Unit 5: “Limits and continuity” Mathematics applied to Social Science II

Unit 5: LIMITS AND CONTINUITY

Functions
A function f, is a relation between two sets with the property that each element in the first set
is related to exactly one element in the second set.

A real-valued or real function is a function whose sets are the Real Numbers:
f : A  
x  y

The domain of a function is the subset of the initial set of the elements that have an image.

A  dom f  x  / f (x)  

The range or image is the subset of the final set (or codomain) of the elements that are images
of an element of the domain.
r g f  Im f  y / x  y  f ( x )

Mathematics Department IES “Juan de Padilla” – Illescas (Toledo)

Unit 5: “Limits and continuity” Mathematics applied to Social Science II

Example 1:

it is not a function

Example 2:

Domain = R Range = [-3,3]

Example 3: Whole number portion function

Domain = R Range = Z

Exercise: Decide if the following relations are functions or not, and if they are, find their
domain and range:

a) b) c)

Solutions:

a) it's a function, dom = [-1,2]U[3,5)U(5,8], range = [0,5] 2

b) it's a function, dom = range = R c) it is not a function

Mathematics Department IES “Juan de Padilla” – Illescas (Toledo)

Unit 5: “Limits and continuity” Mathematics applied to Social Science II

operations with functions

We define the addition, subtraction, multiplication and division of functions as:

· (f ± g)(x) = f(x) ± g(x)

· (f · g)(x) = f(x) · g(x)

· (f/g) (x) = f(x)/g(x) (if g(x)≠0)

Example: if f(x) = x2 -2 and g(x) = 3x + 2, then:

· (f + g)(x) = f(x) + g(x) = x2 + 3x

· (f - g)(x) = f(x) - g(x) = x2 – 3x - 4

· (f · g)(x) = f(x) · g(x) = 3x3 + 2x2 – 6x - 4

· (f/g) (x) = f(x)/g(x) = (x2 -2)/(3x + 2), if x ≠ -2/3

Function composition is the application of one function to the results of another. It is

represented by g°f, and we say “f composed with g”: g°f(x) = g(f(x)) (if f(x)Є Dom g)

Example: if f(x) = x + 1; g(x) = x2, then:

g°f(x) = g(f(x)) = g(x + 1) = (x + 1)2 = x2 + 2x +1 f°g(x) = f(g(x)) = f(x2) = x2 + 1

NOTE: As you can see, the function composition doesn’t follow the commutative property:

g°f ≠ f°g

An inverse function of f is a function that undoes another function, that is, it is a function f-1
such that f °f-1(x) = f-1° f (x) = i(x) = x

Example 1: if f(x) = x2, then f-1(x) = √x, because

f°f-1(x) = f(√x) = (√x)2= x f-1 °f (x) = f-1(x2) = √x2 = x

Example 2: if f(x) = 1/x, then f-1(x) = 1/x, because

3
-1 -1 -1
f˚ f (x) = f(1/x) = 1/(1/x)= x f ˚f (x) = f (1/x) = 1/(1/x)= x

Mathematics Department IES “Juan de Padilla” – Illescas (Toledo)

Unit 5: “Limits and continuity” Mathematics applied to Social Science II

Example 3: find the inverse function of f(x) = √(2x)

x = √(2y) → x2 = 2y → y = f-1(x) = x2/2

NOTE: inverse functions are symmetric and their axis of symmetry is the line: y = x

Exercise:

if f ( x )  x  3 a n d g ( x )  x  1, c a lc u la te :
2

a) 3 f  2g
b)g· f
c)g f
1
d)f g
1
e) g

x  3  2x  2
2
a )3

b )  x  1 x3
2

Solutions: c ) x  2
d )x  2x  2
4 2

e) x 1

Limit of a function
The limit of function f as x approaches c is L if f(x) can be made to be as close to L as desired
by making x sufficiently close to c:

lim f ( x )  L     0   0 /
x c

/ if 0  x  c    f (x)  L  

Or:  a n  c / lim a n  c , th e n lim f ( a n )  L

n  n 

Example: lim x  4 because:

2

x 2

Mathematics Department IES “Juan de Padilla” – Illescas (Toledo)

 Unit 5: “Limits and continuity” Mathematics applied to Social Science II

You can’t always find the same limit when you approach from both sides, that’s why we define
the lateral or one-side limits:

–The limit of a function f as x approaches a from the left is L- if f(x) can be made to be as close
to L- as desired by making x sufficiently close to a from below:
 
lim f ( x )  L     0    0 / if x  ( a   , a )  f ( x)  L  

x a

–The limit of a function f as x approaches a from the right is L+ if f(x) can be made to be as
close to L+ as desired by making x sufficiently close to a from above:
 
lim f ( x )  L     0    0 / if x  ( a , a   )  f (x)  L  

x a

x if x  0
2

lim f ( x )  lim x  0  lim f ( x )  lim 1  1

2
For example: f (x)      
x 0 x 0 x 0 x 0
1 if x  0

Then, the function has a limit on a if and only if the one-side limits exist and are equal:
lim f ( x )  L  lim f ( x )  lim f ( x )  L
 
x a x a x a

In the example  lim f ( x )

x 0

Other definitions:
x  N 
lim f (x)  L    0  N  0 / if   f (x)  L  
x  N 
x 

 f (x)  M
lim f ( x )      M  0    0 / if 0  x  a    
 f (x)   M
x a

x  N   f (x)  M
lim f (x)    M  0  N  0 / if   
x  N   f (x)   M
x 

NOTE: Remember that when

lim f ( x )    o r lim f ( x )    o r lim f ( x )    we have a vertical asymptote

 
x a x a x a

Properties:
1) lim ( f  g )  lim f  lim g 2 ) lim ( f · g )  lim f ·lim g
x a x a x a x a x a x a

f lim f
x a
3 ) lim  if lim g ( x )  0
x a g lim g x a
x a

 
li m g
x a
f )  L if lim f ( x )  L 0 a n d lim g ( x )  L  lim f
g
4 ) lim ( g fo r e x a m p le : lim ( f )
x a x a x  L0 x a x a

5) If the limit exists, it is unique.

Mathematics Department IES “Juan de Padilla” – Illescas (Toledo)

Unit 5: “Limits and continuity” Mathematics applied to Social Science II

Exercise: calculate the limit of f as x approaches 0 and 2, if:

x 1 x  0
2
if

x5
f (x)   if 0  x  2
 5
x2  5x  7 if x  2


3
Solutions: lim f ( x )   1  lim f ( x ) b e c a u s e   lim f ( x )  lim f ( x )  1
 
x 0 x 2 5 x 2 x 2

Limits calculation
x  7 2
3 4
x
Examples: lim   lim   lim  0
2 x 3
2
x  3 x  x 

NOTE: remember that:  

 ;  ; if b  0
b b
 
 ;  ; if b  0
b b
a  0
 ;  ;  0
0 0 

In infinite limits with polynomial functions, the limit is always ±∞ depending on the sign of the
coefficient of the greatest degree term:

lim ( x  7 0 0 0 n )   lim (  x  3 0 0 0 x )   
3 7 3

x  x 

Undetermined forms of limits are the limits that are different depending on the situation.
They are:  0 
´ ,    , 0 · ,  ,1 , 0
0 0

 0

Infinite limits with rational functions always have an undetermined form of limit, which we
have to solve by dividing by x to the highest power:

2
3x 7 7
 3
3x  7 30
2
2 2 2
x x x
lim  lim  lim   3
x
2
x 1 1
2
x  x  n 
 0 if k  l
kx
2
k 1 
a k x  a k 1 x  ...  a 1 x  a 0  ak
lim   if k  l
In the end: x  bl x  bl 1 x
l l 1
 ...  b1 x  b 0 b
 l

   if k  l


x  2x
2
1 3
If we have irrational functions: lim  
x  2
3
3x 3

We can find an undetermined form of limit if we subtract square roots, then we have to use 6
the conjugate to solve it:

Mathematics Department IES “Juan de Padilla” – Illescas (Toledo)

 Unit 5: “Limits and continuity” Mathematics applied to Social Science II

x  10 x  x  5x  7 x  10 x  x  5x  7 x  10 x  x  5x  7
4 4 2 4 4 2 4 4 2

lim  lim · 
x  x 
x  10 x  x  5x  7
4 4 2
5 5

x  10 x   x  5 x  7 
4 4 2
5 x  10 x  7
2
5 1
 lim  lim  
x 
5·  x  10 x 
4
x  5x  7
4 2
 x 
5·  x  10 x 
4
x  5x  7
4 2
 10 2

If a is -∞, then we change: lim f ( x )  lim f (  x )

x  x 

x 1 x 1
3 3

For example: lim  lim  

x 1 x 1
2 2
x  x 

When a is not infinite, we can find other undetermined forms of limit:

 x  1  x  1
2
x  2x 1
2
0 0
lim   lim  lim   0
x 1  x  1 · x  1   x  1
2
x1 0 x1 x1 2

Other examples: x   1 if x  0
1)  lim f ( x ) w h e n f ( x )   
 1 if x  0
x 0 x

2 ) lim ( x  5 )  3 0
2

x 5

 1 1
 
1  lim 
2 x
 20  2  0
x 0
3 )  lim 2 x
b ecau se 
x 0 1 1
  
lim 2 x  2 0  2  
 x  0
If the limit has powers, remember the property:

 
lim g ( x )
x 
 lim f ( x )
g (x)
lim ( f ( x ))
x  x 
1 2
0 3x x  2x 

Examples:  7x  5  2x
7   x 1  1    x 2  1 
lim      =1 lim      =2   lim      =0
x 
 2x   2 x 
 2x  3   2 x 
 7 x  11  7 

Number e is the limit:

f (x)
 1  ∞
e  lim  1   which is used in the undetermined form of limit 1
x 
 f (x) 

Example:
4 x5 4 x5 4 x5
 3x  2    3x  2   3x  2  3x  7 
lim   1  lim  1   1  lim  1   
x 
 3x  7  x 
 3x  7  x 
 3x  7 
9
lim · 4 x  5 
3x7 9 3x7
· · 4 x  5    x  3x7
  9 3x7
   9

4 x5
  9  1    1   12 1
 lim  1    lim  1    lim  1    e 
x 
 3x  7  x  3x  7  x  3x  7  e
12
     
Exercise: calculate:  9   9 
 

x 3
3
3x
a ) lim  b ) lim 
8x  5x  3 2x  8
2 3
x  x 

3x

 x 5
2

 
2

x 3  x  
2
c ) lim d ) lim  2 
 x 3
x  x  7

x  x  5x  3
3 2

e ) lim 
x  2x  2x 1
4 3
x 1

Mathematics Department IES “Juan de Padilla” – Illescas (Toledo)

Unit 5: “Limits and continuity” Mathematics applied to Social Science II

Solutions: a) 0; b) 1/2; c) 0; d) 1; e) -∞

Continuity
A function f, defined in an open interval centered at a, is said to be continuous in x = a if:
1)  f ( a )
2 )  lim f ( x )
x a

3 ) lim f ( x )  f ( a )
x a

Or:

  0    0 / if xc    f ( x )  f (c )  

Otherwise, it is said that f is discontinuous.

Example:

  1 if x   2

f (x)   x if  2  x  0
 2 f is continuous in R-{-2}
 x  x if x  0
Properties: If f and g are continuous in a and k Є R

- k·f is continuous in a

- f±g is continuous in a

- f·g is continuous in a

- f/g is continuous in a, if g(a)≠0

- If f is continuous in a and g in f(a) →g˚f is continuous in a

Exercises:
 1
if x  0
 1
1.- Is the function f (x)   continuous in x = 0?
1 ex

0 if x  0

 a x -2 x  2
2
if

2.- Let the function f (x)  a if  2  x  2
x if x  2

a) Find the value of a to do f continuous in x = -2
b) For that value of a, is the function continuous in x = 2?
8
Solutions: 1.- Yes; 2.- a) a = 2/3; b) No

Mathematics Department IES “Juan de Padilla” – Illescas (Toledo)

Unit 5: “Limits and continuity” Mathematics applied to Social Science II

Discontinuities
There are different kinds of discontinuities:

–Removable discontinuity: if the limit exists and it is not equal to f(a).

Example 1:

f has a removable discontinuity in x = 1

–Jump discontinuity: when the lateral limits exist and they are not equal. The jump can be
finite or infinite.

Example 2:

f has a jump discontinuity in x = 1, with jump 1.

 8
 if x  0
f (x)   x
Example 3:
0 if x  0


f has an infinity jump discontinuity in x = 0

–Essential discontinuity: when one of the lateral limits does not exist. 9

Mathematics Department IES “Juan de Padilla” – Illescas (Toledo)

Unit 5: “Limits and continuity” Mathematics applied to Social Science II

Example 4:

 lim f ( x )

x1

Exercises:

1.- Study the continuity of these functions and classify their discontinuities if they have them:
e x  1
x
if
1  x x  1
2
if

 4 
a) f (x)   1  x  1 b)g (x)  3x -12 x  9 1 x  3
2
if if
x3 
2 x  16 x - 30 x  3
2
if
 1  ln x if x 1 


 x  a x  a - 1 if x  2
2

2.- Study the continuity of this function depending on the parameter a: f (x)  
 ln ( x  1) if x  2

Solutions:

1.- a) f is continuous in R-{-1}, in x = -1 f has a jump discontinuity with jump (e - 2); b) g is

continuous in R

2.- if a = -1, f is continuous in R

- if a ≠ -1, f is continuous in R-{2}, in x = 2 f has a jump discontinuity with jump (3 + 3a)

Exam
1.- If f(x) = √x and g(x) = x2 - 5x - 1, then g°f equals:

a) x - 5√x - 1
b) √(x2 - 5x - 1)
c) (x2 - 5x - 1)√x
d) None of them

2.- If f(x)= √(x + 3), then f-1(x) equals:

a) x2 + 3 10
b) x2
c) x2 -3

Mathematics Department IES “Juan de Padilla” – Illescas (Toledo)

Unit 5: “Limits and continuity” Mathematics applied to Social Science II

d) it doesn't exist

x  7 if x  0

3.- The limit of f as x approaches 0, if f (x)  0 if x  0 , is:
 2
x  5x  7 if x  0

a) 7
b) 0
c) 5
d) it doesn't exist

x  6x  9x
3 2

4.- lim 
x  10 x  36 x  54 x  27
4 3 2
x 3

a) ∞
b) -∞
c) 7
d) 1

x  x7
5.- lim 
x  3

a) 7
b) -1
c) 0
d) ∞

2
3 x
 x 7 
2

6.- lim  2  
x 
 x 

a) e-3/7
b) e
c) 0
d) e-21

11

Mathematics Department IES “Juan de Padilla” – Illescas (Toledo)

Unit 5: “Limits and continuity” Mathematics applied to Social Science II

7.- Determine the value of a and b to do continuous the function:

2 x  a if x  0

f (x)   x -1 if 0  x  2
bx  5 if x  2


a) a = 1; b = 3
b) a = 3; b = 1
c) a = 1; b = -3
d) a = -3; b = -1


 x2
3
if x  2
8.- Study the continuity of the function: f (x)  
x x - 2
 if x  2

a) f is continuous in R-{2}. In x = 2 f has a jump discontinuity with jump 2

b) f is continuous in R-{2}. In x = 2 f has a removable discontinuity
c) f is continuous in R-{2}. In x = 2 f has a jump discontinuity with jump 1
d) f is continuous in R
 x  25
2

 if x  5
9.- Study the continuity of the function f (x)   x  5
0 if x  5

a) f is continuous in R
b) f is continuous in R-{5}. In x = 5 f has a removable discontinuity
c) f is continuous in R-{5}. In x = 5 f has a jump discontinuity with jump 10
d) f is continuous in R-{5}. In x = 5 f has a jump discontinuity with jump 5

x  2
10.- Let f ( x )  . Which of these sentences is true?
x 4

a) f is continuous in R-{4}
b) f doesn't exist in x = 4
c) f is continuous in its domain
d) All of them

12

Mathematics Department IES “Juan de Padilla” – Illescas (Toledo)

Unit 5: “Limits and continuity” Mathematics applied to Social Science II

Vocabulary
- Real-valued or real function: función real de variable real

- Domain: dominio

- Range or image: Rango o recorrido

- Function composition: composición de funciones

- Inverse function: función inversa

- Limit of a function f as x approaches a: límite de una función f cuando x tiende a a

- Limit of a function f as x approaches a from the left: límite por la izquierda de una función f
cuando x tiende a a

- Limit of a function f as x approaches a from the right: límite por la derecha de una función f
cuando x tiende a a

- Asymptote: asíntota

- Undetermined form of limit: límite indeterminado o indeterminación

- Continuity: continuidad

- Continuous: continua

- Open interval centered at a: entorno de centro a

- Discontinuous: discontinua

- Discontinuities: discontinuidades

- Removable discontinuity: discontinuidad evitable

- Jump discontinuity: discontinuidad de 1ª especie o con salto

- Essential discontinuity: discontinuidad de 2ª especie

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Mathematics Department IES “Juan de Padilla” – Illescas (Toledo)

Unit 5: “Limits and continuity” Mathematics applied to Social Science II

The end

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Mathematics Department IES “Juan de Padilla” – Illescas (Toledo)