Chapter 1

Limits
lim x 1
2

x 2

This question is read, what is the _____________ of ___________? as x _________________ 2?

In other words, as we plug numbers into x that get ______________________ and __________________ to
2, what value, if any, does the value of x2 1 approach?

A limit exists, has an number answer, (at x = a) if:

1.
2.
3.

Pluggin In:

Another way of answering a limit problem is to look at the graph.

Chapter 1

lim
x 1

lim
x -1

lim
x 1
lim
x -1

lim
x 1
lim
x -1
lim
x -1-

Reasons limits do not exist (D N E)

1.

2.

3.

NOTE: Regardless the method, a limit exists only if the expression approaches A __________________, not
_________ numbers, and not_______________, not even a sckillion.
A limit is a number or the limit does not exists. (DNE)

Homework
Page 54 2, 4, 7, 8, 9 18

Chapter 1
x 1
lim 2
x 1 x 1

lim
x 3

x 1 2
x 3

D.S.E
lim

x 1

1
x 1

1
1

lim x 4 4
x 0
x

Methods for solving limits:

1.

6.

2.

7.

3.

8.

4.

9.

5.

10.
Homework
Page 66 49 61 odd

Chapter 1

Properties of limits:
lim kf (x)
x c

lim f (x)g(x)
x c

lim f (x) g(x)

lim f (x)
n

x c

x c

f (x)
lim

x c g(x)

Trig Limits
lim sin(x)

sin(x)
x 0
x

lim

sin(x)
x
2

lim

limsin(x)

3sin(x)
x 0
x

lim 7

lim

Homework
Page 65 27 39 odd

x 0

x 4

Chapter 1
sin(x)
x 0
3x

lim

5
sin(3x)
x 0
3x

tan(x)
x 0
x

lim

lim

1 cos(x)
x 0
x

lim

Homework
Page 66 67 74, 77, 83

lim

x 1

2x
1 x

lim
x 0

1
x

lim

x 2

Homework
Page 33 45 odd

x2
x2 4

Chapter 1

Limits as x
lim

1
x x

lim

3x 4
x x 2 10

lim

lim

4609
x
x

3x 2 4
x x 2 10x

20
x x
lim

3x 3 4
x x 2 10x

lim

lim sin(x)
x

Limits to infinity, with rational functions, really comes down to the _____ _____.

Homework
Page 199 17 31 odd

Limits of Piecewise functions

x2
x
f (x)
x 1 x 2

x 3 x 3
lim 2
x 3
x 3
x

f(3) =
f(1) =
f(2) =

lim f (x)

x 3

lim f (x)

x 2

Homework
Page 76 7 19 odd

x 1
x
lim
x 1 2x 1 x 1

Chapter 1

Continuity
A casual definition of continuity may be: a function is continuous if we can _____________ the
______________ of the function without lifting our ___________ off the ___________________.
Lets work on a more formal definition.

Sketch three different graphs, that have different reasons for being discontinuous at x = 1.

These three graphs represent the ______________ types of discontinuity.

1.

2.

3.

Chapter 1

Find all, if any places of discontinuity. State the x-value and the type of discontinuity. If the discontinuity is
removable, re-express the function to remove that discontinuity.
1. f (x)

x
x 1

2. f (x)

1
x2

3. f (x) x
x 1.5 x 2

x2
x2 4

4. f (x)

Homework
Page 77

37, 43, 45, 47, 57

x
x