II.

ENCOUNTER TIME

❖ Feed backing of IW
How did you go about with the IW 1A? Did you find it difficult?

❖ Content Discussion of the Subject Matter

GUIDE QUESTIONS:
1. What is the definition of the “Limit of a Function”?
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2. How do we find the limit of a function using the table of values?
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3. How do we find the limit of a function using graphs?
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4. How can you relate the limit of a function to real-life situations?

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Limit of a Function

Limits are the backbone of calculus, and calculus is called the Mathematics of
Change. The study of limits is necessary in studying change in great detail. The
evaluation of a particular limit is what underlies the formulation of the derivative and
the integral of a function.

Imagine that you are going to watch a basketball game. Of course, you would
like to sit as close to the players as possible to have the best view of the game, as if
you were in the basketball court yourself. Take note that you cannot actually be in
the court and join the players, but you will be close enough to describe clearly what
is happening in the game.

This is how it is with limits of functions. We will consider functions of a single

variable and study the behavior of the function as its variable approaches a
particular value (a constant). The variable can only take values very, very close to
the constant, but it cannot equal the constant itself. However, the limit will be able
to describe clearly what is happening to the function near that constant.

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 Using the Table of Values

Consider a function 𝑓 of a single variable 𝑥. Consider a constant 𝑐 which the

variable 𝑥 will approach (𝑐 may or may not be in the domain of 𝑓). The limit, to be
denoted by 𝐿, is the unique real value that 𝑓(𝑥) will approach as 𝑥 approaches 𝑐. In
symbols, we write it as

lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐿
𝑥→𝑐

This is read as, ‘‘The limit of 𝑓(𝑥)as 𝑥 approaches 𝑐is 𝐿.” A limit exists if and only if
both corresponding one-sided limits exists and are equal.

Illustrative Examples
DIRECTIONS: Evaluate each limit by making a table of values sufficiently close
to the indicated value of 𝑐.
𝑥 3 −𝑥 2 +3𝑥−3
a. lim 𝑥−1
𝑥→1
b. lim 3𝑥 2
𝑥→−1
𝑥 4 −1
c. lim 𝑥 3 −2𝑥+1
𝑥→2

❖ SOLUTIONS:
𝑥 3 −𝑥 2 +3𝑥−3
a. lim 𝑥−1
𝑥→1
To find the value of the limit using a table of values, we need to
substitute values of 𝑥 that are close to 1(𝑐) and put those values and its
result in a table.
If we set 𝑥 = {0,1,2,3,4} we will get the following values:

As seen in the table, when 𝑥 = 1, 𝑓(𝑥) has no value. It is because

when 𝑥 = 1, the denominator becomes 0 and any number divided by
0 is undefined.
However, using 𝑥 = {0,1,2,3,4} does not give us a definite value of
the limit. Therefore, we need to use another values of 𝑥 that are much
closer to 1 as shown in the tables below.

The first table shows the values of 𝑥 that are in between 0 and 1,
much closer to the constant 1. Table 2 shows the values of 𝑥 that are in
between 1 and 2, much closer to the constant 1.
Based on the first table, as the numbers from 0 gets closer to 1, the
value of the function 𝑓(𝑥) gets closer 4. In the same manner, on the
second table, as the numbers from 2 gets closer to 1, the value of the
function 𝑓(𝑥) gets closer 4.
𝑥 3 −𝑥 2 +3𝑥−3
Therefore, we can safely say that the value of lim 𝑥−1
= 4.
𝑥→1

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 b. lim 3𝑥 2
𝑥→−1
Just like the first example, we need to assign values of 𝑥 that are
close to −1 and evaluate the function at those values. We arrive at the
following table:
𝑥 −1.01 −1.001 −1.0001 −1 −0.999 −0.99 −0.98
𝑓(𝑥) 3.0603 3.006003 3.00060003 2.994003 2.9403 2.8812

Based on the table of values above, we can see that as the value
of 𝑥 gets closer to −1, the value of the function becomes closer to 3.
Therefore,
lim 3𝑥 2 = 3
𝑥→−1

|𝑥−2|
c. lim
𝑥→2 𝑥−2
Assign values of 𝑥 that are close to 2 and evaluate the function at
those values. We arrive at the following table:
𝑥 1.9 1.99 1.999 2 2.001 2.01 2.1
𝑓(𝑥) −1 −1 −1 - 1 1 1

Based on the table of values above, from the left, the limit as 𝑥
approaches 2 is −1, while from the right, the limit as 𝑥 approaches 2 is 1.
A limit exists if and only if both corresponding one-sided limits exists and
are equal. Therefore,
lim 3𝑥 2 = 𝐷𝑁𝐸 (Does Not Exist)
𝑥→−1

Using the Graph of the Function

Consider a function 𝑓 of a single variable 𝑥. Consider a constant 𝑐 which the

variable 𝑥 will approach (𝑐 may or may not be in the domain of 𝑓). The limit, to be
denoted by 𝐿, is the unique real value that 𝑓(𝑥) will approach as 𝑥 approaches𝑐. In
symbols, we write it as

lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐿
𝑥→𝑐

This is read as, ‘‘The limit of 𝑓(𝑥) as 𝑥 approaches 𝑐is 𝐿.” A limit exists if and only if
both corresponding one-sided limits exists and are equal.

Illustrative Examples
DIRECTIONS: Evaluate each indicated limit using the given graph.
a. lim 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥→2
b. lim 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑥→3
c. lim ℎ(𝑥)
𝑥→−2

❖ ANSWERS:
a. lim 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥→2

From the graph, the limit of 𝑓(𝑥) as 𝑥 → 2 from the

left is −1, and the limit of 𝑓(𝑥) as 𝑥 → 2 from the
right is −1 as well.
Since the limit from both sides are equal, then
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = −1
𝑥→2

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 b. lim 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑥→3
From the graph, the limit of 𝑔(𝑥) as 𝑥 → 3 from the
left is 4, and the limit of 𝑔(𝑥) as 𝑥 → 3 from the
right is 4 as well.
Although we can see 𝑔(3) = 2, we should only
focus on the graph of our function.
Since the limit from both sides are equal, then
lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 4
𝑥→3

c. lim ℎ(𝑥)
𝑥→−2

From the graph, the limit of ℎ(𝑥) as 𝑥 → −2 from

the left is −5, while the limit of ℎ(𝑥) as 𝑥 → −2
from the right is 3.
Since the limit from both sides are not equal,
then
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐷𝑁𝐸
𝑥→2

𝒍𝒊𝒎𝒙→𝒄 𝒇(𝒙)vs.𝒇(𝒄)

The limit of a function as it approaches 𝑥 = 𝑐 is not necessarily equal to its value

at 𝑐. Thus 𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑥→𝑐 𝑓(𝑥) can assume a value different from 𝑓(𝑐).

EXAMPLES: Evaluate the indicated sums by using the properties of the summation
notation.

➢ 𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑥→2 (1 + 3𝑥)
Using the following table of values, 𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑥→2 (1 + 3𝑥) = 7.

In comparison, 𝑓(2) = 7. So, in this example, 𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑥→𝑐 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑐).

Notice that the same holds for the next examples:

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 This, however, is not always the case. In contrast to the second example
above, the entries are now unequal:

Does this in any way affect the existence of the limit? Not at all. This
example shows that𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑥→𝑐 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑓(𝑐) may be distinct.

III. ASSESSMENT 1.1

DIRECTIONS: Answer based on what is asked.

II. For each of the following functions, first complete the table and
then, based on the table, find the given limits. If a limit does not
exist, write “DNE”.
𝑥 2 −𝑥−6
1. 𝑓(𝑥) =
𝑥−3

|𝑥−3|
2. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥−3

1
3. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2

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 III. Use the following graph to find each of the following. If a limit does
not exist, write “DNE”.

IV. TAKEAWAY

“The limit of a function at a specified

value of 𝒙 that gives us a value to
which it is not possible to go beyond.
Similarly, we have our own limitations.
We are restricted to do things beyond
our human capacities.”

REFERENCES:

1. Arceo, C. P. (2016). TEACHING GUIDE FOR SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL Basic Calculus
CORE SUBJECT Commission on Higher Education in collaboration with the
Philippine Normal University. Retrieved January 12, 2021, from Academia:
https://www.academia.edu

2. Canlapan, R. B. (2017). Basic Calculus. Makati City: DIWA Learning Systems Inc.

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