Section 2.

1 Introduction to Calculus
What is Calculus?

Calculus is ____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Note: This definition is in your teachers’ own words.

A quick description of calculus usually refers to the study of _________________________________________ and

________________________________________. Although this true, a better description would be calculus is the

study of ______________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

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 Section 2.2 The Limit of a Function
Intuitive Definition of a Limit

Suppose 𝑓(𝑥) is defined when 𝑥 is near the number 𝑎. Then we write ____________________________________

And say, _____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

In technical terms this means if we can make the values of 𝑓(𝑥) arbitrarily close to 𝐿 by restricting 𝑥 to be

sufficiently close to 𝑎 but not equal to 𝑎. The idea of arbitrarily and sufficiently close will be discussed in section

2.4.

Ways to find a limit: 1) ___________________________________

Example: Use a table of values to estimate the limit. *Show how to evaluate on calculator
$%& !'!
1) lim
!→# !!

𝑥 𝑓(𝑥)

0.5

0.1

0.005

-0.005

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Example Cont.: Use a table of values to estimate the limit.

! ( $#!
2) lim
!→# ! ( $%

𝑥 𝑓(𝑥)

2.9

2.99

2.999

3.001

3.01

3.1

'
3) lim sin ' (
!→& !

𝑥 𝑓(𝑥)

1/2

1/3

1/4

1/10

1/100

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Ways to find a limit: 2) ___________________________________

One-Sided Limits:

The left-hand limit of 𝑓(𝑥) as 𝑥 approaches 𝑎 is written as ______________________________________

And means that we approach 𝑎 _______ _____________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

The right-hand limit of 𝑓(𝑥) as 𝑥 approaches 𝑎 is written as _____________________________________

And means that we approach 𝑎 _______ _____________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

Theorem: lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐿 if and only if ____________________________________________________________

!→(

This states the limit as 𝑥 approaches 𝑎 only exists if ____________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

Example: State the value of the limits if they exist.

1) lim" 𝑓(𝑥) = _________

!→)

2) lim# 𝑓(𝑥) = _________

!→)

3) lim 𝑓(𝑥) = _________

!→)

4) 𝑓(3) = _________

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Example: State the value of the limits if they exist.

1) lim ℎ(𝑥) = _________

!→)

2) lim* ℎ(𝑥) = _________

!→&

3) ℎ(0) = _________ 4) lim + ℎ(𝑥) = _________

!→$#

(S) 5) lim ℎ(𝑥) = _________ (S) 6) ℎ(−3) = _________

!→$#

(S) 7) lim+ ℎ(𝑥) = _________ (S) 8) lim* ℎ(𝑥) = _________

!→* !→*

Example: A patient receives a 150-mg injection of a drug every 4 hours. The graph shows the amount of 𝑓(𝑡) of the

drug in the bloodstream after 𝑡 hours. Estimate the limits below and explain the significance of these one-sided

limits.

lim 𝑓(𝑡) = _________

+→,)+

lim 𝑓(𝑡) = _________

+→,)*

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Infinite Limits:

Let 𝑓(𝑥) be a function defined on both sides of 𝑎, except possibly 𝑎 itself. Then, we write ____________________.

And say, _____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

This means that the values of 𝑓(𝑥) become arbitrarily large by taking 𝑥 sufficiently close to 𝑎, but not equal to 𝑎.

One-Sided Infinite Limits

Similar definitions can be given for one-sided infinite limits.

a) lim+ 𝑓(𝑥) = ∞ b) lim* 𝑓(𝑥) = ∞

!→( !→(

c) lim+ 𝑓(𝑥) = −∞ d) lim* 𝑓(𝑥) = −∞

!→( !→(

(S) Example: Match the definitions above to their graph.

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The vertical line _____________________ is called a __________________________________________ of the

curve 𝑦 = 𝑓(𝑥) if at least one of the following statements is true:

1) ______________________________________

2) ______________________________________

3) ______________________________________

Example: State the value of the limits if they exist and state the vertical asymptotes of the function.

1) lim 𝐴(𝑥) = _________

!→$#

2) lim+ 𝐴(𝑥) = _________

!→)

3) lim* 𝐴(𝑥) = _________ 4) lim 𝐴(𝑥) = _________

!→) !→$,

Ways to find a limit: 3) ___________________________________

Analytically means ______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

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Direct Substitution Property: If 𝑓(𝑥) is a _______________________________________________________or a

__________________________________________________________________ and 𝑎 is in the domain of 𝑓, then

lim 𝑓(𝑥) = _______________

!→(

Example: Find the limit using the direct substitution property.

1) lim (𝑥 - − 3𝑥)(𝑥 ) + 5𝑥 + 3) = ___________

!→$,

+ ( $)
2) lim = __________
!→) + , $#+.*

)! ( .#!.,
(S) 3) lim = ________
!→, ! ( $)!$#

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Factoring/Simplifying: There are times when the direct substitution property will not work however, the function

possibly could be factored and be represented in a simplified form by the cancellation of terms. In simplified form

the direct substitution property could possibly be applied.

Example: Evaluate the limit if it exists.

+ - $,
1) lim = ___________
+→, + , $,

)! ( .#!.,
2) lim = __________
!→$, ! ( $)!$#

. .
$
3) lim / ,
= ________
!→# !$#

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Example Cont.: Evaluate the limit if it exists.

! ( .-!
(S) 4) lim = ________
!→$- ! ( $!$)&

(#./)( $%
(S) 5) lim = ________
/→& /

Other Techniques: If the function cannot be factored or after factoring the direct substitution still does not apply

other techniques may be required.

Example: Evaluate the limit if it exists.

√-2.,$#
1) lim = ________ (Multiply by conjugate)
2→) 2$)

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Example Cont.: Evaluate the limit if it exists.

4 ( $,
2) lim = ________ (Infinite limit, evaluate left and right limits of 𝑎)
4→, 4 ( $)4$,

$,
3) lim = ________ (Infinite limit, evaluate left and right limits of 𝑎)
!→- (!$-)(

√! ( .%$*
(S) 4) lim = ________
!→$- !.-

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