THE LIMIT AND CONTINUITY OF A FUNCTION

ELECTRONIC VERSION OF LECTURE

Dr. Lê Xuân Đại

HoChiMinh City University of Technology
Faculty of Applied Science, Department of Applied Mathematics
Email: [email protected]

HCM — 2016.

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OUTLINE

1 THE LIMIT OF A FUNCTION

2 CONTINUITY

3 LIMITS INVOLVING INFINITY. ASYMPTOTES

4 DISCONTINUITY

5 MATL AB

Dr. Lê Xuân Đại (HCMUT-OISP) THE LIMIT AND CONTINUITY OF A FUNCTION HCM — 2016. 2 / 68
 The limit of a function Model real-world situations

PHYSICS

According to the special theory of relativity

developed by Albert Einstein, the length of a moving
object, as measured by an observer at rest, shrinks as
its speed increases. If L0 is the length of the object
when it is at rest, then its length L, as measured by an
observer at rest, when traveling
s at speed v(m/s) is
v2
given by the formula L = L0 . 1 − 2 , where c is the
c
speed of light.
Question: If the space shuttle were able to approach
the speed of light, what would happen to its length L?
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 The limit of a function Model real-world situations

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 The limit of a function Model real-world situations

We need to find
s s
2
v c2
lim L0 . 1 − 2 = L0 . 1− 2 = 0
v→c−0 c c
Conclusion: The closer the speed of the shuttle is to
the speed of light, the closer the length of the
shuttle, as seen by an observer at rest, gets to 0.

Dr. Lê Xuân Đại (HCMUT-OISP) THE LIMIT AND CONTINUITY OF A FUNCTION HCM — 2016. 5 / 68
 The limit of a function Definition of the limit of a function

Let f (x) be defined on some open interval that

contains the number a, except possibly at a itself.
DEFINITION 1.1
The number L ∈ R is called the limit of f (x) as x
approaches a, and we write

lim f (x) = L
x→a

if for every number ε > 0 there is a number δ > 0 such

that if 0 < |x − a| < δ then |f (x) − L| < ε.

lim f (x) = L means that the values of f (x) can be made

x→a
as close as we please to L by taking x close enough to
a (but not equal to a).
Dr. Lê Xuân Đại (HCMUT-OISP) THE LIMIT AND CONTINUITY OF A FUNCTION HCM — 2016. 6 / 68
 The limit of a function Definition of the limit of a function

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 The limit of a function Definition of the limit of a function

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 The limit of a function Calculating Limits using the limit laws

CALCULATING LIMITS USING THE LIMIT LAWS

THEOREM 1.1
Suppose that lim f (x) = A ∈ R and lim g(x) = B ∈ R. Then
x→a x→a
1
lim[f (x) ± g(x)] = A ± B
x→a
2
lim[c.f (x)] = c.A, where c is a constant
x→a
3
lim[f (x).g(x)] = A.B
x→a
f (x) A
4
lim = if B 6= 0.
x→a g(x) B

Dr. Lê Xuân Đại (HCMUT-OISP) THE LIMIT AND CONTINUITY OF A FUNCTION HCM — 2016. 9 / 68
 The limit of a function Calculating Limits using the limit laws

EXAMPLE 1.1
x3 − 5x + 4
Evaluate lim
x→3 x2 − 2
SOLUTION

x3 − 5x + 4 lim (x3 − 5x + 4)
x→3
lim = =
x→3 x2 − 2 lim(x2 − 2)
x→3

33 − 5.3 + 4 16
= =
32 − 2 7

Dr. Lê Xuân Đại (HCMUT-OISP) THE LIMIT AND CONTINUITY OF A FUNCTION HCM — 2016. 10 / 68
 The limit of a function The squeeze theorem

THEOREM 1.2
The squeeze theorem: If
1
f (x) É g(x) É h(x) where x is near a (except possibly
at a)
2
lim f (x) = L = lim h(x).
x→a x→a
then lim g(x) = L.
x→a

Dr. Lê Xuân Đại (HCMUT-OISP) THE LIMIT AND CONTINUITY OF A FUNCTION HCM — 2016. 11 / 68
 The limit of a function The squeeze theorem

EXAMPLE 1.2
1
Evaluate I = lim x2 . cos
x→0 x
SOLUTION
1
É1 −1 É cos
x
1
⇒ −x2 É x2 cos É x2
x
and lim(−x2 ) = lim x2 = 0. Therefore I = 0.
x→0 x→0

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 The limit of a function The squeeze theorem

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 The limit of a function One-sided limits

DEFINITION 1.2
The number L ∈ R is called the limit of f (x) as x
approaches a from the left if for every number ε > 0
there is a number δ > 0 such that
if a − δ < x < a then |f (x) − L| < ε

DEFINITION 1.3
The number L ∈ R is called the limit of f (x) as x
approaches a from the right if for every number ε > 0
there is a number δ > 0 such that
if a < x < a + δ then |f (x) − L| < ε

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 The limit of a function One-sided limits

THEOREM 1.3
(
lim f (x) = L
x→a+
lim f (x) = L if and only if
x→a lim f (x) = L
x→a−

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 The limit of a function One-sided limits

EXAMPLE 1.3
Evaluate lim f (x), where
x→0

1, 
 x>0
f (x) = signx = 0, x=0

 −1, x<0

SOLUTION.
lim f (x) = 1;
x→0+

lim f (x) = −1.

x→0−

It now follows that lim f (x) does not exist.

x→0

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 The limit of a function One-sided limits

EXAMPLE 1.4
x
Evaluate lim
x→0 |x|

SOLUTION
x x
lim
= lim = 1;
x→0+ |x| x→0+ x
x x
lim = lim = −1
x→0− |x| x→0− −x
x
It now follows that lim does not exist.
x→0 |x|

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 The limit of a function One-sided limits

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 The limit of a function One-sided limits

EXAMPLE 1.5
Evaluate lim |x|
x→0

SOLUTION
lim |x| = lim x = 0;
x→0+ x→0+

lim |x| = lim −x = 0

x→0− x→0−

Therefore, lim |x| = 0.

x→0

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 The limit of a function One-sided limits

EXAMPLE 1.6
½p
x − 4, if x Ê 4
Evaluate lim f (x) where f (x) =
x→4 8 − 2x, if x < 4

SOLUTION
p
lim f (x) = lim x − 4 = 0;
x→4+ x→4+

lim f (x) = lim (8 − 2x) = 0

x→4− x→4−

Therefore, lim f (x) = 0.

x→4

Dr. Lê Xuân Đại (HCMUT-OISP) THE LIMIT AND CONTINUITY OF A FUNCTION HCM — 2016. 20 / 68
 Continuity Continuity at a number

DEFINITION 2.1
A function f (x) is continuous at a number a if

lim f (x) = f (a) (1)

x→a

If f (x) is continuous at a then:

1
f (a) is defined
2
lim f (x) exists
x→a
3
lim f (x) = f (a).
x→a

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 Continuity Continuity at a number

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 Continuity Continuity at a number

The elementary functions such as polynomials,

xα , sin x, cos x, ax , loga x(x > 0) are continuous at every
number in their domains.
EXAMPLE 2.1
Evaluate lim(x3 − 5x2 + 7x − 10)
x→3

SOLUTION Since f (x) = x3 − 5x2 + 7x − 10 is a

polynomial function, it is continuous at every
number. So the limit as x approaches 3 is the same as
the value of f (x) at x = 3

lim(x3 − 5x2 + 7x − 10) = 33 − 5.32 + 7.3 − 10 = −7

x→3

Dr. Lê Xuân Đại (HCMUT-OISP) THE LIMIT AND CONTINUITY OF A FUNCTION HCM — 2016. 23 / 68
 Continuity Continuity at a number

EXAMPLE 2.2
x2 − 2x − 8
Evaluate lim 2
x→4 x − 4x

SOLUTION
x2 − 2x − 8 (x + 2)(x − 4)
lim 2 = lim =
x→4 x − 4x x→4 x(x − 4)
x+2 4+2 3
= lim = =
x→4 x 4 2

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 Continuity Continuity from one-side

DEFINITION 2.2
A function f (x) is continuous from the right at a
number a if
lim f (x) = f (a) (2)
x→a+

DEFINITION 2.3
A function f (x) is continuous from the left at a
number a if
lim f (x) = f (a) (3)
x→a−

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 Continuity Continuity from one-side

THEOREM 2.1
A function f (x) is continuous at a number a if and
only if
lim f (x) = lim f (x) = f (a) (4)
x→a+ x→a−

THEOREM 2.2
1
If f (x) is continuous at every number on an open
interval (a, b), then f (x) is continuous on (a, b)
2
f (x) is continuous on the closed interval [a, b], if
f (x) is continuous on the open interval (a, b) and

lim f (x) = f (a); lim f (x) = f (b)

x→a+ x→b−

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 Continuity Continuity from one-side

EXAMPLE 2.3
p
Show that the function f (x) = 1 − 1 − x2 is continuous
on the interval [−1, 1].
SOLUTION
1
If −1 < a < 1, then we have
p p
lim f (x) = lim(1 − 1 − x ) = 1 − 1 − a2 = f (a)
2
x→a x→a

2
lim f (x) = 1 = f (−1) and lim f (x) = 1 = f (1)
x→−1+ x→1−
Therefore, f is continuous on [−1, 1].

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 Continuity Limit of composite function

THEOREM 2.3
If f is continuous at b and lim g(x) = b, then
x→a
lim f (g(x)) = f (b). In other words,
x→a

´ ³
lim f (g(x)) = f lim g(x) (5)
x→a x→a

COROLLARY 2.1
Suppose that g is continuous at a and f is continuous
at g(a). Then, the composition f ◦ g is continuous at a.
´ ³
lim(f ◦g)(x) = lim f (g(x)) = f lim g(x) = f (g(a)) = (f ◦g)(a).
x→a x→a x→a

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 Continuity Limit of composite function

EXAMPLE 2.4
lim sin(x2 + 2x + 3) = sin 3 because lim x2 + 2x + 3 = 3 and
x→0 x→0
lim sin y = sin 3.
y→3

EXAMPLE 2.5
Determine where h(x) = cos(x2 − 5x + 2) is continuous.
SOLUTION h(x) = f (g(x)), where g(x) = x2 − 5x + 2 and
f (x) = cos x. Since both f and g are continuous for all
x, h is continuous for all x.

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 Limits involving infinity. Asymptotes Infinite limits.

DEFINITION 3.1
Let f (x) be a function defined on some open interval
that contains the number a, except possibly at a itself.
Then
lim f (x) = +∞ (6)
x→a

means that for every positive number M > 0 there is a

positive number δ > 0 such that
if 0 < |x − a| < δ then f (x) > M.

lim f (x) = +∞ means that the values of f (x) can be

x→a
made arbitrarily large (larger than any given number
M ) by taking x close enough to a (but not equal to a).
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 Limits involving infinity. Asymptotes Infinite limits.

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 Limits involving infinity. Asymptotes Infinite limits.

DEFINITION 3.2
Let f (x) be a function defined on some open interval
that contains the number a, except possibly at a itself.
Then
lim f (x) = −∞ (7)
x→a

means that for every negative number N < 0 there is a

positive number δ > 0 such that
if 0 < |x − a| < δ then f (x) < N.

lim f (x) = −∞ means that the values of f (x) can be made

x→a
arbitrarily small (smaller than any negative number N ) by
taking x close enough to a (but not equal to a).
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 Limits involving infinity. Asymptotes Infinite limits.

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 Limits involving infinity. Asymptotes Infinite limits.

Determinate forms
L
1
= ∞(L 6= 0);
0
L
2
= 0;
∞
∞
3
= ∞;
L
4
L.∞ = ∞(L 6= 0);
5
q∞ = 0 (|q| < 1).

7 Indeterminate forms
∞ 0
, , ∞ − ∞ , 0.∞ ,1∞ , ∞0 , 00
∞ 0
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 Limits involving infinity. Asymptotes Infinite limits.

EXAMPLE 3.1
1
1
lim = +∞
x→0 x2
2x
2
lim = +∞
x→3+ x − 3
2x
3
lim = −∞
x→3− x − 3

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 Limits involving infinity. Asymptotes Vertical asymptote

VERTICAL ASYMPTOTE

DEFINITION 3.3
The line x = a is called a vertical asymptote of the
curve y = f (x) if at least one of the following
statements is true

lim f (x) = +∞; lim f (x) = +∞; lim f (x) = +∞ (8)

x→a x→a+ x→a−

lim f (x) = −∞; lim f (x) = −∞; lim f (x) = −∞ (9)

x→a x→a+ x→a−

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 Limits involving infinity. Asymptotes Vertical asymptote

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 Limits involving infinity. Asymptotes Vertical asymptote

EXAMPLE 3.2
Find the vertical asymptotes of the curve of function
2x
f (x) =
x−3
SOLUTION
2x
lim f (x) = lim = +∞
x→3+ x→3+ x − 3

and
2x
lim f (x) = lim = −∞
x→3− x→3− x − 3

The line x = 3 is a vertical asymptote

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 Limits involving infinity. Asymptotes Vertical asymptote

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 Limits involving infinity. Asymptotes Limits at infinity

DEFINITION 3.4
Let f be a function defined on some interval (a, +∞).
Then
lim f (x) = L (10)
x→+∞

means that for every ε > 0 there is a corresponding

number N such that
if x > N then |f (x) − L| < ε

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 Limits involving infinity. Asymptotes Limits at infinity

lim f (x) = L means that the values of f (x) can be

x→+∞
made arbitrarily close to L (within a distance ε,
where ε is any positive number) by taking x
sufficiently large (larger than N, where N depends on
ε).
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 Limits involving infinity. Asymptotes Limits at infinity

DEFINITION 3.5
Let f be a function defined on some interval (−∞, a).
Then
lim f (x) = L (11)
x→−∞

means that for every ε > 0 there is a corresponding

number N such that
if x < N then |f (x) − L| < ε

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 Limits involving infinity. Asymptotes Limits at infinity

lim f (x) = L means that the values of f (x) can be

x→−∞
made arbitrarily close to L (within a distance ε,
where ε is any positive number) by taking x
sufficiently small (smaller than N, where N depends
on ε).

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 Limits involving infinity. Asymptotes Limits at infinity

EXAMPLE 3.3
3x2 − x − 2
Evaluate lim 2
x→∞ 5x + 4x + 1

SOLUTION Devide both the numerator and

denominator by the highest power of x that occurs in
the denominator
3x2 − x − 2 3 − x1 − x22 3 − 0 − 0 3
lim = lim = =
x→∞ 5x2 + 4x + 1 x→∞ 5 + 4 + 1 5 + 0 + 0 5
x x 2

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 Limits involving infinity. Asymptotes Horizontal asymptotes

DEFINITION 3.6
The line y = L is called a horizontal asymptote of the
curve y = f (x) if either

lim f (x) = L (12)

x→+∞

or
lim f (x) = L. (13)
x→−∞

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 Limits involving infinity. Asymptotes Horizontal asymptotes

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 Limits involving infinity. Asymptotes Horizontal asymptotes

EXAMPLE 3.4
p
2x2 + 1
Find the horizontal asymptotes of f (x) =
3x − 5
SOLUTION
p p p
q
2x2 + 1 2 + x12 2+0 2
1
lim = lim = =
x→+∞ 3x − 5 x→+∞ 3 − 5 3−0 3
p px
2x2 + 1 2(−t)2 + 1
2
lim = lim =
x→−∞ 3x − 5 t=−x,t→+∞ 3(−t) − 5
p p
q
2 + t12 2+0 2
lim = = −
t→+∞ −3 − 5 −3 − 0 3
t
p p
2
Horizontal asymptotes: y = 3
, y = − 32
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 Limits involving infinity. Asymptotes Horizontal asymptotes

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 Limits involving infinity. Asymptotes Slant asymptotes

DEFINITION 3.7
If
lim [f (x) − (mx + b)] = 0 (14)
x→∞

then the line y = mx + b is called a slant asymptote.

Where
f (x)
m = lim ,
x→∞ x

b = lim [f (x) − mx]

x→∞

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 Limits involving infinity. Asymptotes Slant asymptotes

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 Limits involving infinity. Asymptotes Slant asymptotes

EXAMPLE 3.5
x3
Find the slant asymptotes of f (x) = 2
x +1
SOLUTION
f (x) x3 1
1
m = lim = lim 2 = lim =1
x→∞ x x→∞ (x + 1)x x→∞ 1 + 1
3
µ 3 ¶ x
x
2
b = lim [f (x) − mx] = lim 2 −x =
x→∞ x→∞ x + 1

x3 − x(x2 + 1) −x − x1
lim = lim 2 = lim =0
x→∞ x2 + 1 x→∞ x + 1 x→∞ 1 + 1
x 2

So the line y = x is a slant asymptote.

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 Limits involving infinity. Asymptotes Slant asymptotes

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 Limits involving infinity. Asymptotes Slant asymptotes

DEFINITION 3.8
Let f be a function defined on some interval (a, +∞).
Then
lim f (x) = +∞ (15)
x→+∞

means that for every M > 0 there is a corresponding

number N > 0 such that
if x > N then f (x) > M

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 Limits involving infinity. Asymptotes Slant asymptotes

lim f (x) = +∞ means that the values of f (x) can be

x→+∞
made arbitrarily large (larger than M, where M is any
positive number) by taking x sufficiently large (larger
than N, where N depends on M ).
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 Limits involving infinity. Asymptotes Slant asymptotes

EXAMPLE 3.6
Find lim (x2 − x)
x→+∞

SOLUTION It would be wrong to write

lim (x2 − x) = lim x2 − lim x = ∞ − ∞

x→+∞ x→+∞ x→+∞

The Limit Laws can not be applied to infinite limits

because ∞ is not a number. However, we can write

lim (x2 − x) = lim x(x − 1) = ∞ × ∞ = ∞

x→+∞ x→+∞

because both x and x − 1 become arbitrarily large and

so their product does too.
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 Limits involving infinity. Asymptotes Slant asymptotes

EXAMPLE 3.7
x2 + x
Find lim
x→∞ 3 − x

SOLUTION We divide the numerator and

denominator by the highest power of x in the
denominator
x2 + x x+1 ∞
lim = lim 3 = = −∞.
x→∞ 3 − x x→∞ − 1 −1
x

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 Discontinuity Discontinuity at a number

DEFINITION 4.1
Function f (x) is discontinuous at a if f (x) is not
continuous at a.
If f (x) is discontinuous at a then at least one of the
following equalities is not true
lim f (x) = lim f (x) = f (a).
x→a+ x→a−

This means that:

1
at least one of the following limits lim f (x) and
x→a+
lim f (x) does not exist or is equal ∞.
x→a−
2
both limits lim f (x) and lim f (x) exist but at least
x→a+ x→a−
one of the above equalities is not true.
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 Discontinuity Removable discontinuity

DEFINITION 4.2
A function f has a removable discontinuity at a if
lim f (x) and lim f (x) exist and either f (a) is undefined
x→a+ x→a−
or
lim f (x) = lim f (x) 6= f (a). (16)
x→a+ x→a−

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 Discontinuity Removable discontinuity

EXAMPLE 4.1
Find all discontinuities of function
½
|x|, x 6= 0
f (x) =
1, x=0

SOLUTION

lim f (x) = lim |x| = lim x = 0

x→0+ x→0+ x→0+

lim f (x) = lim |x| = lim (−x) = 0.

x→0− x→0− x→0−

So lim f (x) = lim f (x) = 0 6= 1 = f (0). Therefore, f has a

x→0+ x→0−
removable discontinuity at a = 0.
Dr. Lê Xuân Đại (HCMUT-OISP) THE LIMIT AND CONTINUITY OF A FUNCTION HCM — 2016. 59 / 68
 Discontinuity Jump discontinuity

DEFINITION 4.3
A function f has a jump discontinuity at a if lim f (x)
x→a+
and lim f (x) exist and
x→a−

lim f (x) 6= lim f (x). (17)

x→a+ x→a−

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 Discontinuity Jump discontinuity

EXAMPLE 4.2
Find all discontinuities of function

1, 
 x>0
f (x) = sign(x) = 0, x=0

 −1, x<0

SOLUTION
lim f (x) = lim 1 = 1
x→0+ x→0+

lim f (x) = lim (−1) = −1.

x→0− x→0−

So lim f (x) 6= lim f (x). Therefore, f has a jump

x→0+ x→0−
discontinuity at a = 0.
Dr. Lê Xuân Đại (HCMUT-OISP) THE LIMIT AND CONTINUITY OF A FUNCTION HCM — 2016. 61 / 68
 Discontinuity Infinite discontinuity

DEFINITION 4.4
A function f has a infinite discontinuity at a if at
least one of the limits lim f (x) or lim f (x) is equal ∞.
x→a+ x→a−

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 Discontinuity Infinite discontinuity

EXAMPLE 4.3
Find all discontinuities of function

 1
, x 6= 0
f (x) = x
 0, x=0

SOLUTION
1
1
lim f (x) = lim = +∞
x→0+ x→0+ x
1
2
lim f (x) = lim = −∞.
x→0− x→0− x
f has a infinite discontinuity at a = 0

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 MatLab

MATL AB: LIMITS

1
Limit at a number: limit(f,x,x0).
Example: syms x; limit(sin(x)/x,x,0) ⇒ ans=1.
2
Limit at a number from the left:
limit(f,x,x0,’left’).
Example: syms x; limit(abs(x-1)/(x-1),x,1,’left’) ⇒
ans=-1.
3
Limit at a number from the right:
limit(f,x,x0,’right’).
Example: syms x; limit(abs(x-1)/(x-1),x,1,’right’)
⇒ ans=1.

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 MatLab

MATL AB: FUNCTIONS

1
Composition: compose(f,g).
Example: syms x; f = xˆ2; g = exp(x); compose(f , g)
⇒ ans = exp(2 ∗ x).
2
Inverse function: finverse(f).
Example: syms x; f=exp(x); finverse(f ) ⇒
ans = log(x).
3
Evaluate function at a number: subs(f,x,a).
Example: syms x; f = xˆ2 + 1; subs(f , x, 2) ⇒ ans = 5.

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 MatLab

MATL AB: MATHEMATICAL EXPRESSION

1
Simplify expression: simplify(f).
Example: syms x; f = (sin(x))ˆ2 + (cos(x))ˆ2;
simplify(f ) ⇒ ans = 1.
2
Simple expression: simple(f).
Example: syms x; f = (x + 1) ∗ x ∗ (x − 1); simple(f ) ⇒
ans = xˆ3 − x.

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 MatLab

MATL AB: INPUT - OUTPUT

1
Input: input(’Input x’, x)
2
Output: disp(’The value of x is’, x)

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 MatLab

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

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