4100 AWL/Thomas_ch02p073-146 8/19/04 11:00 AM Page 81

2.1 Rates of Change and Limits 81

EXERCISES 2.1

Limits from Graphs 3. Which of the following statements about the function y = ƒsxd
graphed here are true, and which are false?
1. For the function g (x) graphed here, find the following limits or
explain why they do not exist. a. lim ƒsxd exists.
x:0
a. lim g sxd b. lim g sxd c. lim g sxd b. lim ƒsxd = 0 .
x:1 x: 2 x:3 x:0
y c. lim ƒsxd = 1 .
x:0
d. lim ƒsxd = 1 .
x:1
y g(x) e. lim ƒsxd = 0 .
1 x:1
f. lim ƒsxd exists at every point x0 in s -1, 1d .
x:x0
x
1 2 3 y

2. For the function ƒ(t) graphed here, find the following limits or ex- y f (x)
1
plain why they do not exist.
a. lim ƒstd b. lim ƒstd c. lim ƒstd
t: -2 t: -1 t: 0 x
–1 1 2
s
–1
1
s f (t)
4. Which of the following statements about the function y = ƒsxd
t
–2 –1 0 1 graphed here are true, and which are false?
–1 a. lim ƒsxd does not exist.
x:2
b. lim ƒsxd = 2 .
x:2

Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

4100 AWL/Thomas_ch02p073-146 8/19/04 11:00 AM Page 82

82 Chapter 2: Limits and Continuity

c. lim ƒsxd does not exist. 13. Let Gsxd = sx + 6d>sx 2 + 4x - 12d .
x:1
d. lim ƒsxd exists at every point x0 in s -1, 1d . a. Make a table of the values of G at x = -5.9, -5.99, -5.999,
x:x0
and so on. Then estimate limx:-6 Gsxd . What estimate do you
e. lim ƒsxd exists at every point x0 in (1, 3).
x:x0 arrive at if you evaluate G at x = -6.1, -6.01, -6.001, Á
y instead?
y f (x) b. Support your conclusions in part (a) by graphing G and
1 using Zoom and Trace to estimate y-values on the graph
as x : -6 .
x
–1 1 2 3 c. Find limx:-6 Gsxd algebraically.
–1
14. Let hsxd = sx 2 - 2x - 3d>sx 2 - 4x + 3d .
–2 a. Make a table of the values of h at x = 2.9, 2.99, 2.999, and so
on. Then estimate limx:3 hsxd . What estimate do you arrive
at if you evaluate h at x = 3.1, 3.01, 3.001, Á instead?
Existence of Limits b. Support your conclusions in part (a) by graphing h near
In Exercises 5 and 6, explain why the limits do not exist. x0 = 3 and using Zoom and Trace to estimate y-values on the
x 1 graph as x : 3 .
5. lim 6. lim
x: 0ƒxƒ x: 1 x - 1 c. Find limx:3 hsxd algebraically.
7. Suppose that a function ƒ(x) is defined for all real values of x ex- 15. Let ƒsxd = sx 2 - 1d>s ƒ x ƒ - 1d .
cept x = x0 . Can anything be said about the existence of
a. Make tables of the values of ƒ at values of x that approach
limx:x0 ƒsxd ? Give reasons for your answer.
x0 = -1 from above and below. Then estimate limx:-1 ƒsxd .
8. Suppose that a function ƒ(x) is defined for all x in [-1, 1] . Can
b. Support your conclusion in part (a) by graphing ƒ near
anything be said about the existence of limx:0 ƒsxd ? Give rea-
x0 = -1 and using Zoom and Trace to estimate y-values on
sons for your answer.
the graph as x : -1 .
9. If limx:1 ƒsxd = 5 , must ƒ be defined at x = 1 ? If it is, must
c. Find limx:-1 ƒsxd algebraically.
ƒs1d = 5 ? Can we conclude anything about the values of ƒ at
x = 1 ? Explain. 16. Let Fsxd = sx 2 + 3x + 2d>s2 - ƒ x ƒ d .
10. If ƒs1d = 5 , must limx:1 ƒsxd exist? If it does, then must a. Make tables of values of F at values of x that approach
limx:1 ƒsxd = 5 ? Can we conclude anything about limx:1 ƒsxd ? x0 = -2 from above and below. Then estimate limx:-2 Fsxd .
Explain. b. Support your conclusion in part (a) by graphing F near
x0 = -2 and using Zoom and Trace to estimate y-values on
Estimating Limits the graph as x : -2 .
T You will find a graphing calculator useful for Exercises 11–20.
c. Find limx:-2 Fsxd algebraically.
11. Let ƒsxd = sx 2 - 9d>sx + 3d .
17. Let g sud = ssin ud>u .
a. Make a table of the values of ƒ at the points x = -3.1,
-3.01, -3.001 , and so on as far as your calculator can go. a. Make a table of the values of g at values of u that approach
Then estimate limx:-3 ƒsxd . What estimate do you arrive at if u0 = 0 from above and below. Then estimate limu:0 g sud .
you evaluate ƒ at x = -2.9, -2.99, -2.999, Á instead? b. Support your conclusion in part (a) by graphing g near
b. Support your conclusions in part (a) by graphing ƒ near u0 = 0 .
x0 = -3 and using Zoom and Trace to estimate y-values on 18. Let Gstd = s1 - cos td>t 2 .
the graph as x : -3 . a. Make tables of values of G at values of t that approach t0 = 0
c. Find limx:-3 ƒsxd algebraically, as in Example 5. from above and below. Then estimate limt:0 Gstd .
12. Let g sxd = sx 2 - 2d> A x - 22 B . b. Support your conclusion in part (a) by graphing G near
a. Make a table of the values of g at the points x = 1.4, 1.41, t0 = 0 .
1.414 , and so on through successive decimal approximations 19. Let ƒsxd = x 1>s1 - xd .
of 22 . Estimate limx:22 g sxd . a. Make tables of values of ƒ at values of x that approach x0 = 1
b. Support your conclusion in part (a) by graphing g near from above and below. Does ƒ appear to have a limit as
x0 = 22 and using Zoom and Trace to estimate y-values on x : 1 ? If so, what is it? If not, why not?
the graph as x : 22 . b. Support your conclusions in part (a) by graphing ƒ near
c. Find limx:22 g sxd algebraically. x0 = 1 .

Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

4100 AWL/Thomas_ch02p073-146 8/19/04 11:00 AM Page 83

2.1 Rates of Change and Limits 83

20. Let ƒsxd = s3x - 1d>x . a. Estimate the slopes of secants PQ1 , PQ2 , PQ3 , and PQ4 ,
a. Make tables of values of ƒ at values of x that approach x0 = 0 arranging them in order in a table like the one in Figure 2.3.
from above and below. Does ƒ appear to have a limit as What are the appropriate units for these slopes?
x : 0 ? If so, what is it? If not, why not? b. Then estimate the Cobra’s speed at time t = 20 sec .
b. Support your conclusions in part (a) by graphing ƒ near 36. The accompanying figure shows the plot of distance fallen versus
x0 = 0 . time for an object that fell from the lunar landing module a dis-
tance 80 m to the surface of the moon.
Limits by Substitution a. Estimate the slopes of the secants PQ1 , PQ2 , PQ3 , and PQ4 ,
In Exercises 21–28, find the limits by substitution. Support your an- arranging them in a table like the one in Figure 2.3.
swers with a computer or calculator if available. b. About how fast was the object going when it hit the surface?
21. lim 2x 22. lim 2x y
x:2 x: 0
-1 80 P
23. lim s3x - 1d 24. lim Q4
x:1>3 x: 1 s3x - 1d

Distance fallen (m)

3x 2 60 Q3
25. lim 3xs2x - 1d 26. lim
x: -1 x: -12x - 1 Q2
40
cos x
27. lim x sin x 28. lim Q1
x:p>2 x: p 1 - p 20

Average Rates of Change 0 5 10

t
In Exercises 29–34, find the average rate of change of the function Elapsed time (sec)
over the given interval or intervals.
29. ƒsxd = x 3 + 1 ; T 37. The profits of a small company for each of the first five years of
a. [2, 3] b. [-1, 1] its operation are given in the following table:
2
30. g sxd = x ; Year Profit in $1000s
a. [-1, 1] b. [-2, 0]
1990 6
31. hstd = cot t ;
1991 27
a. [p>4, 3p>4] b. [p>6, p>2] 1992 62
32. g std = 2 + cos t ; 1993 111
a. [0, p] b. [-p, p] 1994 174
33. Rsud = 24u + 1; [0, 2]
a. Plot points representing the profit as a function of year, and
34. Psud = u3 - 4 u2 + 5u; [1, 2] join them by as smooth a curve as you can.
35. A Ford Mustang Cobra’s speed The accompanying figure b. What is the average rate of increase of the profits between
shows the time-to-distance graph for a 1994 Ford Mustang Cobra 1992 and 1994?
accelerating from a standstill.
c. Use your graph to estimate the rate at which the profits were
s changing in 1992.
P
650 T 38. Make a table of values for the function Fsxd = sx + 2d>sx - 2d
600
Q4 at the points x = 1.2, x = 11>10, x = 101>100, x = 1001>1000,
500 Q3 x = 10001>10000 , and x = 1 .
Distance (m)

a. Find the average rate of change of F(x) over the intervals

400 Q2 [1, x] for each x Z 1 in your table.
300 b. Extending the table if necessary, try to determine the rate of
Q1 change of F(x) at x = 1 .
200
T 39. Let g sxd = 2x for x Ú 0 .
100 a. Find the average rate of change of g (x) with respect to x over
t the intervals [1, 2], [1, 1.5] and [1, 1 + h] .
0 5 10 15 20
b. Make a table of values of the average rate of change of g with
Elapsed time (sec) respect to x over the interval [1, 1 + h] for some values of h

Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

4100 AWL/Thomas_ch02p073-146 8/19/04 11:00 AM Page 84

84 Chapter 2: Limits and Continuity

approaching zero, say h = 0.1, 0.01, 0.001, 0.0001, 0.00001 , d. Calculate the limit as T approaches 2 of the average rate of
and 0.000001. change of ƒ with respect to t over the interval from 2 to T. You
c. What does your table indicate is the rate of change of g(x) will have to do some algebra before you can substitute T = 2 .
with respect to x at x = 1 ? COMPUTER EXPLORATIONS
d. Calculate the limit as h approaches zero of the average rate of
change of g (x) with respect to x over the interval [1, 1 + h] . Graphical Estimates of Limits
In Exercises 41–46, use a CAS to perform the following steps:
T 40. Let ƒstd = 1>t for t Z 0 .
a. Find the average rate of change of ƒ with respect to t over the a. Plot the function near the point x0 being approached.
intervals (i) from t = 2 to t = 3 , and (ii) from t = 2 to b. From your plot guess the value of the limit.
t = T. x 4 - 16 x 3 - x 2 - 5x - 3
41. lim 42. lim
b. Make a table of values of the average rate of change of ƒ with x:2 x - 2 x: -1 sx + 1d2
respect to t over the interval [2, T], for some values of T 21 + x - 1
3
x2 - 9
approaching 2, say T = 2.1, 2.01, 2.001, 2.0001, 2.00001 , 43. lim x 44. lim
and 2.000001.
x:0 x:3 2x 2 + 7 - 4
1 - cos x 2x 2
c. What does your table indicate is the rate of change of ƒ with 45. lim 46. lim
x:0 x sin x x:0 3 - 3 cos x
respect to t at t = 2 ?

Copyright © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley