Chapter One
1. Limit
In this unit, we explain what it means for a function to tend to infinity, to minus infinity, or to a
real limit, as x tends to infinity or to minus infinity. We also explain what it means for a function
to tend to a real limit as x tends to a given real number. In each case, we give an example o f a
function that does not tend to a limit at all.
Limit can be used to describe how a function behaves as the independent variable approaches a certain
value.
1.1. Limit of Function
In this topic, you will use functions such as polynomial, rational, exponential, logarithmic,
absolute value, trigonometric and other piece-wise defined functions in order to introduce
the concept "limit of a function".
We will see different techniques of finding the limit of a function at a point such as cancelling
common factors in rational expressions like
A).Limits of Functions at a Point
Example: Find the limit
Solution
Although the limit in question is the ratio of two polynomials, x = 5 makes both the numerator
and denominator equal to zero. We need to factor both numerator and denominator as shown
below.
Simplify to obtain:
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If f (x) approaches to different numbers as x approaches to xo from the right and
from the left, then we conclude that
The limit of a polynomial function
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1.2.Graphical Interpretation of the Limit of a Function
Consider the following graph of f.
Evaluate the following limits from the graph.
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1.3.One sided Limits
Right Hand Limit
Let f be defined on some open interval (a, c). Suppose f (x) approaches a number L as
x approaches a from the right, then L is said to be the right hand limit of f at x = a.
Left Hand Limit
Let f be defined on some open interval (c, b). Suppose f (x) approaches a number L as
x approaches b from the left. Then L is said to be the left hand limit of f at x = b.
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Example:
Solution:
Example: Evaluate
Solution:
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1.4. Limit Theorems
1.5.Techniques of Limit Calculations
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1.6.Two important Limits
A. Infinite Limits
Example: Evaluate each of the following limits.
Solution: Sketch the graph of f in order to determine each limit at the same time.
If you try to substitute x = 2, the denominator equals 0.
a. . The graph is going up indefinitely.
B. Limits at Infinity
Definition:
Let f be a function and L be a real number.
If f (x) gets closer to L as x increases without bound, then L is said to be the limit of
f (x) as x approaches to infinity.
This statement is expressed symbolically by
For example, consider the sequence where yn= 1/n. The numbers in this sequence get closer and
closer to zero. Whatever positive number we choose,yn will eventually become smaller than that
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number, and stay smaller. So yn eventually gets closer to zero than any distance we choose, and
stays closer. We say that the sequence has limit zero as n tends to infinity.
Example: Evaluate
Solution You apply the technique which are used in evaluating limits of number sequences. i.e. divide the
numerator and denominator by x2 (the highest power monomial).
Example: Evaluate
Solution:
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1.7.Asymptotes
The vertical line x = a is a vertical asymptote to the graph of y = f (x), if one of the following is
true.
a lim𝑥 𝑎− 𝑓(𝑥) = b). lim𝑥 𝑎+ 𝑓(𝑥) =
c). a lim𝑥 𝑎− 𝑓(𝑥) = - d). a lim𝑥 𝑎+ 𝑓(𝑥) = -
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