Solved Problems on Limits and Continuity
Mar 13, 2016
Solved Problems on Limits and Continuity
Calculators
Overview of Problems
2
0
sinlim
sinx
xx x
12
2
3 2lim2x
x xx
23 2
3 2
1lim3 5 2x
x x xx x x
3 2 2lim 1 1x
x x
2 2lim 1 1x
x x x x
2 20
2lim2 1 3 1x
xx x x x
0
sin 3lim
6x
xx
0
sin sinlimx
xx
4
5 6
7 8
9 10
2 20
2sinlim
2sin 1 sin 1x
x x
x x x x tan x
2
lim ex
Calculators
Overview of Problems11 Where tan is continuous?y x
12
2
1Where f sin is continuous?1
13
2
How must f 0 be determined so that f , 0, 1
is continuous at 0?
x xx xx
x
14
2
0 0
0
Which of the following functions have removablesingularities at the indicated points?
2 8 1a) f , 2, b) g , 12 1
1c) h sin , 0
x x xx x x xx x
t t tt
Show that the equation sin e has many solutions.xx15
Calculators
Main Methods of Limit Computations
If the function, for which the limit needs to be computed, is defined by an algebraic expression, which takes a finite value at the limit point, then this finite value is the limit value.
3
If the function, for which the limit needs to be computed, cannot be evaluated at the limit point (i.e. the value is an undefined expression like in (1)), then find a rewriting of the function to a form which can be evaluated at the limit point.
4
In the evaluation of expressions, use the rules 2
0, , negativenumber .positive numbera
The following undefined quantities cause problems: 10 000 , , , , 0 , .0
Calculators
Main Computation Methods
If a square root appears in the expression, then multiply and divide by the conjugate of the square root expression.
3
1 2 1 21 2
1 21 2 3 01 2 1 2 x
x x x xx x
x xx xx x x x
Cancel out common factors of rational functions.2 2
11 11 1 2.1 1 x
x xx xx x
Use the fact that4 0
sinlim 1.x
xx
Frequently needed rule1 2 2.a b a b a b
Calculators
Continuity of FunctionsFunctions defined by algebraic or elementary expressions involving polynomials, rational functions, trigonometric functions, exponential functions or their inverses are continuous at points where they take a finite well defined value.
1
If f is continuous, f(a) < 0 and f(b) > 0, then there is a point c between a and b so that f(c) = 0.
4
A function f is continuous at a point x = a if2 limff .
x ax a
The following are not continuous x = 0:3 1 1f , g sin ,h .xx x x
x x x
Intermediate Value Theorem for Continuous Functions
Used to show that equations have solutions.
Calculators
Limits by RewritingProblem 1
2
2
3 2lim2x
x xx
Solution 2 1 23 2Rewrite 1.2 2
x xx x xx x
2
2 2
3 2Hence lim lim 1 1.2x x
x x xx
Calculators
Limits by RewritingProblem 2
3 2
3 2
1lim3 5 2x
x x xx x x
Solution
3 2 2 3
3 2
2 3
1 1 111 1.3 5 23 5 2 1
x
x x x x x xx x x
x x x
Calculators
Limits by RewritingProblem 3 2 2lim 1 1
xx x
Solution
2 2 2 2
2 2
2 2
1 1 1 11 1
1 1
x x x xx x
x x
2 2
2 2 2 2
2 2 2 2 2 2
1 1 1 1 2
1 1 1 1 1 1
x x x x
x x x x x x
Rewrite
2 2
2 2
2Hence lim 1 1 lim 0.1 1x x
x xx x
Calculators
Limits by RewritingProblem 4 2 2lim 1 1
xx x x x
Solution
2 2
2 2 2 2
1 1 2 2
1 1 1 1
x x x x xx x x x x x x x
2 2
2 22 2
2 2
1 1
1 1 1 11 1
x x x x
x x x xx x x xx x x x
2 2
222
1 1 1 11 1x
x
x x x x
Rewrite
Next divide by x.
Calculators
Limits by RewritingProblem 5 2 20
2lim2 1 3 1x
xx x x x
Solution
2 2 2 2
2 2 22 2
2 2 1 3 1 2 2 1 3 1
42 1 3 1
x x x x x x x x x x
x xx x x x
2 2
2 2
2 2 2 2
2
2 1 3 1
2 2 1 3 1
2 1 3 1 2 1 3 1
xx x x x
x x x x x
x x x x x x x x
2 2
0
2 2 1 3 11
4 x
x x x x
x
Rewrite
Next divide by x.
Calculators
Limits by RewritingProblem 6
0
sin 3lim
6x
xx
Solution
sin 3 sin 31Rewrite 6 2 3x xx x
0
sinUse the fact that lim 1.
0 0
sin 3 sin 3 1Since lim 1, we conclude that lim .3 6 2x x
x xx x
Calculators
Limits by RewritingProblem 7
0
sin sinlimx
xx
Solution
0
0
sinsince lim 1. In the above, that fact
was applied first by substituting sin .
sin sinHence lim 1.
sinx
x
xx
0
sin sin sin sin sin1
sin x
x x xx x x
Rewrite:
Calculators
Limits by RewritingProblem 8
2
0
sinlim
sinx
xx x
Solution
2 2
02
sin sin1
sin sin x
x x xx x x x
Rewrite:
Calculators
Limits by RewritingProblem 9
2 20
2sinlim
2sin 1 sin 1x
x x
x x x xSolution
2 2
2 2
2 2 2 2
2sin
2sin 1 sin 1
2sin 2sin 1 sin 1
2sin 1 sin 1 2sin 1 sin 1
x x
x x x x
x x x x x x
x x x x x x x x
Rewrite
2 2
2 2
2 2
2 2
2sin 2sin 1 sin 1
2sin 1 sin 1
2sin 2sin 1 sin 1
sin 2sin
x x x x x x
x x x x
x x x x x x
x x x x
Calculators
Limits by RewritingProblem 9
2 20
2sinlim
2sin 1 sin 1x
x x
x x x xSolution(cont’d)
2 2
2 2
2 2
2sin
2sin 1 sin 1
2sin 2sin 1 sin 1
sin 2sin
x x
x x x x
x x x x x x
x x x x
Rewrite
2 2sin1 2 2sin 1 sin 1
sin sinsin 2 1
xx x x x
xx x
x xx x
0
3 2 2.2 1x
Here we used the fact that all sin(x)/x terms approach 1 as x 0.
Next divide by x.
Calculators
One-sided Limits Problem 10 tan x
2
lim ex
Solution
2
tan
2
For , tan 0 and lim tan .2
Hence lim e 0.
x
x
x
x x x
Calculators
Continuity Problem 11 Where the function tan is continuous?y x
Solution
sinThe function tan is continuous whenever cos 0.
cos
Hence tan is continuous at , .2
xy x x
x
y x x n n
Calculators
Continuity Problem 12 2
1Where the function f sin is continuous?1
Solution 2
1The function f sin is continuous at all points1
where it takes finite values.
2 2
1 1If 1, is not finite, and sin is undefined.1 1
2 2
1 1If 1, is finite, and sin is defined and also finite.1 1
2
1Hence sin is continuous for 1.1
Calculators
Continuity Problem 13
2
How must f 0 be determined so that the function
f , 0, is continuous at 0?1
x xx x xx
Solution
0
0
0 0
2
0 0 0
Condition for continuity of a function f at a point is:
limf f . Hence f 0 must satisfy f 0 lim f .
1Hence f 0 lim lim lim 0.
1 1
x x x
x x x
xx x x
x xx x xx x
Calculators
Continuity
0
0
A number for which an expression f either is undefined or
infinite is called a of the function f . The singularity is said to be , if f can be defi
singularityremovab ned in such a way le that
x x
x
0
the function f becomes continous at .x x
Problem 14
2
0
0
0
Which of the following functions have removablesingularities at the indicated points?
2 8a) f , 22
1b) g , 11
1c) h sin , 0
x xx xx
xx xx
t t tt
Answer
Removable
Removable
Not removable
Calculators
Continuity Show that the equation sin e has
inifinitely many solutions.
xx
Observe that 0 e 1 for 0, and that sin 1 , .2
nx x n n
Hence f 0 for if is an odd negative number 2
and f 0 for if is an even negative number.2
x x n n
x x n n
Problem 15
Solution sin e f sin e 0.x xx x x
By the intermediate Value Theorem, a continuous function takes any value between any two of its values. I.e. it suffices to show that the function f changes its sign infinitely often.
We conclude that every interval 2 , 2 1 , and 0, contains 2 2
a solution of the original equation. Hence there are infinitely many solutions.
n n n n