CHAPTER 1

Limits & Continuity

 The Limit of a Function
1.1
Lesson 1 The Limit of a Function at
The Limit of a c versus the Value of the
Function at c 1.2
Function: Theorems Illustration of Limit
and Examples Theorems 1.3
Limits of Polynomial,
Rational, and Radical
Functions 1.4
 introduction 1.1 The Limit of a Function
Limits are the backbone of
calculus, and calculus is called the
Mathematics of Change. The study of
limits is necessary in studying change
in great detail. The evaluation of a
particular limit is what underlies the
formulation of the derivative and the
integral of a function.

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 For starters, imagine that you are
going to watch a basketball game. When
you choose seats, you would want to be
as close to the action as possible. You
would want to be as close to the players
as possible and have the best view of the
game, as if you were in the basketball
court yourself. Take note that you cannot
actually be in the court and join the
players, but you will be close enough to
describe clearly what is happening in the
game.
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 Consider a function f of a single variable x.
Consider a constant c which the variable x will
approach (c may or may not be in the domain of f).
The limit, to be denoted by L, is the unique real value
that f(x) will approach as x approaches c. In symbols,
we write this process as

This is read, ‘‘The limit of f(x) as x approaches c is L.”

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LOOKING AT A TABLE OF VALUES
 right
left
 Example 1: Investigate

through a table of values

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 Example 2: Investigate

through a table of values

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 Example 3: Investigate

through a table of values

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Take note that 1 is not in the domain of f, but this is not a problem. In
evaluating a limit, remember that we only need to go very close to 1;
we will not go to 1 itself.
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 Example 4: Investigate
through a table of values

if

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 if and only if

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remember
LOOKING AT THE
GRAPH OF y = f(x)
LOOKING AT THE
GRAPH OF y = f(x)
LOOKING AT THE
GRAPH OF y = f(x)
LOOKING AT THE
GRAPH OF y = f(x)
LOOKING AT THE
GRAPH OF y = f(x)
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Your Turn!
Test 1 (written on the board)
Test 2 Consider the function f(x) whose graph is shown below.

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 assignment:
Bring cutouts of news items, articles, or drawings which
for you illustrate the idea of a limit. Paste your cutouts on the
2nd page of your Activity Notebook, and explain how does it
represent a limit.
*Note it must be a cutout of articles, NOT purposely printed
just for this assignment*
Point System
Cutouts : 5 points
Explanation : 5 points
Neatness & Cleanliness of output : 5 points
Total : 15 points
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 1.2 The Limit of a Function at c versus
recall the Value of the Function at c
Let us again consider

Recall that
its tables
of values are:

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and we had concluded that

In comparison, f(2) = 7.

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Notice that the same holds for the next
examples discussed:

We can say that:

lim 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒇(𝒄)

𝒙→𝒄
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Consider example 3:

lim 𝒇(𝒙) ≠ 𝒇(𝒄)

𝒙→𝒄

This shows that

lim 𝒇(𝒙) 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒇 𝒄
𝒙→𝒄
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 introduction 1.3 Illustration of Limit Theorems

Lesson 1 showed us how limits can be

determined through either a table of values or
the graph of a function.

Filling in a table of values sometimes

requires very tedious calculations. Likewise,
a graph may be difficult to sketch. However,
these should not be reasons for a student to
fail to determine a limit.

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 Limit Theorems will enable us to
directly evaluate limits, without need
for a table or a graph.

In the following statements, c is

a constant, and f and g are functions
which may or may not have c in their
domains.

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EIGHT BASIC LIMIT THEOREMS

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 1. The limit of a constant is itself. If k is any
constant, then,

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2. The limit of x as x approaches c is equal to c.
This may be thought of as the substitution law,
because x is simply substituted by c.

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For the remaining theorems, we will assume that
the limits of f and g both exist as x approaches c
and that they are L and M, respectively. In other
words,

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3. The Constant Multiple Theorem: This says that
the limit of a multiple of a function is simply that
multiple of the limit of the function.

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4. The Addition Theorem: This says that the limit
of a sum of functions is the sum of the limits of
the individual functions. Subtraction is also
included in this law, that is, the limit of a
difference of functions is the difference of their
limits.

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5. The Multiplication Theorem: This is similar to
the Addition Theorem, with multiplication
replacing addition as the operation involved.
Thus, the limit of a product of functions is equal
to the product of their limits.

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 Remark 1: The Addition and Multiplication
Theorems may be applied to sums, differences,
and products of more than two functions.

Remark 2: The Constant Multiple Theorem is a

special case of the Multiplication Theorem.
Indeed, in the Multiplication Theorem, if the first
function f(x) is replaced by a constant k, the
result is the Constant Multiple Theorem.

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6. The Division Theorem: This says that the limit
of a quotient of functions is equal to the quotient
of the limits of the individual functions, provided
the denominator limit is not equal to 0.

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7. The Power Theorem: This theorem states that
the limit of an integer power p of a function is
just that power of the limit of the function.

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 8. The Radical/Root Theorem: This theorem
states that if n is a positive integer, the limit of
the nth root of a function is just the nth root of
the limit of the function, provided the nth root of
the limit is a real number. Thus, it is important to
keep in mind that if n is even, the limit of the
function must be positive.

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Your Turn! Test 2 Compute the following limits:

Test 1 Complete the following table.

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46
 1.4 Limits of Polynomial, Rational,
recall and Radical Functions

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 LIMITS OF ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS
(Polynomial Functions)

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 LIMITS OF ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS
(Polynomial Functions)

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 LIMITS OF ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS
(Polynomial Functions)

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 LIMITS OF ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS
(Polynomial Functions)

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 LIMITS OF ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS
(Polynomial Functions)

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 LIMITS OF ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS
(Polynomial Functions)

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 LIMITS OF ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS
(Polynomial Functions)

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 LIMITS OF ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS
(Rational Functions)

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 LIMITS OF ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS
(Radical Functions)

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 LIMITS OF ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS
(Radical Functions)

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 LIMITS OF ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS
(Radical Functions)

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 LIMITS OF ALGEBRAIC FUNCTIONS
(Radical Functions)

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Your Turn! Evaluate the following limits.

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 Lesson 2
Limits of Some Limits of Exponential,
Logarithmic, and
Transcendental Trigonometric Function
Functions and Some 2.1

Indeterminate Forms Some Special Limits

2.2
 2.1 Limits of
introduction Exponential, Logarithmic, and
Trigonometric Functions

Real-world situations can

be expressed in terms of
functional relationships. These
functional relationships are
called mathematical models.

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 In applications of calculus,
it is quite important that one can
generate these mathematical
models. They sometimes use
functions that you encountered
in precalculus, like the
exponential, logarithmic, and
trigonometric functions. Hence,
we start this lesson by recalling
these functions and their
corresponding graphs.

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 EVALUATING LIMITS OF
EXPONENTIAL
FUNCTIONS

First, we consider the

natural exponential function
f(x) = ex, where e is called the
Euler number, and has value
2.718281....
 Example 1 :
Evaluate the
𝒙
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒆 .
𝒙→𝟎

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left right
 We can use the
graph of f(x)=ex to
determine its limit as x
approaches 0. The
figure below is the
graph of f(x)=ex.

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We also have the following:

a. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒆𝒙 = 𝒆𝟏 = 𝟐 . 𝟕𝟏𝟖 …
𝒙→𝟏

b. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒆𝒙 = 𝒆𝟐 = 𝟕 . 𝟑𝟖𝟗 …
𝒙→𝟐

c. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒆𝒙 = 𝒆−𝟏 = 𝟎 . 𝟑𝟔𝟕 …

𝒙→−𝟏

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 EVALUATING LIMITS OF
LOGARITHMIC
FUNCTIONS

Now, consider the natural

logarithmic function f(x) = ln x.
Recall that ln x = loge x.
Moreover, it is the inverse of
the natural exponential function
y = ex .
 Example 2 :
Evaluate the
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒍𝒏 𝒙.
𝒙→𝟏

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left right
 Example 3 :
Evaluate the
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒍𝒐𝒈 𝒙.
𝒙→𝟏

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left right
We also have the following:
 EVALUATING LIMITS OF
TRIGONOMETRIC
FUNCTIONS

Example 4 :
Evaluate the
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝒙.
𝒙→𝟎
left right
We also have the following:
 2.2 Some Special Limits
introduction
We will determine the
limits of three special
functions; namely,
𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝒕
𝒇(𝒕) = ,
𝒕
𝟏−𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝒕
𝐠(𝒕) = , and
𝒕
𝒆𝒕 −𝟏
𝐡(𝒕) = .
𝒕
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 EVALUATING LIMITS OF
THREE SPECIAL
FUNCTIONS

Example 1 :
Evaluate the
𝒔𝒊𝒏 𝒕
𝐥𝐢𝐦 .
𝒕→𝟎 𝒕
left right
 EVALUATING LIMITS OF
THREE SPECIAL
FUNCTIONS

Example 2 :
Evaluate the
𝟏−𝒄𝒐𝒔 𝒕
𝐥𝐢𝐦 .
𝒕→𝟎 𝒕
left right
 EVALUATING LIMITS OF
THREE SPECIAL
FUNCTIONS

Example 3 :
Evaluate the
𝒕
𝒆 −𝟏
𝐥𝐢𝐦 .
𝒕→𝟎 𝒕
left right
 EVALUATING LIMITS OF
INDETERMINATE FORM
𝟎
" "
𝟎

by factoring or by rationalizing
 Example 4 :
Evaluate
𝒙 𝟐 +𝟐𝒙 +𝟏
𝐥𝐢𝐦 .
𝒙→−𝟏 𝒙 +𝟏

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 The limit of
both the Example 4 : Thus, this limit
numerator and as currently
the Evaluate written is an
denominator as 𝒙 𝟐 +𝟐𝒙 +𝟏 indeterminate
x approaches 1 𝐥𝐢𝐦 . 𝟎
is 0. 𝒙→−𝟏 𝒙 +𝟏 form of type .
𝟎
 The limit of
both the Example 4 : Thus, this limit
numerator and as currently
the Evaluate written is an
denominator as 𝒙 𝟐 +𝟐𝒙 +𝟏 indeterminate
x approaches 1 𝐥𝐢𝐦 . 𝟎
is 0. 𝒙→−𝟏 𝒙 +𝟏 form of type .
𝟎
 Example 5 :
𝒙𝟐 −𝟏
Evaluate 𝐥𝐢𝐦 .
𝒙→𝟏 𝒙−𝟏
note: the three special limits discussed, will result
𝟎
in “ ” upon direct substitution. However, they are
𝟎
not resolved by factoring or rationalization.
 Continuity at a Point
Lesson 3 3.1

Continuity on an Interval
Continuity of Functions 3.2
More on Continuity
(Different Types of
Discontinuities)
3.3
 3.1 Continuity at a Point

What does “continuity at a

point” mean? Intuitively,
this means that in drawing
the graph of a function, the
point in question will be
traversed.

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Consider the graph below. Is the
function continuous at x =1?

To check if the function is

continuous at x =1, use the given
graph. Note that one is able to trace
the graph from the left side of the
number x =1going to the right side
of x =1, without lifting one’s pen.
This is the case here. Hence, we
can say that the function is
continuous at x =1
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Consider the graph of the function
g(x) below. Is the function continuous
at x =1 ?

Tracing the graph from the left of x

= 1 going to right of x = 1, we must
lift our pen briefly upon reaching x =
1, creating a hole in the graph.
Thus, the function is discontinuous
at x =1 .

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Consider the graph of the If we trace the graph from the left
function h(x) below. Is the
of x =0 going to right of x =0, we
function continuous at x =0 ?
have to lift our pen since at the left
of x =0, the function values will go
downward indefinitely, while at the
right of x =0, the function values will
go to upward indefinitely. In other
words,

Thus, the function is discontinuous

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at x =0.
Consider the graph of the
function h(x) below. Is the
function continuous at x =2 ?
If we trace the graph of the function
1
h(x) =
x
from the left of x = 2 to the right of
x =2, you will not lift your pen.
Therefore, the function h is
continuous at x =2 .

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 Suppose we are not
given the graph of a function
but just the function itself.
How do we determine if the function
is continuous at a given number?
In this case, we have to check
three conditions.
 3.2 Continuity on an Interval
Consider the graph of the
function f given below.
Using the given graph,
determine if the function f is
continuous on the following
intervals:
a. (-1,1)
b. (-∞,0)
c. (0,+∞)
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 Using the given
graph, determine if
the function f is
continuous on the
following intervals:
a. (-1,1)
b. (-∞,0)
c. (0,+∞)
Consider the graph
of the function h.
Determine using the
given graph if the
function f is
continuous on the
following intervals:
a. (-1,1)
b. [0.5, 2]
 3.3 Different Types of
Discontinuities
Let’s examine the following
functions, at the respective values 1, 4, and 0.

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REMOVABLE DISCONTINUITY
 The discontinuity of g at
the point x =1 is manifested
by the hole in the graph of
y = g(x) at the point (1,2).
This is due to the fact that
f(1) is equal to 1 and not 2,
while lim g(x) = 2.
x→1

Removable or Hole
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ESSENTIAL DISCONTINUITY
 The graph confirms that the
discontinuity of h(x) at x =4is
certainly not removable. The
discontinuity is not just a
matter of having one point
missing from the graph and
putting it in; if ever, it is a
matter of having a part of the
graph entirely out of place. If
we force to remove this kind of
discontinuity, we need to Jump Essential
connect the two parts by a
vertical line from (4,5) to (4,3).
ESSENTIAL DISCONTINUITY
 Because the limits are
infinite, the limits from both
the left and the right of x=0
do not exist, and the
discontinuity cannot be
removed. Also, the
absence of a left-hand (or
right-hand) limit from which
to “jump” to the other part
of the graph means the
discontinuity is permanent.
As the graph indicates, the
two ends of the function
that approach x = 0
continuously move away
from each other: one end
goes upward without
bound, the other end goes
downward without bound.
 This translates to an
asymptotic behavior as x-
values approach 0; in fact,
we say that x =0is a
vertical asymptote of f(x).

Infinite Essential or
Asymptotic
 Your Turn!
Enumerate all
discontinuities
of f(x) and
identify their
types. If a
discontinuity is
removable,
state the
redefiniton that
will remove it.
Hint: There are 6
discontinuities.
Your Turn!
Determine whether the
function is continuous or 1.
not on the given points
or number. If the function
is discontinuous,
determine the type of
discontinuity; and
redefine functions if 2.
necessary.
 thank you
presentation by: Mrs. Aimme Rose R. De Vera