Contents

2 Limits and Continuity

35

2.1

Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

35

2.2

Numerical Introduction to Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

41

CONTENTS

Chapter 2

Limits and Continuity

2.1

Limits

1. Define f : R R by the rule f (x) = 101 for every x in the domain of f . Find the following limits if
they exist:
(a)
(c)

lim f (x)

x101

f (x)
lim
x20 101f (x)

(b)
(d)

lim

x100

f (x)

lim [f (x)]2 2f (x)

x1

2. Let g : R R be defined by the rule g(x) = x2 4 for all x in the domain of g and L : R R be defined
by the rule L(x) = 2x 1 for all x in the domain of L. Find the following limits:
(a)
(c)
(e)
(g)

lim g(x)

(b)

lim g(x) L(x)

(d)

g(x)
L(x)
1
x /2

(f)

lim [g(x) g(2)]

(h)

x2
x3

lim

x2

lim g(x)

x2

lim [g(x) L(x)]

x1

g(x)
L(x)
1
x /2

lim

lim [g(x) g(L(0))]

x1

3. Evaluate the following limits:

(a)
(c)
(e)
(g)

lim |y|

(b)

lim |t 2|

(d)

lim (|x| | 3|)

(f)

lim (|z|2 + 2|z| 3)

(h)

y3

t3

x0

z2

lim |w|

w2

lim |y|
y61 |y|
lim (|x| |a|)

xa

lim x|x|

x2

36

Limits and Continuity

4. Evaluate the following limits:

(a)

u2 4
u2

lim

u 32

(c)

lim

v0

(e)

v 2 +v2
v+2

(d)

lim

sin2 xcos2 (x)

sin x+cos x

lim

sin x2 +cos x2
sin x2

x
4

(g)

(b)

x
2

(f)

2
lim u 4
u2 u2

lim

v2

v 2 +v2
v+2

lim (sin2 x + cos2 x)

x17

5. Find the following limits if they exist:

lim

x2

x 2
x2

lim

1/x1/a
x1 ,

(a)
(c)

xa

a 6= 0

2x3 3x2 +2x1

x1
x1

(e)

lim

(b)

x2 9
x3 x3

(d)

lim |x|4
x4 x4

(f)

x3 +27
x3 x+3

lim

lim

6. Find the following limits if they exist:

(a)

4
4
lim x a
xa xa

(b)

(c)

lim

4(x+h)3 4x3
h
h0

(d)

(e)

2x
lim 12 x
x0 1+2

(f)

7. Find lim

xa

f (x)f (a)
xa

f (a+t)f (a)
t

and lim

t0

lim

x0

x2 x
x

122x
x
x0 12

lim

lim (1 log10 x)

x10

for:

(a)

f (x) = x2 , a = 3

(b)

f (x) = x2 , a = 1/3

(b)

f (x) = x2 + 1, a = 2

(d)

f (x) = 3x2 x, a = 0

(e)

f (x) = 1/2x2 3x + 1, a = 0

(f)

f (x) = (x 3)2 5, a = 1

(g)

f (x) = |x|2 , a = 2

(h)

f (x) = x|x|, a = 2

In problems 8 to 13 find lim

xa

g(x)g(a)
xa

for the given function g and the value a.

8. g(x) = x + 2, a = 93

9. g(x) = 2x, a = 14

10. g(x) = x(1 x), a = 1

11. g(x) = (x + 1)2 , a = 1

12. g(x) = 2x2 + 1, a = 2

13. g(x) =

Find the following limits if they exist:

14. lim + |x1|
x1
x1

15.

lim

x2+

x+2
|x+2|

and
and

16. lim+ f (x), where f (x) =

x0

lim

x1

lim

|x1|
x1

x2

x+2
|x+2|

x2 ,
x + 1,

x<0
x0

1
x+1 ,

a=1

2.1 Limits

37

17. lim f (x), where f (x) is defined in question 16.

x0

18. lim+ g(x), where g(x) =

x1

(x 1)2 , x > 1
(x 1)3 , x < 1

19. lim g(x), where g(x) is defined in question 18.

x1

20. (a)
(c)

lim

x2+

(d)

lim h(x)

(d)
(g)

lim f (x)

(e)

(d)
(g)

(b)

lim f (x)

(e)

lim f (x)

(h)

x1

x2+

(d)
(g)

(b)

lim f (x)

(e)

lim f (x)

(h)

x2

x2

(d)
(g)

x2 +x+2
x1

(b)

lim f (x)

(e)

lim f (x)

(h)

x1+

x2 +x2
x1

(b)

lim f (x)

(e)

x1

lim f (x)

(c)

lim f (x)

(f)

lim f (x)

x2+

lim f (x)

lim f (x)

x1

(c)

lim f (x)

(f)

lim f (x)

(i)

x2
x

lim f (x)

x1+

lim f (x)

x2

lim f (x)

lim f (x)

x1

lim f (x)

x3+

lim f (x)

(c)
(f)
(i)

lim f (x)

x3

lim f (x)

x3

lim f (x)

lim f (x)

(c)

lim f (x)

(f)

lim |f (x) (x + 2)|

(i)

x2
x1
x

lim f (x)

x1

lim f (x)

lim |f (x) (x + 2)|

find the following limits if they exist.

lim f (x)

x0

lim f (x)

x1

find the following limits if they exist.

lim f (x)

x0

lim h(x)

x2

find the following limits if they exist.

lim f (x)

x0

25. If f (x) =
(a)

x1
x2 +x6

h(x)h(2)
x2

find the following limits if they exist.

lim f (x)

x0

24. If f (x) =
(a)

x1
x2 +x2

lim

x2

find the following limits if they exist.

(b)

x2

(b)
(d)

lim f (x)

23. If f (x) =
(a)

x+1
x2 +x1

x0

22. If f (x) =
(a)

, where h(x) = x + |x 2|

x2+

21. If f (x) =
(a)

h(x)h(2)
x2

lim f (x)

x1

lim f (x)

x2

(c)
(f)

lim f (x)

x1+

lim f (x)

x+

38

Limits and Continuity

x2 +x6
x1

26. If f (x) =
(a)

find the following limits if they exist.

lim f (x)

(b)

lim f (x)

(e)

lim f (x)

(h)

x0

(d)

x2

(g)

lim f (x)

(c)

lim f (x)

(f)

lim f (x)

(i)

x1

x1+

lim f (x)

x3

lim f (x)

x1

lim |f (x) x 2|

Find the following limits if they exist.

27.

lim 5x1
x+ x+4

28.

29.

lim 2x+5
2
x+ x +1

30.

2
lim x 2+3x+7
x+ 3x 2x1

lim

x+

31.
33.

x2 +6
x+6

lim

x+

32.

x+

34.

x
x2 x2

36. lim

2x2 3x+4
x+4
x+

lim

x2
x3 9x

35. lim

x1+

x+1
x2 1

38. lim

x+1
x2 1

40. lim

1
x

x1

39. lim
x3

41. lim

x3

9x2
x3

1
x3

x2 6
x+6

lim

2x2
x+ 3x+5

lim

37. lim

2x2 +4x1
x3 +4



x0

2
x2 9

1
x2

In problems 42 to 47 sketch the graph of the given function. Find the left and right hand limits at each
of the given values of x, if they exist. Find the limits at the given values of x if they exist. Does the limit
equal the value of the function at the number in question? Is the function continuous at the given values of
x?

x + 6 if x 3,
42. (a) f (x) =
at x = 3; x = 1.
x if x > 3;

3x + 4 if x < 1,
(b) f (x) =
at x = 1; x = 0.
x if x 1;
43. (a)
(b)

44. (a)
(b)

f (x) =

x2 if x < 1,
2x if x 1;

at x = 1; x = 0.

f (x) =

x3 if x < 2,
8 if x > 2;

at x = 2; x = 4.

f (x) =

x3 if x < 2,
0 if x > 2;

at x = 2.

f (x) =

x if x < 0,
1
if x > 0;
x

at x = 0.

2.1 Limits

39

45. (a)

f (x) =

(b)

f (x) =

x if x 0,
x if x < 0;

at x = 0.

46. (a)

f (x) =

x4
x2 6

at x = 2.

(b)

f (x) =

x/3 if x < 2,
x2 /6 if x 2;

47. (a)

(b)

48. (a)

(b)

x + 1 if x < 1,
x 1 if x > 1;

at x = 1, 0.

if x 2,
if x > 2;

x x 6 if x 6= 3,
x3
f (x) =

5 if x = 3;

x 2 if x 6= 2,
f (x) =
|x 2|

0 if x = 2;

2x 6 if x 6= 4,
|x 4|
f (x) =

1 if x = 4;
2
x 6 if x < 1,
5 if 1 x 10,
f (x) =

x 15 if x > 10;

at x = 2, 0.

at x = 3.

at x = 2, 0.

at x = 4.

at x = 1, 10.

In problems 49 to 62, sketch the graphs of each of the functions defined and determine if each is continuous
at the given value c. (Hint: Use definition of continuity of a function at a point.)
49.

50.

f (x) =

f (x) =

3
x2 ,

1
,
x+4

x 6= 4

0,

x = 4

51.

52.
53.

54.
55.
56.

at c = 2.

x 3x + 2 ,
x1
f (x) =

5,
f (x) =

x 6= 1

3x 1,

at c = 1/3.

f (x) =

2x + 1,
x + 4,

x1
x>1

2x + 1,

f (x) =

x2

x + 4,

x>2

f (x) = |x 2|,
f (x) =

|x 2|,
1,

at c = 1.

x>1

at c = 4.

at c = 1.

at c = 2.
at c = 2,

x 6= 2
x=2

at c = 2.

40

57.

58.

Limits and Continuity

x 9,
x+3
f (x) =

3,

x 4,
x2
f (x) =

4,

59.

f (x) =

60.

f (x) =

x 6= 3

at c = 3.

x = 3
x 6= 2

at c = 2.

x=2

x,

at c = 1.

x 1,

at c = 1.

x4
,
x2 16

x 6= 4

61.

f (x) =

62.

x + 2, x 1,
x2 , 1 < x < 1,
f (x) =

3x + 1, x 1,

f (4) = 1/8,

f (4) = 0,

at c = 4, 4.

at c = 1, 1.

Evaluate the following limits.

63.

(a)
(c)
(e)

64.

66.

(b)

lim sin 2x
x0 sin 3x

(d)

sin2 x
x2

(f)

lim

x0

3x2
lim sin
2
3
x0 x +x

(a)

(b)

lim sin x
x1 sin 3x
x0

lim

sin2 x
x

x0

lim

tan x
x

lim

sin(1x)
1x2

x1

1sin x
1x

(d)

(a)

lim xsin x
x0 x+sin x

(b)

(c)

2
lim 2cos x 2
x0 sin x+cos x

(d)

sin x
x

(b)

cos x
lim 1+sin
x
x
2

(d)

lim 1cos x
x0 x sin x

(c)
65.

sin 2x
x

lim

x0

lim

x0

(a)

lim

x2

(c)

lim

x
2

1sin x
cos x

Evaluate the following limits

67. lim x2 + 1
x1

69. lim

x2

x2 2
x2

71. lim

x1

2 +2x+1
x
x+1

lim sin x
x0 1+cos x
x0

lim

1cos x
sin x

lim

1cos x
x2

x0

68. lim

x1

70. lim

x2

x2 1
x+1

3

x2 +x6
x2

2

72. lim sin(x2 1)

x1

2.2 Numerical Introduction to Limits

41

73. lim sin2 (x)

74. lim cos

x5

75. lim log10

x

x0

x+1
x


77. lim log2 1 +
x0

sin x
x

76. lim log2

xa

2
x3

79. lim log10

sin x
x

x2 a2
x+a

h

i
1
78. lim log2 (8x 1) + log2 x4
x

80. lim log10 (tan x)

x 4



81. lim log10 (x2 1) log10 (x 1)

82. lim log10 (10x )

83. lim log2 (2x+1 )

84. lim log3 (3x

x1

x0

x1

85. (a)

(b) lim 2x

lim log x

(d) lim log x

lim 2sin x

(b) lim 2tan x

1
x

(d) lim 2 x2

lim 2

lim (1 2x )

87. (a)

(b) lim log2 (1 + 2x )

x0

x0

(d) lim log2 (1 2x )

lim (1 2 )

(c)

(c)

2.2

lim 2x

x0

86. (a)

x2

(c)

Numerical Introduction to Limits

In this section we will look at the behaviour of a function near but not at a particular number which may
or may not be in its domain. By observing the values of f (x) for specific values of x near to the point in
question we can usually get a good idea of what the limit of f at that point may be. But no amount of
numerical data can provide a proof that the limit is a specific number.
Example:

Study the behaviour of g(x) = (x3 2x2 )/(x 2) near x = 2.

Solution: g(x) =

x3 2x2
x2 (x 2)
=
.
x2
(x 2)

Observe that the only difference between g and x2 is that g(x) is not defined at x = 2 (g(2) =
real number!). 2 is not in the domain of g

x
1.9
1.99
1.999

g(x)
3.61
3.9601
3.996001

x
2.1
2.01
2.001

0
0

is not a

g(x)
4.41
4.041
4.004001

Conclusion: From the given data we guess the limit is 4 even though g(x) is not defined at x = 2.
For the given function, f , and number b in problems 88 to 108 answer the following questions.

42

Limits and Continuity

(a) Choose a sequence of values of x near b that approach b from the left. Use these values of x to compute
a table of values for f (x). Next choose a sequence of values of x that approach b from the right and
compute another table of values of f (x). On the basis of the information given in both tables guess
which of the following statements are true:
(i) the function has a limit.
(ii) the function has a right hand limit.
(iii) the function has a left hand limit.
(iv) the function has no limit.
Guess the values of the limits you think exist.
(b) If the lim f (x) exists prove that it does.
xb

88. f (x) =

1
1x ;

89. f (x) = 1

b = 1.

|x|
x ;

b = 0.

90. f (x) =

1
1|x| ;

b = 1.

91. f (x) =

3
x

b = 3.

92. f (x) =

4x2
2x ;

b = 2.

93. f (x) =

x+x6
x+3 ;

b = 3.

94. f (x) =

x3 +2x2 x2
;
x+2

b = 2.

95. f (x) =

x3 16x
x2 +4x ;

b = 0.

96. f (x) =

x9 ;
x3

b = 9.

97. f (x) =

cos x1
;
x

b = 0.

+ 1;

98. f (x) = (1 + x) x ;

b = 0.

99. f (x) = 2 x2 + 1;

b = 0.

100. f (x) = sin 2x

; b = 0. Those people whose last names begin with AM use x = 1/2, 1/4, 1/6, . . .
to compute a table of f values. All others use x = 1/3, 1/5, 1/7, 1/9 . . ..

101. f (x) =

cos x1
;
x2


102. f (x) = cos x 1
103. f (x) =

b = 0.
x2
2

x4
12

x+1sin(x+1)
;
(x+1)3

104. f (x) = (sin x x x3 /6)/x5 ;

105. f (x) =

tan xx
tan x+x ;

/x6 ;

b = 0.
b = 1.
b = 0.
b = 0.

2.2 Numerical Introduction to Limits

106. f (x) =

22 cos x
;
|x|

43

b = 0.

107. Let h and g be two functions and b R.

Evaluate: lim

xb


h(x) h(b) (x b)h0 (b) g 00 (b)

.
g(x) g(b) (x b)g 0 (b) h00 (b)
1

108. f (x) = (1 + sin x) x ;

b = 0.
1

109. f (x) = (cos x sin x) x ;

b = 0.

110. f (x) = arctan x1 ;

b = 0.

sin x
x

111. f (x) = cos

b = 0.

112. f (x) =

sin 3x
2x ;

b = 0.

113. f (x) =

x3 +8
x+2 ;

b = 2.

114. f (x) =

2x 1
x ;

b = 0.

115. f (x) =

sin xsin
;
x

b = .

116. f (x) =

2(2x1 1)
;
x1

b = 1.

117. f (x) =

1x
x(1x) ;

b = 1.

118. f (x) =

xsin x
xtan x ;

b = 0.

119. f (x) =

tan x
x ;

b = 0.

120. f (x) =

ex 1x
cos 2x1 ;

b = 0.

121. f (x) =

ln xsin(x1)
;
(x1)2

b = 1.

122. f (x) =

ln(sin x)
(2x)2 ;

b=

123. f (x) =

ln(x/7)
7x ;

b = 7.

124. f (x) =

x
ln x

b = 1.

125. f (x) =

x1
ln x ;

b = 1.

126. f (x) =

x1
;
x+245

b = 1.

127. f (x) =

x2 +|x2|4
;
|x2|

b = 2.

128. f (x) =

1+x
1x

1
x ln x ;

 x1

2.

b = 0.