CHAPTER TWO: LIMIT AND CONTINUITY

Chapter 2: Limit and Continuity

In general, if f(x) approaches some finite number L, as x approaches a, then we can say that:

X→a-x is closer and closer but not equal to a

Example:

N.B: Two basic facts regarding limits must be kept in mind.

I. The limit of a function as x approaches a- is independent of the value of the function at a.

f (x)
Even though lim =L exists the value of the function
x →a
a. May be undefined
b. May be defined and different from the limit
II. The limit is said to exist only if the following conditions are satisfied:
a. The limit L must be a finite number

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f (x)
b. The limit as x approaches a from the left written as lim ¿ must equal to the
x →−¿ a=L
f (x)
limit as x approaches a from the right written as lim ¿
x →+¿ a=L

NB:

Ex
ercise

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Summary:
In evaluating limit of a function, we come up with one of the four different results that we
summarize them below. Assume that L represents some non-zero real number when L appears in
the denominator.

NB:

The Limit Laws

The next theorem tells how to calculate limits of functions that are arithmetic combinations of
functions whose limits we already know.
lim lim
If L, M, C and K are constants, n is a positive integer, and x →k f(x) = L and x →k g( x )=m, :

1. Limit of a constant

lim
x →k c=c

lim
Example: x →2 8=8

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2. Limit of constant rule theorem

lim
x →k cf ( x )=c lim
x →k f ( x )=kL

lim 2 lim 2 2
Example: x →2 4 x =4 x →2 x =4×( 2 ) =16

Corollary, If f(x) = a x±b , is function with a and b are constants, then

lim
x →k f ( x )=lim lim lim
x →k (ax ±b )=a x →k x ±k →k b=ak ±b
lim lim
Examples: 1) x →4 (3 x+ 2)=3 x → 4 x +lim 2
¿ → 4 ¿ 3×4 +2=14

lim lim
2) x →4 (3 x−2)=3 x→ 4 x −lim
x →4 2=3×4−2=10

3. Limit of Sum/difference rule

lim lim
If f(x) and g(x) are functions, and x →k f ( x )=L and x →k g( x )=m then
lim
x →k [ f ( x )±g( x )] =lim lim
x → k f ( x )±x →k g( x )=L±M
lim
2
Example, f(x) = x -2 x +4, then x →2 f ( x ) will be:
lim 2 lim
x →2 ( x−2 x + 4 ) =x → 2 x −lim 2 lim
x →2 2 x + x → 2 4=
lim 2
= 2-2 x−2 x + 4
= 2-8 + 4 = -2
4. Limit of product rule
lim lim
If f(x) and g(x) are functions and x →k f ( x )=L , x →k g( x )=M , then,
lim
x →k [ f ( x ). g( x )] =lim lim
x →k f ( x ). x →k g ( x )=L . M

Example f(x) = (4+x) and g(x) = (x-6), then find

lim
x →3 f ( x ). g( x ) =lim
x →3 ( 4+x )(x−6)

⇒lim lim lim

x→ 3 ( 4+ x )( x +6 )=x →3 ( 4 + x ) x →3 ( x−6)

lim lim lim lim

= ( x →3 4 + x →3 x )( x →3 x −→3 6 )
= (4+3) (3-6) = -21
5. Limit of Quotient rule
The limit of a quotient of two functions is equal to the quotient of the limits of these functions if
the limit of the denominator is not zero.

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lim
lim f ( x ) l x →k f ( x ) L
x →k = = ; m≠0
g ( x ) lim M
i.e. x →k g( x )

lim f ( x)
x →1 ,
Example: Given f(x) = (x+1); g(x) = (x+3) then find, g (x )
lim
x +1 x→ 1 ( x+ 1) 2
⇒lim
x→ 1 = =
x +3 lim ( x+ 3) 4
x→1

6. Limit of power

If [f(x)]n is a function and n is a positive integer then

lim n
x→k [ f ( x)] = [ ¿ x→ klim f ( x) ]n=Ln ;L≠0
lim 5
Example: find x →2 (3+ x )
⇒lim 5 lim 5 5
x→ 2 ( 3+ x ) =[ x →2 ( 3+ x ) ] =5 =3125
lim 1

√ f (x )=[ x→ k f ( x )] =√ L
lim n n n
Corollaries 1. x →k

x =L
n n
lim
2. x →k

lim ¿ n
7.
x→k
√ f ( x )= √ L 9 when n is odd number . but if n is even , take a ¿special care.
n

Technique of solving limit

1. Eliminating Zero Denominators Algebraically
The Quotient rule applies only if the denominator of the rational function is not zero at the limit
point K. If the denominator is zero, canceling common factors in the numerator and denominator
may reduce the fraction to one whose denominator is no longer zero at K.
Example : canceling common factors:
2
x + x−2
Evaluate lim 2
x →1 x −x

2. Rationalization (creating and canceling common factors).

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Example 1:

Example 2:

Example 3:

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Exercise:

Therefore:

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Find the limit of the following functions.

3. More on Indeterminate Limits

The best method to deal with indeterminate limits is the L-Hopital’s rule. However, until you are
formally introduced with the concept in the coming module, you can use some of the following
methods [Expansion Method and h-method of evaluating limits] as additional toolkits.

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4. Expansion method
This method is applicable to functions, which can be expanded in series. The following
expansions are often used in economics.

2 3 4
x x x
e. ( )
log x +1 =x− + − +… ∞=ln (1+ x)
2 3 4

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Limit at infinity

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Solution:
Divide both 1N(x) and D(x) by the term of the largest degree (X3)

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Solution:

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Continuity

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 CHAPTER TWO: LIMIT AND CONTINUITY

Average and instantaneous rate of change

Definition:
Average rate of change is the slope of a line between two pints. The line that connects two
different points is known as secant line. Then, the slope of the secant line between two points
measured average rate of change.
Instantaneous rate of change is the derivative of one point. It is the slope of a tangent line at a
point. It measures the rate of change at a single point.

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Therefore: Δy / Δx measures the average rate of change between two points, i.e.
point a, and point B.
As we let ΔX tend to 0, the secant line approaches to the tangent line. Thus, the
slope of the tangent line at point “a” measure the instantaneous rate of change.
Therefore: the slope of tangent line can be specified as follows:

To sum up:

The value of the average rate of change is also known as the difference quotient.
Example 1:
Suppose a company’s total cost in dollars to produce x units of its product is given by
2
C ( x )=0.01 x +25 x+1500
Find the average rate of change of total cost for (a) the first 100 units produced (from
to x=0 ¿ x=100 ) and (b) the second 100 units produced.

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Example 2:

Example:

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Or

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NB: The function that gives the instantaneous rate of change of a function f is called the
derivative of f.
If f is a function defined by y=f(x), then the derivative of f(x) at any value x, denoted f’(x), is
f ( x +h ) −f ( x )
f ’ ( x )=lim if this limit exists.
h→0 h
If f’(c) exists, we say that f is differentiable at c.

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