Copyright c Chester Jay Weatherby, 2019 Slide 2- 1

Week 2: Limits, Asymptotes, Continuity, and IVT

Goals:
• Limit Laws
• Horizontal Asymptotes
• Precise Limit Definition
• Continuity
• Intermediate Value Theorem

Textbook reading: §2.3 - §2.6

§2.3 1, 3, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 25, 29, 37, 39, 41, 45, 47, 49, 53, 57, 59, 63, 65
§2.4 3, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 23, 25, 29, 31, 37, 39, 41
§2.5 3, 11, 17, 19, 23, 25, 28, 33, 35, 40, 41, 45, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55, 57, 63, 65, 67, 71
§2.6 3, 7, 13, 17, 19, 21, 25, 27, 28, 35, 37, 49, 51, 55, 61, 63, 67, 69, 73
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2.1 “How to” Compute Limits: Limit Laws (§2.3)

We have the following Limit Laws :

If lim f (x) and lim g(x) both exist, then

f (x) lim f (x) x→a x→a
x→a
c

x lim f (x) ± g(x) =

x→a

xn
√ lim f (x)g(x) =
n x→a
x

f (x)
lim =
x→a g(x)
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p
3
Example: lim x2(x + 2) + (x + 3)
x→1

√
x + x2 − 3
Example: lim
x→1 2x + (x − 1) sin(x)

1
Example: lim
x→−2 (2x+2)
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Rule 1: Evaluate If Possible

Notice in the previous examples, we evaluated lim f (x) simply by computing f (a),
x→a
so long as f (a) exists.

List some functions that have the property that lim f (x) = f (a) :
x→a

What are some functions that DO NOT have this property?

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Rule 2: Simplify and Cancel

If a function cannot be evaluated at a value a, we try to simplify and cancel.

x−1 x−1
Example: Sketch and discuss lim .
x−1 x→1 x − 1
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Simplifying does not guarantee that we will be able to evaluate the limit imme-
diately. After we simplify and cancel, we may still need to evaluate both the
left-hand limit and the right-hand limit to determine vertical asymptotes.
(x − 3)(x − 2) x−3
Example: lim Example: lim
x→2 (x − 2)2 x→3 x2 − 9
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Rule 3: Rationalize Root Expressions

When division by zero is present and there is a root expression, rationalize the
root expression by multiplying both top and bottom by a related root expression
(one sign change).
√
(x − 4)(x + 3) 1− x+1
Example: lim √ Example: lim
x→4 x−2 x→0 x
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Rule 4: Piecewise Functions (including absolute value)

For piecewise functions, the correct “piece” must be used. Generally speaking,
separate left-hand and right-hand limits are required.

|x|
Example: lim =
x→0 x
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Discussion Question

For the function 

cos(x) :x≤0
f (x) =
x2 + 4x + 1 : x > 0

Evaluate: lim f (x)

x→0

A) 1

B) 0

C) DN E

D) None of the above

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The previous rules are not exhaustive and there are many cases where those rules
do not apply.
x
Example: lim
x→0 sin(x)

Sketch x, sin(x), and tan(x) near x = 0, on x > 0.

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Theorem: Squeeze Theorem

If f (x) ≤ g(x) ≤ h(x) when x is near a and lim f (x) = L = lim h(x),
x→a x→a
then lim g(x) = L as well.
x→a

Sketch a diagram to illustrate the Squeeze Theorem:

x
Example (cont’d): lim
x→0+ sin(x)
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Example: lim x cos(ln(x))

x→0+
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2.2 Limits at Infinity (§2.6)

We have seen how to compute limits as x approaches a finite number, but what
do we do when x tends to ±∞ ?
1
Example: y =
x
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Definition: We write lim f (x) = L if f (x) can be made arbitrarily close

x→∞
to L, by taking x sufficiently large. (Similarly for lim f (x))
x→−∞

Definition: If either lim f (x) = L or lim f (x) = L, then we call y = L a

x→∞ x→−∞
horizontal asymptote.
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Theorem:
For any rational number r > 0
1 1
i) lim r = 0 ii) lim r = 0 (so long as xr is defined)
x→∞ x x→−∞ x

1 1
Example: lim √ Example: lim 3
x→∞ x x→−∞ x
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Examples seen graphically:

1) lim ex, lim ex 2) lim e−x
x→∞ x→−∞ x→∞
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3) lim ln(x) 4) lim sin(x)

x→∞ x→∞
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5) lim arctan(x) 6) lim x3 − x

x→∞ x→∞
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Limits at Infinity - Algebraically:

x2 − 3x + 3
Consider lim 2
.
x→∞ 4x + 2
We cannot factor or cancel terms, so we need another trick.

Rule 5: Powers of x
1
Multiply both top and bottom by r where r is the largest power of x from the
x
denominator. This should change the expression to a form in which it can be seen
whether the limit is ∞, −∞, or some finite number.

x2 − 3x + 3
lim
x→∞ 4x2 + 2
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√
x2 + 1
Example: lim
x→−∞ 2x + 5

2x + 5
Example: lim √ (Homework)
x→−∞ 2
x +1
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1
Example: lim √ (Homework)
x→∞ x3 +1

e2x + 1
Example: lim 3x
x→∞ e + ex + 3
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Discussion Question

Evaluate:
2x5 + x2 + 3
lim 4
x→∞ 4x + x3 + 2x2

A) 2
1
B)
2
C) ∞

D) 1
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2.3 Limits with Mathematical Rigour (§2.4)

The terms “gets closer to” and “approaches” are not precise. If we want to prove
that lim f (x) = L, then for any arbitrary distance from L, we must show that
x→a
f (x) is within that distance if we take x sufficiently close to a (but x 6= a).

Graphically:

The distance between f (x) and L:

The distance between x and a:
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Formal Definition of a Limit:

Let f (x) be defined on an open interval containing a, except possibly at x = a.
We have that lim f (x) = L if for every ε > 0, there is a δ > 0 such that
x→a
if |x − a| < δ then |f (x) − L| < ε.
Notes:
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Example: Prove that lim 4x − 2 = 2.

x→1
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Example: Prove that lim (x + 2)2 = 9. (Homework)

x→1
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2.4 Continuity (§2.5)

Consider the following statements:

1) You were once exactly 1m tall: T F

2) You once had exactly 42.5¢ in your bank account: T F

What is the difference between how the curves for these scenarios are drawn?
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Definition: f (x) is continuous at a if lim f (x) = f (a).

x→a

If f (x) is not continuous at a we say f (x) is discontinuous at a, or that a is a

discontinuity.
Sketch various discontinuities:
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Types of Discontinuities:
Type of Discontinuity Example
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Continuous Functions:

Theorem:
Polynomial, rational, power, trig, inverse trig, exponential, and logarithmic func-
tions are all continuous on their domains.

Theorem:
Sums, differences, products, quotients (where denominator is never zero), and
composition of continuous functions are also continuous.

Summary:
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Discussion Question

Given the function 

−x + 1 : x ≤ 1
f (x) =
x2 − 1 : x > 1

f (x) is:

A) continuous on x ≤ 1

B) continuous on x > 1

C) continuous on all real numbers.

D) not continuous.
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Question: Why are we interested in continuous functions?

For a continuous function, we are guaranteed to hit all intermediate heights be-
tween any two points.

For example, consider any height between your birth height and your current
height.
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Theorem: The Intermediate Value Theorem

If f (x) is continuous on [a, b] with f (a) 6= f (b) and k is any value in between
f (a) and f (b), then there is at least one c ∈ [a, b] with f (c) = k.

Sketch a diagram to illustrate the IVT:

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Applications of IVT:

Prove that f (x) = x3 − x2 + 3x + 4 has at least one root in [−2, 2].

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Prove that cos(x) = x at some point on [0, π].

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Discussion Question

How can it be proved that f (x) = x3 + x + 1 has at least one root? (Assume we
cannot plot the graph).