BASIC

CALCULUS
 Unit I
Limits and Continuity
REVIEW
Complete the table of values below given
the functions.

1. f(x) = 1 + 3x
x -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3
f(x) -8 -5 -2 1 4 7 10
OBJECTIVES
a. Describe the limit of a function using correct
notation.
b. Estimate the limit of a function or to identify
when the limit does not exist using a table of
values.
c. Estimate the limit of a function or to identify
when the limit does not exist using a graph.
LIMITS
If f(x) becomes arbitrary close to a
unique number L as x approaches c from either
side, then the limit of f(x) as x approaches c is
L. lim 𝑓 ( 𝑥 )= 𝐿
𝑥→𝐶

Read as:
“the limit of f(x), as x approaches c is L.”
 The limit of a function is not the same as
evaluating a function f(c) because they are
different in terms of concept. The limit of a
function gets its value by providing inputs that
approaches the particular number while
evaluating a function is more like direct
substitution process.
One sided limit
is the value (L) as the x value gets closer
and closer to a certain value c from one side
only (either from the left or from the right
side). In symbols,
lim ¿ lim 𝑓 ( 𝑥 )= 𝐿
+¿ −
𝑥→𝑐 𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) = 𝐿¿ 𝑥→𝑐
 The notion of the limit of a function is
suggested by the question:
“What happens to f(x) as x gets nearer and nearer
to c (but x )?
“Does f(x) approach some number L?”

The question implies that we have to find the

“limit of f(x) as x approaches c, or
 lim 𝑓 ( 𝑥 )= 𝐿
Calculating 𝑥→𝑎

A. Direct Substitution
(Try to evaluate function directly)
B. Asymptote (probably)
f(a) = where b is not zero
Example:
Inspect with a graph or table
to learn more about the
function at x = a
C. Limit found (probably)
f(a) = b where b is a real number
Example:
D. Indeterminate form
f(a) =
Example:
Rewriting limit in an equivalent form.
E. Factoring
Example:
can be reduced to

by factoring and cancelling.

F. Conjugates
Example:
can be written as

using conjugates and cancelling.

G. Trig Identities
Example:
can be written as

using trigonometric identities.

H. Approximation

When all else fails, graphs and tables can

help approximate limits.
 Illustrating the Limit of a Function
1.

x 1.9 1.99 1.999 2 2.001 2.01

f(x) 3.700 3.970 3.997 ? 4.003 4.030

as x is approaching from the left and from the right,

f(x) is getting closer and closer to 4
=4
2.

as x is approaching
from the left and
from the right, f(x)
is getting closer and
closer to 7

=7
3.

as x is approaching
from the left and
from the right, f(x)
is getting closer and
closer to 2

=2
4. solve for its limit when x approaches 2

as x is approaching
x<2 f(x) x>2 f(x)
from the left and
0 4
from the right, f(x)
1 3
is getting closer and
1.5 2.5 closer to 2
1.9 2.1
1.99 2.01 =2
1.999 2.001
5. solve for its limit when x approaches 2

as x is approaching
x<2 f(x) x>2 f(x)
from the left and
0 3
from the right, f(x)
1.5 2.5
is getting closer and
1.99 2.01 closer to 2
1.9999 2.0001
=
Techniques in Calculating Limits
A. Direct Substitution
(Try to evaluate function directly)
B. Asymptote (probably)lim 𝑓 ( 𝑥 )= 𝐿
f(a) = where b is not𝑥 zero
→𝑎

Example:
Inspect with a graph or table
to learn more about the
function at x = a
Different Techniques in Calculating
Limits
A. Direct Substitution
(Try to evaluate function directly)
 EXAMP
2
LE 𝑡 −1
) 2 . lim 2
𝑡 → −2 𝑡 +3 𝑡 −1

=) =
=)
=) =
=
=

=
 2
𝑥 − 𝑥 −2
3 . lim ¿ ¿ 4 . lim 3 2
𝑥 → 0 𝑥 +6 𝑥 −7 𝑥 +1
𝑧 →2
= =

= =

= =
=
 Boardwork!
2 3
4 −3 𝑦 − 𝑦
1 . lim 2
𝑦 → −2 6− 𝑦 −𝑦
3 2
𝑥 − 7 𝑥 +14 𝑥 − 8
2 . lim 2
𝑥 →− 1 2 𝑥 +3 𝑥 − 4

3 . lim √𝑥 2
+3 − 2
2
𝑥 → −1 𝑥 +1
Different Techniques in Calculating
Limits
Rewriting limit in an equivalent form.
B. Factoring
Example:
can be reduced to
by factoring and cancelling.
 EXAMPLE
5 𝑥 5𝑥
lim 2 ¿ lim 2
𝑥 →0 𝑥 +2𝑥 𝑥→ 0 𝑥 +2 𝑥

= 5𝑥
¿ lim
𝑥→ 0 𝑥(𝑥 +2)

= 5
¿ lim
𝑥→ 0 ( 𝑥 +2)
=
5 5
Indeterminate ¿ ¿
( 0+2) 2
 Boardwork!
2
𝑥 + 3 𝑥 − 10
1 . lim
𝑥 →− 2 𝑥 −2
2
𝑥 −9
2 . lim
𝑥 →3 𝑥 −3
4−𝑥
3 . lim 2
𝑥 →4 𝑥 −1 6
Points to remember!
1. Substitute. Plug in the limit value into the functuon.

If the answer is a real number, that is a limit.

2. If we substitute and we get indeterminate form 0/0,

we need to simplify the fraction by

a. Factoring b. Conjugate Method c. Table of Values

Different Techniques in
Calculating Limits
Conjugates
Example:
can be written as

using conjugates and cancelling.

Limits that have sum or differences involving
square roots can be simplified by conjugation