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Continuity

1.1. The Limit of a Function

1.2. Theorems on Limits of Functions
Mathematics 26 1.3. One-sided Limits
Limits and Continuity
1.5. Limits at Infinity
Based from:
1.6. Continuity of a Function at a Number
Worktext in Analytic Geometry and Calculus I
Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Physics
1.7. Continuity of an Interval
University of the Philippines Los Baños 1.8. The Intermediate Value Theorem
*For educational purposes only. No copyright infringement intended*

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1
𝑓 𝑥 = 2
𝑥−2

Infinite Limits Look at the graph of 𝑓 𝑥 .

What can you notice?

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1 Definition
𝑓 𝑥 =− 2
𝑥−2 Let 𝑓 be a function defined at every number in some open interval 𝐼 containing
𝑎, except possibly at the number 𝑎 itself.
Look at the graph of 𝑓 𝑥 . Then, 𝒇(𝒙) increases without bound as 𝒙 approaches 𝒂, written as:
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = +∞
𝑥→𝑎
What can you notice?
if the values of 𝑓 get larger and larger, as 𝑥 move closer and closer to 𝑎.

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Definition 1
𝑓 𝑥 = 2
Let 𝑓 be a function defined at every number in some open interval 𝐼 containing 𝑥−2
𝑎, except possibly at the number 𝑎 itself.
Then, 𝒇(𝒙) decreases without bound as 𝒙 approaches 𝒂, written as: Look at the graph of 𝑓 𝑥 .
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = −∞
𝑥→𝑎
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = +∞
𝑥→𝑎
if the values of 𝑓 get smaller and smaller, as 𝑥 move closer and closer to 𝑎.

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1 Note
𝑓 𝑥 =− 2
𝑥−2 lim 𝑓(𝑥) = +∞ and lim 𝑓(𝑥) = −∞ does not have the same meaning as
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐿 where 𝐿 is a real number. When lim 𝑓(𝑥) = +∞ and
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
Look at the graph of 𝑓 𝑥 . lim 𝑓(𝑥) = −∞, it means that lim 𝑓(𝑥) actually does not exist. The
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
notations lim 𝑓(𝑥) = +∞ and lim 𝑓(𝑥) = −∞ are just used to indicate the
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = −∞ behavior of the function as 𝑥 moves closer and closer to 𝑎.
𝑥→𝑎

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Theorem 1.4.1. Example 1.4.1. Evaluate the following limits:

1 1 1
If 𝑟 is any positive integer, then a. lim+ 𝑥 12 b. lim− 𝑥 8 c. lim− 𝑥 5
𝑥→0 𝑥→0 𝑥→0
1
a. lim = +∞
𝑥→0+ 𝑥 𝑟
Solution:
1 −∞ , 𝑖𝑓 𝑟 𝑖𝑠 𝑜𝑑𝑑
b. lim =ቊ a. Since 𝑟 = 12, which is even, lim+ 𝑥 12 = +∞
1
𝑥→0− 𝑥 𝑟 +∞ , 𝑖𝑓 𝑟 𝑖𝑠 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑥→0
1
b. Since 𝑟 = 8, which is even, lim− 𝑥 8 = +∞
𝑥→0
1 1
c. Since lim− , which is odd, lim− = −∞
𝑥→0 𝑥 5 𝑥→0 𝑥 5

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Theorem 1.4.2. Example 1.4.2. Evaluate the following limits:

𝑥+3
If lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 0 and lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑐 ≠ 0, then a. lim+
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→5 𝑥−5
𝑔(𝑥)
a. if 𝑐 > 0 and if 𝑓 𝑥 → 0 thru + values, then lim = +∞ Solution:
𝑥→𝑎 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑔(𝑥) a. Let 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑥 + 3 and 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 − 5
b. if 𝑐 > 0 and if 𝑓 𝑥 → 0 thru − values, then lim = −∞
𝑥→𝑎 𝑓(𝑥) Then, lim+ 𝑔(𝑥) = 5 + 3 = 8 and lim+ 𝑓(𝑥) = 5 − 5 = 0
𝑔(𝑥) 𝑥→5 𝑥→5
c. if 𝑐 < 0 and if 𝑓 𝑥 → 0 thru + values, then lim 𝑓(𝑥) = −∞ Substituting a value approximately close to 5 from the right, say 𝑥 = 5.01
𝑥→𝑎
𝑔(𝑥) would give 𝑓 5.01 = 5.01 − 5 = 0.01. Thus, 𝑓 𝑥 → 0 thru + values.
d. if 𝑐 < 0 and if 𝑓 𝑥 → 0 thru − values, then lim 𝑓(𝑥) = +∞
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥+3
With 𝑐 = 8, lim+ = +∞
𝑥→5 𝑥−5
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Example 1.4.2. Evaluate the following limits: Example 1.4.2. Evaluate the following limits:
𝑥+3 2𝑥−1
b. lim− c. lim + 𝑥+9
𝑥→5 𝑥−5 𝑥→−9

Solution: Solution:
b. Let 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑥 + 3 and 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 − 5 c. Let 𝑔 𝑥 = 2𝑥 − 1 and 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 + 5
Then, lim− 𝑔(𝑥) = 5 + 3 = 8 and lim− 𝑓(𝑥) = 5 − 5 = 0 Then, lim + 𝑔(𝑥) = −19 and lim + 𝑓(𝑥) = 0
𝑥→5 𝑥→5 𝑥→−9 𝑥→−9
Substituting a value approximately close to 5 from the left, say 𝑥 = 4.99, Substituting a value approximately close to -9 from the right, say 𝑥 = −8.99
we find that 𝑓 𝑥 → 0 thru - values. we find that 𝑓 𝑥 → 0 thru + values.
𝑥+3 2𝑥−1
With 𝑐 = 8, lim+ 𝑥−5 = −∞ With 𝑐 = −19, lim + = −∞
𝑥→5 𝑥→−9 𝑥+9
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Example 1.4.2. Evaluate the following limits: Example 1.4.3.

2𝑥−1 𝑦 2 −81
d. lim − 𝑥+9 Evaluate lim+
𝑥→−9 𝑦→9 9−𝑦

Solution: Solution:
d. Let 𝑔 𝑥 = 2𝑥 − 1 and 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 + 5 𝑦 2 −81
Let ℎ(𝑦) = 9−𝑦 . Note that 𝑦 approaches 9 from the right, both numerator
Then, lim − 𝑔(𝑥) = −19 and lim − 𝑓(𝑥) = 0
𝑥→−9 𝑥→−9 and denominator will approach 0. By factoring 𝑦 2 − 81, we get
Substituting a value approximately close to -9 from the right, say 𝑥 = −9.01
𝑦 2 −81 𝑦 2 −81 (𝑦+9)(𝑦−9) 𝑦+9
we find that 𝑓 𝑥 → 0 thru - values. lim = lim+ = lim+ = lim+
𝑦→9+ 9−𝑦 𝑦→9 −(𝑦−9) 𝑦→9 − 𝑦−9 2 𝑦→9 − 𝑦−9
2𝑥−1
With 𝑐 = −19, lim + = +∞
𝑥→−9 𝑥+9
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Example 1.4.3. Theorem 1.4.3.

Evaluate lim+
𝑦 2 −81 If lim 𝑓(𝑥) = +∞ and lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑐, then lim 𝑓 𝑥 + 𝑔(𝑥) = +∞
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
𝑦→9 9−𝑦

Solution:
Now, lim+
𝑦 2 −81
= lim+
𝑦+9
. As 𝑦 approaches 9 from the right, the Theorem 1.4.4.
𝑦→9 9−𝑦 𝑦→9 − 𝑦−9
If lim 𝑓(𝑥) = −∞ and lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑐, then lim 𝑓 𝑥 + 𝑔(𝑥) = −∞
numerator approaches a positive value, 18, while the denominator approaches 𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
𝑦 2 −81
0 thru negative values. Thus, lim+ = −∞
𝑦→9 9−𝑦

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Theorem 1.4.5.
If lim 𝑓(𝑥) = +∞ and lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑐 ≠ 0, then
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 Example 1.4.4.
a. if 𝑐 > 0, then lim 𝑓 𝑥 ∙ 𝑔(𝑥) = +∞ 2 1
𝑥→𝑎 Evaluate lim− 4−𝑡
+ 𝑡 2 −4
𝑡→4
b. if 𝑐 < 0, then lim 𝑓 𝑥 ∙ 𝑔(𝑥) = −∞
𝑥→𝑎
Solution:
2 1 2
Theorem 1.4.6. Let 𝑓 𝑡 = 4−𝑡 and 𝑔 𝑡 = 𝑡 2−4 . Thus, lim− 𝑓(𝑡) = lim− 4−𝑡 = +∞
𝑡→4 𝑡→4
If lim 𝑓(𝑥) = −∞ and lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑐 ≠ 0, then 1
and lim− 𝑔(𝑡) = lim− 𝑡 2−4 = 16−4 = 12 .
1 1
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
𝑡→4 𝑡→4
a. if 𝑐 > 0, then lim 𝑓 𝑥 ∙ 𝑔(𝑥) = −∞ 2 1
𝑥→𝑎 Hence, lim− 4−𝑡
+ 𝑡 2−4 = +∞ .
𝑡→4
b. if 𝑐 < 0, then lim 𝑓 𝑥 ∙ 𝑔(𝑥) = +∞
𝑥→𝑎

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Example 1.4.5.
1 1
Evaluate lim+ − 𝑠2
𝑠
𝑠→0 Remark
Solution: Theorems 1.4.1 to 1,4,6 are also valid if “𝑥 → 𝑎” is replaced by “𝑥 → 𝑎 + ” or
1 1 “𝑥 → 𝑎 − ”.
Based on known theorems, lim+ 𝑠 = +∞ and lim+ 𝑠2 = +∞ .
𝑠→0 𝑠→0
1 1 𝑠−1
In the absence of a theorem, we transform 𝑠
− 𝑠2 → 𝑠2
.
+
As 𝑠 → 0 , numerator approaches (–) value; denominator approaches (+) value.
1 1
Hence, lim+ 𝑠
− 𝑠2 = −∞
𝑠→0
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The line given by 𝑥 = 𝑎 is a vertical asymptote of the graph of 𝑓 if at least one of Example 1.4.6.
the following statements is true: 𝑥+1
Let 𝑓 𝑥 = . Find the vertical asymptote(s) of the graph of 𝑓.
𝑥−5

lim 𝑓 𝑥 = +∞ lim 𝑓 𝑥 = −∞ lim 𝑓 𝑥 = +∞ lim 𝑓 𝑥 = −∞ Solution:

𝑥→𝑎 + 𝑥→𝑎+ 𝑥→𝑎− 𝑥→𝑎−
a
a
We know that 𝑥 = 𝑎 is a vertical asymptote of the graph of 𝑓 if either
lim 𝑓 𝑥 = ±∞ or lim−𝑓 𝑥 = ±∞. Note that 𝑓 has an infinite limit when
𝑥→𝑎 + 𝑥→𝑎
the denominator approaches 0 while the numerator approaches a nonzero
number.
𝑥+1 𝑥+1
Since, lim+ = +∞ and lim− = −∞, 𝑥 = 5 is a vertical asymptote of
a a 𝑥→5 𝑥−5 𝑥→5 𝑥−5
of the graph of 𝑓.
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