The Limit of A Function

(Please refer to section 2.
2, page 83-94 of the recommended textbook)
Unit 2.2
The limit of a function
On completion of this unit you should

• be able to find the limit of a function at a point if
a graph is given.
• be able to explain what is meant by one-sided lim-
its and be able to interpret these ideas graphically.
• be able to find limx→a f (x) by using the one-sided
limits limx→a+ f (x) and limx→a− f (x) (when nec-
essary).
• be able to explain the informal definition of an
infinite limit (limx→a f (x) = ∞ or limx→a f (x) =
−∞) and be able to interpret this idea graphically.
• be able to find vertical asymptotes of a function.
1
2
Consider the function

ex − 1
f (x) = .
x
(1) Calculate f (1).
(2) The values of f (x), when x is a number very close
to 0 is given by the following tables
x f (x) x f (x)
-0.5 0.786938 0.5 1.29744
-0.4 0.824199 0.4 1.22956
-0.3 0.863939 0.3 1.16629
-0.2 0.906346 0.2 1.107013
-0.1 0.951625 0.1 1.051709
-0.001 0.99950 0.001 1.00050
ex − 1
Use the table to guess the value of lim .
x→0 x
3
Please also see examples 2 and 3 on page 85

of the recommended textbook for a further
insight on the concept of limits.
4
Intuitive Definition of a limit. (Please see page

83 of the textbook)
If f (x) is defined near a and its value, f (x), approaches

some constant, say L, as x approaches a (on either side
of a) but not equal to a, then we say lim f (x) is L and
x→a
write
lim f (x) = L.
x→a
5
How to calculate limits? A few techniques to

evaluate
lim f (x).
x→a
carefully note the cases where we use these techniques.
There is no single technique that can be used to eval-
uate everything.
Direct substitution: Find

(1) lim (x2 + x − 2)
x→−1
x2 − 4
(2) lim
x→2 x + 2
x2 − 4
(3) lim
x→−2 x + 2
6
Factorization: When the direct substitution method

does not work as in the following cases
x2 − 4
(1) lim
x→−2 x + 2
x3 − 27
(2) lim
x→3 x − 3
7
Note that the above two examples have the in-

determinate form 00 . This, however, does not
necessarily mean that factorization method can
be used whenever we face the indeterminate
form 00 . For example, consider
ex − 1
(3) lim
x→0 x
sin x
(4) lim (use a calculator and construct a
x→0 x
table to guess the limit.)
8
One side limits. (Please refer to page 86-87 of the

recommended textbook)
1, if x ≥ 0
H(x) =
0, if x < 0
(The function H is called the Heaviside function, named
after the mathematician Oliver Heaviside. )
• Find lim H(x)

x→0
9
(Please refer to page 86 of the textbook for the defini-

tion)
Left-hand limit: the left-hand limit of f (x) as x ap-
proaches a (or the limit of f (x) as x approaches
to a from the left) is L if the value of f (x) gets
arbitrarily close to L as x gets arbitrarily close to
a from the left, and we write
lim f (x) = L.
x→a−
Right-hand limit: the right-hand limit of f (x) as x

approaches a (or the limit of f (x) as x approaches
to a from the right) is L if the value of f (x) gets
arbitrarily close to L as x gets arbitrarily close to
a from the right, and we write
lim f (x) = L.
x→a+
10
Examples: Evaluate the following limits

• lim H(x)
x→0−
• lim H(x)
x→0+
√
• lim x − 1
x→1+
√
• lim x − 1
x→1−
11
Theorem: lim f (x) = L if and only if lim f (x) =

x→a x→a+
L and lim f (x) = L.
x→a−


 2x + 1, if x < −2
f (x) = x2 − 1, if − 2 < x < 1
 1 − x, if x > 1
Find
(1) lim f (x)
x→−2
(2) lim f (x)
x→0
(3) lim f (x)
x→1
(4) lim f (x)
x→2
12
Please make sure that you understand what we mean

by a limit does not exist!
13
Infinite limits. (See definitions 4 and 5 on page 89

and 90)
Mildly speaking,
lim f (x) = ±∞
x→a
means that the value of f (x) gets arbitrarily large pos-
itive number or arbitrarily large negative number as x
gets closer and closer to a.
14
Example: Evaluate the following limits

1
• lim
x→1 (1 − x)2
−4
• lim
x→1+ (x − 1)
−4
• lim
x→1− (x − 1)
15
N.B: ∞, −∞ ̸∈ R.
Vertical Asymptotic. The line x = a is said to be

a vertical asymptote of the curve y = f (x) if at least
one of the following statements holds true
lim f (x) = ∞, lim f (x) = ∞, lim f (x) = ∞,

x→a x→a+ x→a−
lim f (x) = −∞, lim f (x) = −∞, lim f (x) = −∞.

x→a x→a+ x→a−
16
Examples Find the vertical asymptote(s) of f (x), if

any
• f (x) = x + 1
√
x−3
• f (x) =
x−9
1−x
• f (x) =
x−5
• f (x) = ln(x − 2)

The Limit of A Function

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

The Limit of A Function

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

The Limit of A Function

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

(Please refer to section 2.

2, page 83-94 of the recommended textbook)

On completion of this unit you should

Consider the function

Please also see examples 2 and 3 on page 85

Intuitive Definition of a limit. (Please see page

If f (x) is defined near a and its value, f (x), approaches

How to calculate limits? A few techniques to

Direct substitution: Find

Factorization: When the direct substitution method

Note that the above two examples have the in-

One side limits. (Please refer to page 86-87 of the

• Find lim H(x)

(Please refer to page 86 of the textbook for the defini-

Right-hand limit: the right-hand limit of f (x) as x

Examples: Evaluate the following limits

Theorem: lim f (x) = L if and only if lim f (x) =

Consider the function

Please make sure that you understand what we mean

Infinite limits. (See definitions 4 and 5 on page 89

Example: Evaluate the following limits

Vertical Asymptotic. The line x = a is said to be

lim f (x) = ∞, lim f (x) = ∞, lim f (x) = ∞,

lim f (x) = −∞, lim f (x) = −∞, lim f (x) = −∞.

Examples Find the vertical asymptote(s) of f (x), if

You might also like