Limits and Continuity

of a Function
(Module 1)

Mat060
AY 2020-2021 (1st semester)

This material is not for sale and is owned by the Department of Mathematics
and Statistics, College of Science and Mathematics of Mindanao State
University-Iligan Institute of Technology.
Introduction
Module 1 Limits and Continuity of Functions covers
the first part of the syllabus. Specifically, it contains the
following topics:
Outline:

1. Definition of Limits and Limit Theorems

a) Intuitive idea of the limit
b) definition of the limit
c) Proving limits using definition (optional)
d) Limit theorems
2. One-sided Limits, Infinite Limits and Limits at Infinity
3. Continuity of a Function and the Intermediate Value
Theorem
4. The Squeeze Theorem and Limits involving Sine and
Cosine Functions
a) The Squeeze Theorem
Limits involving sine and cosine functions
Objectives:
At the end of this module, you are expected to:
1. Illustrate the intuitive idea of the limit and present its
formal definition

2. Evaluate limits of functions using the important limit

theorems

3. Discuss one-sided limits, infinite limits, and limits at infinity

and demonstrate how these concepts are being used to
evaluate limits of functions

4. Discuss the continuity of a function and identify an

important property of continuous functions as stated in the
Intermediate Value Theorem

5. Evaluate limits of functions using the Squeeze Theorem

6. Evaluate limits involving sine and cosine functions

Department of Mathematics and Statistics, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology

Mat060 Instructors: Labendia, Liwagon, Malacas, Merca, Moncada, Rara,
Torres
LIMITS AND CONTINUITY OF FUNCTIONS

The limit concept is considered to be the most

fundamental concept in calculus. It is used to define
continuity, derivatives and integrals. A limit tells us the value
that a function approaches as its input gets closer and closer
to a certain number. This can be illustrated in the following
discussion.

Intuitive Idea of the Limit

Consider the function defined by . When

, an indeterminate. Let us look at how the

values of the function behaves when gets closer and

closer to . The following table gives the corresponding

values of as approaches the value .

1 3 2.5 4.5
1.5 3.5 2.4 4.4
1.6 3.6 2.3 4.3
1.7 3.7 2.2 4.2
1.8 3.8 2.1 4.1
1.9 3.9 2.01 4.01
1.99 3.99 2.001 4.001
1.999 3.999 2.0001 4.0001

Here, we can see that as gets closer and closer to , the

value of the function gets closer and closer to 4.

Department of Mathematics and Statistics, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology

Mat060 Instructors: Labendia, Liwagon, Malacas, Merca, Moncada, Rara,
Torres
 A “hole” or a skip

Figure 1 Graph of the function

If we say that is the limit of as approaches

the number , it means that the value of can be made
close to by taking close to . In other words, we can
make the absolute difference of and , written
, very small by making the absolute difference of
and or very small. This is formally stated in the
following definition.

Definition. Let be a function which is defined at all on

the open interval containing , except possibly at itself.
The limit of as approaches is , written

if for every , however small, there exists a such

that whenever .

Department of Mathematics and Statistics, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology

Mat060 Instructors: Labendia, Liwagon, Malacas, Merca, Moncada, Rara,
Torres
 The following example illustrates the use of the
definition to prove that the given function has the indicated
limit.

Example1. Prove that the lim(2 x  5)  9 .

x2

Proof. We need to show that for every there exists a

such that (2 x  5)  9 

whenever 0  x  2   .

Now, (2 x  5)  9  2 x  4  2 x  2

Hence, we must show that

2 x  2  whenever 0  x  2  


or equivalently, x2  whenever 0  x  2   .
2
 
Take   . Thus, for every  0 there exists a   such
2 2
that (2 x  5)  9  whenever 0  x  2   .

This proves that lim(2 x  5)  9 .

x2

Limit Theorems
1. If and , then

.
2. If and are constants, then
.

3. If is a constant, then for any real number ,

4. For any real number , .

5. If and , then

Department of Mathematics and Statistics, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology

Mat060 Instructors: Labendia, Liwagon, Malacas, Merca, Moncada, Rara,
Torres
6. If and , then

lim ( f1 ( x )  f 2 ( x ))  lim f1 ( x ). lim f ( x )  L1  L2

x a x a x a

7. If and is any positive integer,

then

8. If , then

provided .
9. If and , ,

then

10. If and are two functions such that

for all
, and if exists, then exists.

Moreover, .

Example Evaluate the following limits.

1.

Solution

2.

Solution

Department of Mathematics and Statistics, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology

Mat060 Instructors: Labendia, Liwagon, Malacas, Merca, Moncada, Rara,
Torres
 is undefined, so apply Theorem 10 above,

3.

Solution

Department of Mathematics and Statistics, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology

Mat060 Instructors: Labendia, Liwagon, Malacas, Merca, Moncada, Rara,
Torres
 4.

Solution

Exercises

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Department of Mathematics and Statistics, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology

Mat060 Instructors: Labendia, Liwagon, Malacas, Merca, Moncada, Rara,
Torres
ONE-SIDED LIMITS

Consider the function

Its graph is shown below

Figure 2 Graph of the function

Notice that as approaches from the left, gets closer

to but when approaches from the right, gets
closer to . In symbols, means that approaches
through values greater than and means that
approaches through values less than . We shall now
define one-sided limits formally.

Definition (Right-Hand Limit)

Let be a function which is defined for every in
some open interval . Then the limit of as
approaches form the right is , written

if for every , however small, there exists a such

that whenever .

Department of Mathematics and Statistics, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology

Mat060 Instructors: Labendia, Liwagon, Malacas, Merca, Moncada, Rara,
Torres
Definition (Left-Hand Limit)
Let be a function which is defined for every in
some open interval . Then the limit of as
approaches from the left is , written

if for every , however small, there exists a such

that whenever .

Remark The limit theorems discussed earlier still hold if

“ ” is replaced by “ ” or “ ”.

The following theorem gives a relationship between the

ordinary limit and the one-sided limits.

Theorem
exists if and only if and both

exist and are equal. Moreover,

Example Evaluate the following limits.

1.

Solution Since approaches 0 from the right, it takes

on positive values, that is, , so

Department of Mathematics and Statistics, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology

Mat060 Instructors: Labendia, Liwagon, Malacas, Merca, Moncada, Rara,
Torres
 2.

Solution

3.

Solution Note that approaches -1 from the left.

That is, takes on negative values, so

. Thus,

4. Given ,

determine if exists.

Solution We need to find the limit of from the left

and from the right and see if they are equal. Now,
lim F ( x )  lim ( 2 x  1)  2 (1)  1  3
x  1 x1

1 2 1 5
lim F ( x )  lim ( x  3 )  (1)  3  
x1 x1 2 2 2

Department of Mathematics and Statistics, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology

Mat060 Instructors: Labendia, Liwagon, Malacas, Merca, Moncada, Rara,
Torres
 Since the left-hand side and right-ha d side limits are
n
not the same, the does not exist.

Exercises
A. Evaluate the following limits.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

B. In problems 1 to 2, find (a) and (b)

. In each case, determine if exists.

1.

2.

C. Given ,

find the following

1. 4.

Department of Mathematics and Statistics, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology

Mat060 Instructors: Labendia, Liwagon, Malacas, Merca, Moncada, Rara,
Torres
 2. 5.

3. 6.

INFINITE LIMITS

Consider the function defined by . Its

graph below shows that as gets closer and closer to , the

value of the function gets bigger and bigger, it
increases without bound. We use to denote this increase,
that is, .

Figure 3 Graph of

In the same way, if the value of the function decreases

without bound as approaches , then we say that the limit
is . The following are the formal definitions of infinite
limits.

Department of Mathematics and Statistics, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology

Mat060 Instructors: Labendia, Liwagon, Malacas, Merca, Moncada, Rara,
Torres
Definition

Let be a function which is defined at all on the

open interval containing , except possibly at itself. We
say that increases without bound as approaches ,
written

if for every positive number , there exists a such that

whenever .
Definition
Let be a function which is defined at all on the
open interval containing , except possibly at itself. We
say that decreases without bound as approaches ,
written

if for every positive number , there exists a such that

whenever .

Theorem
If is a positive integer, then

Department of Mathematics and Statistics, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology

Mat060 Instructors: Labendia, Liwagon, Malacas, Merca, Moncada, Rara,
Torres
Theorem
If , and if and ,

where is a constant not equal to zero, then

(1) If and if through positive values of
, then

(2) If and if through negative values of

, then

(3) If and if through positive values of

, then

(4) If and if through negative values of

, then

Theorem
If and , where is a

real number, then

Theorem
If and , where is a

nonzero real number, then

Department of Mathematics and Statistics, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology

Mat060 Instructors: Labendia, Liwagon, Malacas, Merca, Moncada, Rara,
Torres
 (1) If , then

(2) If , then

Theorem
If and , where is a

nonzero real number, then

(1) If , then

(2) If , then

Example. Evaluate the following limits.

1.

Solution. Note that

positive
approaches 0 through positive values

Thus,

2.

Solution
Notice that and

resulting to . Now,

Department of Mathematics and Statistics, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology

Mat060 Instructors: Labendia, Liwagon, Malacas, Merca, Moncada, Rara,
Torres
 Now, as , through positive
values, therefore

3.

Solution Notice that and

. But there’s no way we can subtract (or

add) both infinite values. So, transforming the function,

Now, as , through positive values. This

results to

4.

Department of Mathematics and Statistics, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology

Mat060 Instructors: Labendia, Liwagon, Malacas, Merca, Moncada, Rara,
Torres
 Solution From the first factor of the function, notice

that and from the second factor

. Thus,

Exercises

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

Department of Mathematics and Statistics, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology

Mat060 Instructors: Labendia, Liwagon, Malacas, Merca, Moncada, Rara,
Torres
LIMITS AT INFINITY

In this section, we will look at the limit of the function

as increases or decreases without bound. Consider the

function .

Figure 3 Graph of

Notice that as increases (or decreases), the value of

gets closer and closer to . So, the limit of as
(or as ) is . The following are the definitions of limits
at infinity.

Definition

Let be a function which is defined at every

number in some open interval . The limit of as
increases without bound is ,

Department of Mathematics and Statistics, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology

Mat060 Instructors: Labendia, Liwagon, Malacas, Merca, Moncada, Rara,
Torres
if for any , there exists a number such that
, whenever .

Definition
Let be a function which is defined at every
number in some open interval . The limit of as
decreases without bound is ,

if for any , there exists a number such that

, whenever .

Theorem
If is a positive integer, then

Example
Evaluate the following limits.

1.

Solution:

Department of Mathematics and Statistics, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology

Mat060 Instructors: Labendia, Liwagon, Malacas, Merca, Moncada, Rara,
Torres
 2.

Solution:

Note that since takes on negative

numbers. Thus,

3.

Solution:
Department of Mathematics and Statistics, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology
Mat060 Instructors: Labendia, Liwagon, Malacas, Merca, Moncada, Rara,
Torres
Exercises

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Department of Mathematics and Statistics, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology

Mat060 Instructors: Labendia, Liwagon, Malacas, Merca, Moncada, Rara,
Torres
 9.

10.

11.

12.

Continuity of a Function

Definition (Continuity at )
The function is said to be continuous at the number if
the following three conditions are satisfied
1. exists;
2. exists

3.

If one or two of these conditions fail to hold, then

we say that the function is discontinuous. If is
discontinuous at a number but exists, then either

or does not exist. If this happens, then

we say that the discontinuity is removable.

If the discontinuity at is not removable, then it is called an
essential discontinuity.

Department of Mathematics and Statistics, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology

Mat060 Instructors: Labendia, Liwagon, Malacas, Merca, Moncada, Rara,
Torres
Theorem
If and are two functions which are continuous at
, then , and are continuous at . If

then is also continuous at .

Example
Determine if the given function is continuous at the
indicated number . If it is discontinuous at , determine if
the discontinuity is removable or essential.

1. ;

Solution:

does not exist since

Therefore, the function is discontinuous (as shown

below) and the discontinuity is essential.

Department of Mathematics and Statistics, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology

Mat060 Instructors: Labendia, Liwagon, Malacas, Merca, Moncada, Rara,
Torres
 2. ;

Solution:

Therefore, is continuous at

3. ;

Solution: Examining each condition for continuity, we

have
is not defined

Department of Mathematics and Statistics, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology

Mat060 Instructors: Labendia, Liwagon, Malacas, Merca, Moncada, Rara,
Torres
 Therefore, the function is not continuos at .
However, since the exists, the discontinuity

is removable. To make it continuous at , the

function can be redefined as:

Exercises
Determine if the given function is continuous at the
indicated number . If it is discontinuous at , determine if
the discontinuity is removable or essential.

1. ;

at and at

2. ;

at and at

3. ; at

Department of Mathematics and Statistics, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology

Mat060 Instructors: Labendia, Liwagon, Malacas, Merca, Moncada, Rara,
Torres
 4. ; at

5. ; at

6. ; at

7. ; at

8. ; at

9. at

10. at

11. at

12. at
13. Let be defined by

For what value of is a continuous function at

?
14. For what values of and is , defined by

continuous at and ?

Department of Mathematics and Statistics, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology

Mat060 Instructors: Labendia, Liwagon, Malacas, Merca, Moncada, Rara,
Torres
Intermediate Value Theorem

Theorem (Intermediate Value Theorem)

Suppose that is continuous on the closed interval and
is any number between and . Then there is a
number such that .

The intermediate value theorem (IVT) says that a function

must take on every value between its endpoints at least
once provided that the function is continuous on a compact
interval. It means that a continuous function on
cannot skip over any values between and .
Otherwise, the graph of would need to jump across the line
, something that continuous functions cannot do. A
function may take on a given value more than once.

Although these geometric representations make the IVT

seem reasonable, the proof is more complicated than one
might imagine and an interested reader may refer to an
advanced calculus or real analysis text.

Department of Mathematics and Statistics, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology

Mat060 Instructors: Labendia, Liwagon, Malacas, Merca, Moncada, Rara,
Torres
The following result is a special case of the Intermediate
Value Theorem. It is also the basis of a Root-Finding
algorithm called the Bisection Method.

Corollary
Suppose that is continuous on and
. Then there exists such that .

This corollary tells us that when a function changes from a

negative value to a positive value, the function must cross
the -axis.

Figure 5 Existence of using

the Intermediate Value Theorem

Example
Use the Intermediate Value Theorem to verify that
the following functions have zero/s in the given interval.
Then use the method of bisections to find an interval of
length that contains the zero.

Solution:

Department of Mathematics and Statistics, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology

Mat060 Instructors: Labendia, Liwagon, Malacas, Merca, Moncada, Rara,
Torres
 The intermediate value theorem says that there is a
between and such that . Solving for the
zeroes,

Since must be between and , we choose .

Using the bisection method to find an interval containing

the zero, we examine the values of beginning with
which is the midpoint of 2 and 3,

Notice that and . Thus, the

interval of length containing the zero is

The intermediate value theorem says that there is a

between and such that . Solving for the
zeroes,
Department of Mathematics and Statistics, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology
Mat060 Instructors: Labendia, Liwagon, Malacas, Merca, Moncada, Rara,
Torres
 Since must be between and , we choose

Since the function values are similar to the results in (a)

when is replaced by , the interval of length

containing the zero is similar to what is obtained in (a) but

on the opposite side of the -axis which is
( .

Exercises

Use the Intermediate Value Theorem to verify that the

following functions have zero/s in the given interval. Then
use the method of bisections to find an interval of length
that contains the zero.

1.
2.
3.

Squeeze Theorem and Limits Involving Sine and Cosine

The squeeze theorem provides a method of finding

the limit of a function by comparing it with two other functions
whose limits are known or are easily computed. It was first
Department of Mathematics and Statistics, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology
Mat060 Instructors: Labendia, Liwagon, Malacas, Merca, Moncada, Rara,
Torres
used geometrically by the mathematicians Archimedes and
Eudoxus in an effort to compute π, and was formulated in
modern terms by Carl Friedrich Gauss. The theorem is
formally stated as follows.

Theorem (The Squeeze Theorem)

Let , , and be functions defined on an interval
containing , except possibly at itself. Suppose that for
every in not equal to , we have

and also suppose that

Then .

Example
Show that .

Solution: It can be seen that

, for all and

, for all .

Since , we have

, for all

By Squeeze Theorem,

Show that .

Solution: For all ,

Thus,

Department of Mathematics and Statistics, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology

Mat060 Instructors: Labendia, Liwagon, Malacas, Merca, Moncada, Rara,
Torres
 , for all and

, for all .

Let

and

Hence, for

Now,

By Squeeze Theorem,

Example. Evaluate the following limits.

1.

Solution This limit is of the form . Now,

2.

Solution:
Department of Mathematics and Statistics, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology
Mat060 Instructors: Labendia, Liwagon, Malacas, Merca, Moncada, Rara,
Torres
3.

Solution:

Exercises
Evaluate the following limits.
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.
Department of Mathematics and Statistics, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology
Mat060 Instructors: Labendia, Liwagon, Malacas, Merca, Moncada, Rara,
Torres
 6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

Department of Mathematics and Statistics, MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology

Mat060 Instructors: Labendia, Liwagon, Malacas, Merca, Moncada, Rara,
Torres