LIMITS IN
INDETERMINATE FORM
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LIMITS IN
INDETERMINATE FORM
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LIMITS IN
INDETERMINATE FORM Example 03
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LIMITS IN
INDETERMINATE FORM Example 04
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LIMITS IN
INDETERMINATE FORM Example 05
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INFINITE LIMITS
In some function, where the limit does not exist, it is
termed as an infinite limit. We write it symbolically using
the infinity symbol ∞.
This means that the values of 𝑓(𝑥) become larger and larger or
increase without bound as 𝑥 becomes closer and closer to 𝑎.
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LIMITS AT INFINITY
For the function 𝑓(𝑥) = 1/x, as 𝑥 increases or decreases without
bound, 𝑓(𝑥) approaches zero.
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LIMITS IN
INDETERMINATE FORM Example 06
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LIMITS IN
INDETERMINATE FORM Example 07
Evaluate:
For us to use the definition of limit at infinity, we can divide each term in
the numerator and denominator by 𝑥𝑛 where 𝑛 is the highest among all
exponents of 𝑥.
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LIMITS IN
INDETERMINATE FORM Example 08
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LIMITS IN
INDETERMINATE FORM Example 09
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LIMITS IN
INDETERMINATE FORM Example 10
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LIMITS IN
INDETERMINATE FORM Example 11
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LIMITS IN
INDETERMINATE FORM Example 12
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LIMITS IN
INDETERMINATE FORM Example 13
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SUMMARY TO FIND
LIMITS AT INFINITY OF
RATIONAL FUNCTIONS
1. If the degree of the numerator is less than the
degree of the denominator, the limit of the rational
function is zero.
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SUMMARY TO FIND
LIMITS AT INFINITY IF
RATIONAL FUNCTIONS
2. If the degree of the numerator is equal to the
degree of the denominator, the limit of the rational
function is the ratio of the leading coefficients.
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SUMMARY TO FIND
LIMITS AT INFINITY IF
RATIONAL FUNCTIONS
3. If the degree of the numerator is greater than
the degree of the denominator, the limit of the
rational function does not exist.
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CONTINUITY OF A
FUNCTION
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CONTINUITY OF A
FUNCTION
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CONTINUITY OF A
FUNCTION
For rational function
It is continuous at every
number in its domain. It is
discontinuous at the values
that make the function
undefined.
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CONTINUITY OF A
FUNCTION
For radical function
It is continuous at every
number in its domain. It is
discontinuous at the values that
make the function complex or
imaginary.
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CONTINUITY OF A
FUNCTION Example 14
Find the values of x for which the following functions
are discontinuous.
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 − 1
Answer: The given function is a
polynomial; so, no value of x will
make it discontinuous.
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CONTINUITY OF A
FUNCTION Example 15
Find the values of x for which the following
functions are discontinuous.
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CONTINUITY OF A
FUNCTION Example 16
Find the values of x for which the following
functions are discontinuous.
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CONTINUITY OF A
FUNCTION Example 17
Find the values of x for which the following
functions are discontinuous.
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