Limits of Piecewise-Defined Functions
Quick Overview
If x is approaching one of the transition points of the function, then you
have to check both one-sided limits.
Example 1
Determine lim f (x), if f is defined as below.
x→4
2x + 3, x < 4
f (x) =
5x − 9, x ≥ 4
Solution
Step 1) Evaluate the one-sided limits.
lim f (x) = lim (2x + 3) = 2(4) + 3 = 11
x→4− x→4−
lim f (x) = lim+ (5x − 9) = 5(4) − 9 = 11
x→4+ x→4
Step 2) If the one-sided limits are the same, the limit exists.
Answer: lim f (x) = 11 when f is defined as above.
x→4
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f (x)
15
13
11
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9
1 x
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15
Graph for Example 1
Example 2
Evaluate lim f (x) when f is defined as follows.
x→0
2
x
√ + 4, x < 0
f (x) =
x, x≥0
Solution:
Step 1) Examine the one-sided limits.
lim f (x) = lim− (x2 + 4) = (0)2 + 4 = 4
x→0− x→0
√ √
lim+ f (x) = lim+ x= 0=0
x→0 x→0
Step 2 If the one-sided limits are different, the limit doesn’t exist.
Answer: lim f (x) doesn’t exist when f is defined as above.
x→0
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f (x)
13
11
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9
1 x
-5 -3 -1 1 3 5
Graph for Example 2
Example 3
Suppose f is defined as below. Determine the value of b so that lim f (x)
x→5
exists.
(
2x − 3, x < 5
f (x) = 2
3 x + b, x ≥ 5
Solution
Step 1) Evaluate both one-sided limits.
lim f (x) = lim− (2x − 3) = 2(5) − 3 = 7
x→5− x→5
2 2(5) 10
lim f (x) = lim x+b = +b= +b
x→5+ x→5+ 3 3 3
Step 2) Set the two limits equal to each other and solve.
10
+b=7
3
10
b=7−
3
11
b=
3
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11
Answer: b = 3
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Questions
Question 1 Evaluate lim f (x) when f is defined as follows.
x→2
( 3
2 x + 7, x < 2
f (x) =
3x + 4, x ≥ 2
Question 2 Evaluate lim f (x) when f is defined as follows.
x→4
sin π8 x , x < 4
(
f (x) =
1
4 x, x≥4
Question 3 Evaluate lim f (x) when f is defined as follows.
x→1
(x − 2)2 , x < 1
(
f (x) = 1
x−1 x≥1
Question 4 Evaluate lim f (x) when f is defined as below.
x→−5
( 3
5 x + 2, x < −5
f (x) =
2x + 38 , x ≥ −5
Question 5 Determine the value of b so that lim f (x) exists when f is defined
x→−6
as below.
x2 + b,
(
x < −6
f (x) = 1
2x + 9, x ≥ −6
Question 6 Determine the value of m so that lim f (x) exists, when f is defined
x→3
as follows.
2x + 7, x < 3
f (x) =
mx − 4, x ≥ 3
Question 7 Determine the value(s) of m and b so lim f (x) = 10 when f is
x→4
defined as below.
mx + 2b, x<4
f (x) =
5x + b, x≥4
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Answers
Question 1 Solution
Step 1) Examine the one-sided limits.
3 3
lim f (x) = lim x+7 = (2) + 7 = 3 + 7 = 10
x→2− x→2− 2 2
lim f (x) = lim (3x + 4) = 3(2) + 4 = 10
x→2+ x→2+
Step 2) If the one-sided limits are the same, the limit exists.
Answer: lim f (x) = 10 when f is defined as above.
x→2
Question 2 Solution
Step 1) Examine both one-sided limits.
π
4π π
lim− f (x) = lim− sin x = sin = sin =1
x→4 x→4 8 8 2
1 4
lim f (x) = lim x= =1
x→4+ x→4+ 4 4
Step 2) If the one-sided limits agree, the limit exists.
Answer: lim f (x) = 1 when f is defined as above.
x→4
Question 3 Solution
Step 1) Examine both one-sided limits.
lim f (x) = lim− (x − 2)2 = (1 − 2)2 = 1
x→1− x→1
1 1
lim f (x) = lim+ = Division by zero!
x→1+ x→1 x−1 0
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Step 2 If one of the one-sided limits doesn’t exist, the limit doesn’t exist.
Answer: lim f (x) does not exist when f is defined as above.
x→1
Question 4 Solution
Step 1) Examine the one-sided limits.
3 3(5)
lim f (x) = lim x + 2) = +2=5
x→−5− x→−5− 5 5
8 8 22
lim f (x) = lim 2x + = 2(−5) + =−
x→−5+ x→−5+ 3 3 3
Step 2) If the one-sided limits don’t agree, the limit does not exist.
Answer lim f (x) does not exist when f is defined as above.
x→−5
Question 5 Solution:
Step 1) Evaluate both one-sided limits.
lim f (x) = lim (x2 + b) = (−6)2 + b = 36 + b
x→−6− x→−6−
1 −6
lim f (x) = lim x+9 = + 9 = −3 + 9 = 6
x→−6+ x→−6+ 2 2
Step 2) Set the two one-side limits equal to each other, and solve.
36 + b = 6
b = −30
Answer b = −30
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Question 6 Solution
Step 1) Evaluate both one-sided limits
lim f (x) = lim+ (2x + 7) = 2(3) + 7 = 13
x→3− x→3
lim f (x) = lim+ (mx − 4) = 3m − 4
x→3+ x→3
Step 2) Equate the two limits and solve.
3m − 4 = 13
3m = 17
17
m=
3
17
Answer m = 3
Question 7 Solution
Step 1) Evaluate both one-sided limits.
lim f (x) = lim− (mx + 2b) = 4m + 2b
x→4− x→4
lim f (x) = lim+ (5x + b) = 20 + b
x→4+ x→4
Step 2) Since both limits must equal 10, set up the system of equations and
solve.
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4m + 2b = 10
20 + b = 10
4m + 2b = 10
b = −10 Solve for b in the second equation.
4m + 2(−10) = 10 Substitute the value of b into the other equation.
4m − 20 = 10
4m = 30
30
m=
4
15
m=
2
15
Answer m = 2 and b = −10
Author: HT Goodwill
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