College of Engineering

NAGA COLLEGE FOUNDATION

MODULE IN CALCULUS 1

PRELIMINARY PERIOD

First Semester, A/Y 2020-2021

Prepared by:

Engr. GINA DULCE B. DURANTE

MODULE NO. 2 FUNCTIONS AND LIMITS WEEK NO. 02
After finishing this module, you are expected to:
 Know and understand “Functions”.
LEARNING  Apply the principles of limits
TARGETS  Examine Continuous and Discontinuous Functions.
 Evaluate limits of indeterminate forms.
LESSON PROPER:
2.1. Functional Notation
INTRODUCTION:
 Recall that a function is a certain law of correspondence. It is generally associated with a formula. For instance,
consider the formula for the area of a circle,
A = π r2
For each value of the radius (r), there corresponds a value of the area (A). We say that A is a function of r and, in
symbol, we write
A = f(r).

 In general, if there is a relationship between two variables x and y such that for each value of x, there
corresponds a value of y, then y is said to be a function of x. Symbolically, this is written in the form
y = f(x).

 The function concept may be extended in relations between more than two variables. Consider the equation the
equation
Z = f(x,y).

This implies that z is determined when x and y are given and it is customary to say that z is a function of x and y.
Consider the volume of a right cylinder is a function of the altitude (h) and the radius (r) of the base, that is,
V = f(r,h) = π rh

 It is important that we be familiar with the functional notation. In mathematics and the physical sciences
functional notation plays an important part.

Example: The area of a rectangle is 10 sq. in. Express the perimeter P of the rectangle as a function of the length x of one
side.

10
Solution: Since the area is 10 sq. in. then the length of the other side is and the perimeter is
x
10
P = 2 x+( x).

2.2 Limit of a Function

DEFINITION: Let f(x) be any function and let α and L be numbers. If f(x) is made as close to L by
choosing x sufficiently close to α, then the limit of f(x) as x approaches α is L, or symbolically,
lim f ( x )=L
x→ a

 THEOREMS ON LIMIT
(1) lim c=c ; c = any constant
x→ a

(2) lim x =a ; a = any real number

x→ a

(3) lim c f ( x )=c lim f (x )

x→ a x →a
(4) lim [ f ( x ) ± g ( x) ] = lim f ( x ) ± lim g( x )
x→ a x→ a x→ a

(5) lim [ f ( x ) ▪ g( x) ] = lim f (x )▪ lim g( x ).

x→ a x→ a x →a

lim f (x)
f ( x) x →a
(6) lim =
x→ a g( x ) lim g(x )
x→a

(7) lim √n f (x) = n lim f ( x);

√ n = any positive integer and f(x)≥ 0 if n is even
x→ a x→ a

n n
lim [ f ( x ) ] = lim f (x )
(8)
x→ a [
x→ a ]
 EXAMPLES: Evaluate the following:
1. lim (x 2+ 3 x −4) = lim x 2 + lim 3 x - lim 3
x →2 x →2 x →2 x →2
2
lim x + 3 lim x – 3
= [ x→ 2
2
]
x →2
= 2 + 3(2) – 3
= 7 Ans

2. lim ( x +2) √ 3 x+ 4 = lim (x +2) lim √ 3 x +4

x→ 4 x→ 4 x→ 4

= [ lim x +lim 2 ] √ lim (3 x+ 4)

x →4 x→ 4 x→4

= ( lim x+ lim 2) 3 lim x +lim 4

√
x→ 4 x →4 x→4 x→4
= (4 + 2) 3 ( 4 )+ 4 = 6√ 16√
= 24. Ans.

lim ¿ ¿ lim tan x lim sin x

3. π = π + π
x→ x→ x→
4 4 4
π π
= tan + sin = tan 45⁰ + sin 45⁰
4 4
=1+
√2
2
2+ √ 2
= Ans.
2

2.3. Indeterminate Forms

N ( x)
 Consider the function defined by f(x) = , D(x) ≠ 0. Suppose at x=a, N(x) = D(x) = 0.
D( x)
N ( x) 0
= f(x) =
which is undefined.
D( x) 0
N ( x) ∞
Another indeterminate form is f(x) = = , which is also undefined.
D( x) ∞
 Obtaining any of these forms by straight substitution does not necessarily mean that f(x) has no
limit. Even if f(x) assumes the indeterminate form at x = a, the limit at x=a, the limit of f(x) is still
definite, that is, the limit exists. This limit is usually found by changing the expression defined by
f(x) into a form to which the theorems on limits can be used.
 EXAMPLES: Evaluate each of the following:
x 3−64
1. lim
x→ 4 x 2−16
Solution: This can not be evaluated by straight substitution. Since x=4, we have
x3 −64 4 3−64 64−64 0
= = = which is indeterminate in form. However, if
2
x −16 2
4 −16 16−16 0
werfactor,

2 2
x 3−64 lim ¿ (x−4)(x + 4 x +16) lim ¿ (x +4 x +16)
lim = =
x→ 4 x 2−16 x→ 4 ( x + 4)( x−4 ) x→ 4 ( x + 4)
2
4 + 4 ( 4 ) +16 48
= =
4 +4 8
= 6. Ans.
 The example above illustrates the fact that f(x) may have a limit at a number a
 even though the value f(a) of the function is undefined. Moreover, it shows that the
limit and value of the function are two different concepts.

2 f ( x )−f (2)
2. If f(x) = x −3 x , evaluate lim
x→2 x−2
0
Solution: A straight substitution of x=2 leads to the indeterminate form .
0
Since f(x) =x 2−3 x , then f(2) = 22 – 3(2) = 4 – 6 = -2.
f ( x)−f ( 2) x 2−3 x−(−2) x 2−3 x+ 2
Hence, lim = lim =lim
x →2 x −2 x →2 x−2 x →2 x−2
(x−1)(x −2)
= lim = lim (x−1)
x →2 x−2 x →2

= 1. Ans.

2.4 Limit at Infinity

 Let f(x) be a function. If f(x) becomes large as it is by making x close enough but not
equal, to a real number a , then
lim f (x )= ∞
x→ a
Where the symbol ∞ is read “infinity”.

1 1
 In particular, consider the function f(x) =. . As x approaches zero, approaches infinity. In more
x x
compact form, we write
1
lim =∞
x→ a x

1 1
 Consider again the function f(x) = . It can be shown that as x increases without bound,
x x
approaches a finite limit (the number zero. We can write
1
lim =0.
x→ ∞ x

 EXAMPLES: Evaluate the following:

1 lim ¿
1. lim 3 = x→ ∞
x→ ∞ x
lim 1 lim 1
= 1 x →∞
lim ▪ ▪ x →∞
x→ ∞ x x x
= 0. Ans.

1
lim
2. x→ ∞ 1 = lim ¿ ¿
4 x→ ∞
x
1 14
= [ lim ]
x →∞ x
= 0. Ans.

N ( x) ∞
 A function f(x) = may be assumed the indeterminate form when x is replaced by ∞ .
D( x) ∞
However, the limit of f(x) as x becomes infinite may be definite. To find this limit, we first divide
N(x) and D(x) by the biggest power of x. Then we can now evaluate the limit.

6 x3 + 4 x 2 + 5
 EXAMPLE: Evaluate lim 3 .
x→ ∞ 8 x +7 x−3
∞
Solution: The function assumes the indeterminate form if x is replaced by ∞ . Dividing the
∞
numerator and denominator by x3, we get
1 1
6+4 + 5 3
3 2
6 x +4 x +5 x x
lim 3
= lim
x→ ∞ 8 x +7 x−3 x→ ∞ 1 1
8+7 −3 3
x x
6+4 (0)+5( 0) 6
= =
8+¿ ( 0 )−3(0) 8
3
= Ans.
4
2.5 Continuity
 DEFINITION: A function f(x) is continuous at x=a if lim f ( x )=f ( a ) .
x→ a

Note that the condition lim f (x )=f ( a ) in the definition above implies three conditions, namely:
x→ a
1) F(a) is defined.
2) lim f (x )=L exists,and
x→ a
3) L = f(a).
If any of these conditions is not satisfied, then f(x) is said to be discontinuous at x = a.

 A function f(x) is said to be continuous in an interval if it is continuous for every value of x in the
interval. The graph of this function is “unbroken” over the interval. That is, the graph of f(x) can be
drawn without lifting the pencil from the paper.
 EXAMPLES:
1. The function f(x) = x2 is continuous at x = 2 because the lim x 2=f ( 2 )=4. In fact, it is continuous for
x →2
all finite values of x.
1 1 1
2. The function f(x)= is continuous at x=3 because lim =f ( 3 ) = . It is, however, discontinuous at
x x →3 x 3
1
x = 0 since lim =∞ . The graph of the function contains a “break” at x=0. See figure 1.2.
x →0 x
3.

4x
4. Is the function f(x)= continuous over the interval 0 ≤ x ≤ 5?
x2 −4
Answer: No, since at x = 2, f(2) is undefined.

DO IT YOURSELF
Answer the following exercises:
Exercise 2.1
1) If f(x) = x2 +4x, find (a) f(-5), (b) f(y2 +1), (c) f(x+1) – f(x-1)
x2 +3
2) If y = , find x as a function of y.
x
3) The stiffness of a beam of rectangular cross section is proportional to the breadth and the
cube of the depth. If the breadth is 20 cm, express the stiffness as a function of the depth.
f ( x+ h )−f (x )
4) If f(x) = x2 + 1, find , h≠ 0.
h
4
5) If f(x) = and g(x) = x2 – 3, find f[g(x)] and g[f(x)].
x+3

Exercise 2.2 Evaluate the following:

4 x+ 2
1) lim
x →3 x+ 4
sin 2 x
2)
lim
π sin x
x→
3

3) lim (4 x−3)(x 2¿ +5)¿

x →2

4) lim
√3 x
x →3 x √ x +1
3 x+ 2
5) lim 2
x →0 x −2 x+ 4

Exercise 2.3 Evaluate the following:

x 2+ 2 x−8
1) lim
x →2 3 x−6
√ x+ 16−4
2) lim
x →0 x
1 1
−
3) x 4
lim
x→ 4 x−4

sin3 x
4) lim
x →0 sin x−tan x
f ( x )−f ( 4) f ( 9+ x )−f ( 9 ) .
5) If f(x)= √ x, find (a) lim and (b) lim .
x→ 4 x−4 x →0 x

Exercise 2.4 Evaluate each of the following:

6 x3 + 4 x 2−5
1) lim
x→ ∞ 8 x 3 +7 x−3
4 x +5
2) lim
x→ ∞ x 2+1
9 x−5
3) lim
x→ ∞ √ 4 x 2+ 3
( x +2)3−(x−2)3
4) lim
x→ ∞ x2
3 x2 + x +2
5) lim 3
x→ ∞ x + 8 x +1

Exercise 2.5
Find the value or values of x for which the function is discontinuous.
3x
1)
x−5
3 x +2
2) 2
x −8 x+15
5 x +1
3)
x2+ 4
6x
4)
x2 −9
1
5) x
2 −8