CHAPTER

Limits and Continuityy

1
1 1 A BRIEF PREVIEW OF CALCULUS: TANGENT LINES
1.1
AND THE LENGTH OF A CURVE
1 2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT
1.2
1.3 COMPUTATION OF LIMITS
1.4 CONTINUITY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES
1 5 LIMITS INVOLVING INFINITY; ASYMPTOTES
1.5
1.6 FORMAL DEFINITION OF THE LIMIT
1 7 LIMITS AND LOSS OF SIGNIFICANCE ERRORS
1.7

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 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT

The Limit: Informal Idea

In this section, we develop the notion of limit using some
common language and illustrate the idea with some
simple examples.

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 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT

The Limit: Informal Idea

Suppose a function f is defined for all x in an open
interval containing a, except possibly at x = a.

If we can make f (x) arbitrarily close to some number L

(i.e., as close as we’d like to make it) by making x
sufficiently close to a (but not equal to a), then we say
that L is the limit of f (x), as x approaches a, written

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 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT

The Limit: Informal Idea

For instance, we have

since as x gets closer and closer to 2, f (x) = x2 gets closer

and closer to 4.

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 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT

EXAMPLE 2.1 Evaluating a Limit

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 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT

EXAMPLE 2.1 Evaluating a Limit

Solution

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 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT

EXAMPLE 2.1 Evaluating a Limit

Solution

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 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT

EXAMPLE 2.1 Evaluating a Limit

Solution

Since the two one

one‐sided
sided limits
of f (x) are the same, we
summarize our results by saying
that

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 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT

EXAMPLE 2.1 Evaluating a Limit

Solution
We can also determine the limit algebraically.

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 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT

EXAMPLE 2.2 A Limit that Does Not Exist

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 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT

EXAMPLE 2.2 A Limit that Does Not Exist

Solution

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 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT

A limit exists if and onlyy if both corresponding

p g one‐sided
limits exist and are equal. That is,

In other words, we say that

iff we can make
k f (x)
( ) as close
l as we mighth like
l k to
L, by making x sufficiently close to a (on either side of a),
b not equall to a.
but
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 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT

EXAMPLE 2.3 Determining Limits Graphically

Use the graph to determine

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 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT

EXAMPLE 2.3 Determining Limits Graphically

Solution

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 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT

EXAMPLE 2.4 A Limit Where Two Factors Cancel

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 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT

EXAMPLE 2.4 A Limit Where Two Factors Cancel

Solution
From the left:

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 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT

EXAMPLE 2.4 A Limit Where Two Factors Cancel

Solution
From the right:

Conjecture:
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 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT

EXAMPLE 2.4 A Limit Where Two Factors Cancel

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 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT

EXAMPLE 2.4 A Limit Where Two Factors Cancel

Solution
Algebraic cancellation:

Likewise:

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 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT

EXAMPLE 2.5 A Limit That Does Not Exist

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 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT

EXAMPLE 2.5 A Limit That Does Not Exist

Solution
From the right:

Conjecture:
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 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT

EXAMPLE 2.5 A Limit That Does Not Exist

Solution
From the left:

Conjecture:
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 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT

EXAMPLE 2.5 A Limit That Does Not Exist

Solution

Conjecture:

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 1.2 THE CONCEPT OF LIMIT

REMARK 2.1
Computer or calculator computation of limits is
unreliable.

We use ggraphs
p and tables of values onlyy as (strong)
( g)
evidence pointing to what a plausible answer might be.

To be certain, we need to obtain careful verification of

our conjectures.
j We explore
p this in sections 1.3–1.7.

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