11th Grade
Introduction to the
Limits of Functions
Objective
Illustrate the limit of a function using
the table of values and the graph of the
function
Introduction
Limits
Limits can be applied in real
life. Everything has a limit in
this world we live in, some of
us are just not aware of it.
Examples of Real Life Application of Limit
Trivia
LIMITS = Backbone of the Calculus
Calculus = Mathematics of change
Numerical Representation of the Limits of Functions
The behavior of functions can also be described using the concept of limits.
Informally speaking, the limit of a function refers to the value that a “function”
approaches a specific value.
𝑥−4
𝑓 ( 𝑥 )= 2
𝑥 −16
0−4 1
𝑓 (0) = =
(0) − 16 4
2
Also, as the values of x come close to 0, then the values of f(x) come close to
or 0.25. This is shown in table 1.1
Table 1.1 Table of values for as x approaches 0.
x approaches 0 from the left x approaches 0 from the right
x -0.1 -0.01 -0.001 -0.0001 0 0.0001 0.001 0.01 0.1
f(x) 0.2564103 0.250627 0.250063 0.250006 0.25 0.24999 0.249938 0.249377 0.243902
f(x) approaches 0.25 f(x) approaches 0.25
= =
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇 ( 𝒙 ) =𝟎 .𝟐𝟓
𝒙→𝟎
Table 1.2 Table of values for as x approaches 4.
x approaches 4 from the left x approaches 4 from the right
x 3.9 3.99 3.999 3.9999 4 4.0001 4.001 4.01 4.1
f(x) 0.12658 0.12516 0.12502 0.125001 0.125 0.124998 0.12498 0.12484 0.12346
f(x) approaches 0.125 f(x) approaches 0.125
= =
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇 ( 𝒙 ) =𝟎 .𝟏𝟐𝟓
𝒙→𝟒
The graph of shows that
shows the formal definition of the limit of a function
Big Idea Reflect Upon
Real-life limits are those that Give two factors in your life that
restrict one’s actions. This you consider as limits to
means that one cannot always reaching your dreams. How
do what he or she wants. Every does each factor affect your plan
person’s action have restrictions. of action.
“If people do not believe that mathematics
is simple, it is only because they do not
realize how complicated life is.”
John von Neumann
Limits of a Function
Let f be a function defined at every number in some open
interval containing c, except possibly at the number c itself.
If the value of f is arbitrarily close to the number L for all
the values of x sufficiently close to c, then the limit of f(x)
as x approaches c is L. This written as:
lim 𝑓 ( 𝑥 )= 𝐿
𝑥→𝑐
“the limit of f(x), as x approaches to c is L”