Definition of a Limit

Definition of a Limit

𝐿+𝜖

𝐿 
𝜖

𝐿−𝜖

𝛿 𝛿

𝑥0 − 𝛿 𝑥0 𝑥0 + 𝛿

Graphical Representation of a Limit

 Definition of a Limit
Find a value of delta () given epsilon ().
lim 3𝑥 − 1 = 5, 𝜀 = 0.5
𝑥→2

𝑓 𝑥 = 3𝑥 − 1 𝐿=5 𝑥0 = 2

0 < 𝑥 − 𝑥0 < 𝛿 ⟹ 𝑓 𝑥 −𝐿 <𝜀

0< 𝑥−2 <𝛿 ⟹ 3𝑥 − 1 − 5 < 0.5

0< 𝑥−2 <𝛿 ⟹ 3𝑥 − 1 − 5 < 0.5
0< 𝑥−2 <𝛿 ⟹ 3𝑥 − 6 < 0.5
0< 𝑥−2 <𝛿 ⟹ 3(𝑥 − 2) < 0.5
0< 𝑥−2 <𝛿 ⟹ 3 𝑥 − 2 < 0.5
0< 𝑥−2 <𝛿 ⟹ 3 𝑥 − 2 < 0.5
0.5
0< 𝑥−2 <𝛿 ⟹ 𝑥−2 <
3
1
0< 𝑥−2 <𝛿 ⟹ 𝑥−2 <
6
1
𝛿=
6
 Definition of a Limit
Find a value of delta () given epsilon ().
lim 3𝑥 − 1 = 5, 𝜀 = 0.5 𝑓 𝑥 = 3𝑥 − 1 𝐿=5 𝑥0 = 2
𝑥→2
1
𝛿=
6
𝑓 2 =5
1
𝑓(𝑥0 + 𝛿) 𝑓 2+ = 5.5 𝐿+𝜀 5 + 0.5 = 5.5
6

1
𝑓(𝑥0 − 𝛿) 𝑓 2− = 4.5 𝐿−𝜀 5 − 0.5 = 4.5
6
1
𝐼𝑓 𝛿 < , 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝜖 < 0.5
6
𝐿𝑒𝑡 𝛿 = 0.1
𝑓(𝑥0 + 𝛿) 𝑓 2 + 0.1 = 5.3
𝜖 = 0.3 < 0.5
𝑓(𝑥0 − 𝛿) . = 4.7
𝑓 2 − .01
 Definition of a Limit
Prove the following limit.
lim 7𝑥 − 9 = −30
𝑥→−3

𝑓 𝑥 = 7𝑥 − 9 𝐿 = −30 𝑥0 = −3

0 < 𝑥 − 𝑥0 < 𝛿 ⟹ 𝑓 𝑥 −𝐿 <𝜀

0 < 𝑥 − (−3) < 𝛿 ⟹ 7𝑥 − 9 − (−30) < 𝜀

0< 𝑥+3 <𝛿 ⟹ 7𝑥 − 9 + 30 < 𝜀
0< 𝑥+3 <𝛿 ⟹ 7𝑥 + 21 < 𝜀
0< 𝑥+3 <𝛿 ⟹ 7(𝑥 + 3) < 𝜀
0< 𝑥+3 <𝛿 ⟹ 7 𝑥+3 <𝜀
0< 𝑥+3 <𝛿 ⟹ 7 𝑥+3 <𝜀
𝜀 𝜀
0< 𝑥+3 <𝛿 ⟹ 𝑥+3 < 𝛿=
7 7
𝜀
𝐼𝑓 𝜀 > 0, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝛿 < , 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑘𝑒𝑒𝑝 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝐿 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 − 30 + 𝜀 𝑎𝑛𝑑 − 30 − 𝜀.
7
 Definition of a Limit

EXAMPLE.
 Definition of a Limit

EXAMPLE. Let