Limits of a Function

Polynomials

Recall that a function f(x) polynomial function if it satisfies:

( )
for all x, where n is a non-negative integer and , , , …, are constant coefficients.

As a refresher, use the limit properties to find, i.e., the limit

as x approaches a particular value.

The function is a polynomial, a quadratic trinomial that is graphed below, and can be treated as
the sum of three functions. This means that we can use the rule “the limit of the sum is the sum
of the limits” in the determination of the limit.

Note that the value of this limit could have been found by direct substitution of x=1 in the
polynomial function.

As a refresher, use the limit properties to find, i.e., the limit

as x approaches infinity.

Given the polynomial function f(x)=p(x)

Rational Function (Factoriable, indeterminate)

A rational function is the ratio of two polynomials. In the case of a single variable, x, a
function is called a rational function if and only if it can be written in the form:

where P(x) and Q(x) are polynomial functions in x and Q(x) is non-zero. The domain of f is the
set of all values of x for which the denominator Q(x) is not zero.

Find the end behaviour of that same function, i.e. find the limit as x approaches
infinity.

Rationalization

Rationalization generally means to multiply a rational function by a clever form of one in order
to eliminate radical symbols or imaginary numbers in the denominator.
Example:

Exercises:

1.

2.

3.
√
 One-sided limit

One-sided limits are the same as normal limits; we just restrict xx so that it approaches from
just one side

x→a+ means x is approaching from the right.

x→a− means x is approaching from the left.

The Limit Given a Graph

Use the graph to approximate the value of both one-sided limits as x approaches 3.

Step 1:

Examine what happens as x approaches from the left.

As x approaches 3 from the left, the function

seems to be approaching

Step 2:

Examine what happens as x approaches from the right.

As x approaches 3 from the right, the function seems to be

approaching 3.
Therefore,

Left-hand limit:
( )
Right-hand limit:

( )

Evaluating (limit exist)

( )

X F(x)

-3 2.13671

-3.5 2.55240 The function keeps

getting bigger.
-3.9 2.59684

-3.99 2.599872

-3.999 2.599902

-3.9999 2.59999

Therefore,
( ) -2 Limit does exist
Evaluating (limit does not exist)

( )
X F(x)

-5 -4.5
The function keeps
-4.5 -44.5 getting closer to 2.6.

-4.1 -444.5

-4.01 -4444.5

-4.001 -44444.5

-4.0001 -444444.5

Therefore,
( ) Limit does not exist

Exercises

1. ( )

2. ( )

3.

( )
 Infinite Limits

Left-hand limit using a function

Let f be a function defined by f(x)= - and observe the values of x as it approaches to 1.

X -1 -2 -3
F(x) -3 - -

Notice that the values of f(x) become smaller and smaller as x takes the value close to 1. To
represent the decreasing behaviour of values of f(x), we will use “- . Thus, we say that f(x)
decreases without bound as x approaches 0 with the equation

=-

Right-hand limit using a function

Let f be a function defined by f(x)= and observe the values of x as it approaches to 1.

X 1 2 3
F(x) 3

Notice that the values of f(x) become smaller and smaller as x takes the value close to 1. To
represent the decreasing behaviour of values of f(x), we will use “+ . Thus, we say that f(x)
decreases without bound as x approaches 0 with the equation

=+
Evaluate left-hand limit

√
[( )( )]=

X -3 -4 -5
F(x) -0.22 0.087 -0.45

√
and √

√
Therefore, [( )( )]=

Evaluate right-hand limit

* +
( )

Since, and
( )

Graphing a rational function (involving vertical asymptote)

X -1 0 1 3 4 5
F(x) 2 0 -2

Therefore, =-
Exercise:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.
 Limits at Infinity

We call the limit of ( ) as approaches if for every number 0 there exists a such
that whenever we have

| ( ) |

When this holds we write

( )

or

( ) as

Examples:

 Polynomials

> Same degree both numerator and denominator

1. First, find the greatest exponent in our function.

The greatest exponent is 2.

2. Then we divide both the numerator and denominator by .

Here, is the greatest exponent we found before.

3. Simplify the expressions

0
𝑥 𝑥
4. Calculate

All numbers divided by any power of x will approach 0 as x approaches infinity. So, we have:

0
0

> Degree of numerator is higher than denominator

0 0
0 0 0
> Degree of denominator is higher than denominator
 0 0 0
0
0 0
 Radical in the Denominator
Remarks:
if, , then x=√𝑥
𝑥
√
if, , then x= √𝑥
𝑥
( )

√ √( ) √ √( ) √

0
√ 0 √

 Multiplying Conjugate

Multiply the numerator and denominator by the conjugate of

and simplify
 √ (√ )
( )
(√ )

Factor out of the denominator

(√ )

Now you can substitute

√ 0
√

√
Thus, ( )

 Graphing

The line is called Horizontal Asymptote for ( ) if and only if

( ) or ( )
  If the degree of numerator is equal to the degree of denominator,

y = ratio of leading coefficients

 If the degree of denominator is greater than the degree of numerator,

y=0

For Example:

First, is to find line y by taking the ratio of their coefficients. This only works for rational
functions.

(Horizontal Asymptote)
This implies that the graph would be:
Exercises:

Evaluate the following limits:

1)

2)

3)

4)
√

5) ( √ )

6)
 Continuity at a Point

A function is said to be continuous at if

A function is said to be continuous on the interval [a, b] if it is continuous at each point in the
interval.

Fact 1
If is continuous at then,

TYPES OF DISCONTINUITY

a. TYPE 1
Essential (condition b is not satisfied)

b. TYPE 2
Removable (satisfies condition b but not a and c)

Investigating Continuity/ discontinuity

Ex.1

Determine if the given function is continuous/ not

f(x) + x -1, a=1

Solution (check if all the conditions satisfies the function)

a. f(a) exists
let a =1
f(1)=2(1) 2 +1-1
f(1)= 2
f(a)=2

b. lim f(x) exists

x->a
 lim 2x2 +x-1
lim 2x2 + lim x- lim1
x->1
2+1-1=2
f(x)=2

c. lim f(x)= f(a)

x->a
2=2
CONTINUOUS

Type of discontinuity (essential)

For an essential discontinuity, only one of the two one-sided limits needs not exist or be
infinite. Consider the function

Then, the point x0= 1 is an essential discontinuity.

In this case, L- doesn't exist and L+ is infinite - thus satisfying twice the conditions of essential
discontinuity. So x0 is an essential discontinuity, infinite discontinuity, or discontinuity of the
second kind. (This is distinct from the term essential singularity which is often used when
studying functions of complex variables.)

Type of discontinuity (removable)

Example

Determine if the given function is continuous

4x2 +1 , x≠ 0

h(x)= -1 , x=0
 a. f(a) exists
h(0)= 4(0) 2 +1
=0+1
h(0)=1

NOTE: h(0)=-1 that is letting x=0

Thus, condition a does not satisfies/ exists

b. lim f(x) exists

x->a

lim 4x2 +1
x->0

lim 4x2 + lim1

x->0

0+1
=1
NOTE: Since x≠ 0, then condition b satisfies/ exists

c. lim f(x)=f(a)
x->9

Note:
 lim 4x2 +1=1
x->0
 h(0)=-1
Thus, lim 4x2 +1≠ h(0)
x->0

REMOVABLE

Rational

Example

(x+2) ² (x-1)
g(x)=
(x + 2) (x - 2) (x - 1)
 The points at which g(x) are not defined are the points at which the denominator is
zero. The factor form which we see that g(x) is not defined at x=-2, x=2 and x=1. Cancelling
factors in the numerator and denominator we get

(x+2)² (x-1) (x+2)

g(x)= = , x≠ 1, 2, -2
(x+2)(x-2)(x-1) (x-2)

Since g(x) agrees with the rational function (x+2)/(x-2) at every point with three exceptions, any
limiting value of g(x) agrees with of (x+2)/(x-2). Hence 1 and -2 are removable discontinuities
and g(x) can be made continuous at these points by defining g(1)= (1+2)/(1-2)= -3 and g(-2)=
(-2+2)/(-2-2)= 0. g(x) has an asymptote and hence an essential discontinuity at x=2.

Radical Function

√
Find

Using direct substitution to find the limit of the function, results in the indeterminate form 0/0.
To transform the radical expression to a better form, do the following:

Rationalize the numerator: multiply

by the conjugate of the numerator.
Exercises

1. For what values of x is the function discontinuous?

2.

3.

4.

5.
Reference:

https://www.matheno.com/calculus-1/limit-at-infinity-problems-and-solutions/

http://slideplayer.com/slide/4586240/15/images/16/Sec+2.6:+Limits+Involving+Infinity;+Asympt
otes+of+Graphs.jpg

http://www.mathwarehouse.com/calculus/limits/limits-one-sided.php

https://www.ck12.org/book/CK-12-Precalculus-Concepts/section/14.5/

https://www.ck12.org/book/CK-12-Calculus-Concepts/section/2.5/

http://www2.bakersfieldcollege.edu/resperic/online/mathb6a/Lectures/ch1/4/HW1.4/HW1.4sols.
htm

https://www.math.ucdavis.edu/~kouba/CalcOneDIRECTORY/continuitysoldirectory/
Basic Calculus Mini Task

Submitted by:
Christine Jullie Baldo
Maria Therese Ballares
Marnie Bea Obsioma
Jersy Pauline Ranido

Grade 12-della Faille

Submitted to:
Maam Jenielyn Oclarit

January 8, 2018