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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