LIMIT AND CONTINUITY SYLLABUS

7.1 Limits
7.2 Continuity

Candidates should be able to

a) determine the existence and values of the left-hand limit, right-hand limit and limit of a function;

𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒍
𝒙→𝒂
Or 𝒇(𝒙) → 𝒍 𝒂𝒔 𝒙 → 𝒂
𝑥 approaches the number 𝑎 from the right-hand side 𝐥𝐢𝐦+ 𝒇(𝒙)
𝒙→𝒂

𝑥 approaches the number 𝑎 from the left-hand side 𝐥𝐢𝐦− 𝒇(𝒙)

𝒙→𝒂

𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒍 If 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑜𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑖𝑓 𝐥𝐢𝐦+ 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝐥𝐢𝐦− 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒍, then the 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) 𝒆𝒙𝒊𝒔𝒕
𝒙→𝒂 𝒙→𝒂 𝒙→𝒂 𝒙→𝒂

If 𝐥𝐢𝐦+ 𝒇(𝒙) ≠ 𝐥𝐢𝐦− 𝒇(𝒙), then the 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒆𝒙𝒊𝒔𝒕
𝒙→𝒂 𝒙→𝒂 𝒙→𝒂

b) use the properties of limits

LAW EXAMPLE

𝐚) 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒍 = 𝒍 lim 5 = 5
𝒙→𝒂 𝑥→3

𝐛) 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒙𝒏 = 𝒂𝒏 lim 𝑥 3 = 23 = 8
𝒙→𝒂 𝑥→2

lim 4(2𝑥 3 − 3) = 4 lim (2𝑥 3 − 3)

𝐜) 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒄𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒄 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) 𝑥→−1 𝑥→−1
𝒙→𝒂 𝒙→𝒂 = 4[2(−1)3 − 3]
= 4(−5) = −20

𝐝) 𝐥𝐢𝐦[𝒇(𝒙) ± 𝒈(𝒙)] = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) ± 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈(𝒙)

lim [7𝑥 − 𝑥 2 ] = lim 7𝑥 − lim 𝑥2
𝑥→4 𝑥→4 𝑥→4
𝒙→𝒂 𝒙→𝒂 𝒙→𝒂
= 7(4) – 42 = 44

𝐞) 𝐥𝐢𝐦[𝒇(𝒙) . 𝒈(𝒙)] = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) . 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈(𝒙) lim [𝑥 2 (𝑥 − 6)] = lim 𝑥 2 . lim(𝑥 − 6)
𝑥→5 𝑥→5 𝑥→5
𝒙→𝒂 𝒙→𝒂
𝒙→𝒂 = (52 )(5 – 6) = -25

𝒇(𝒙) 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇( 𝒙) lim 2𝑥 2 +1

𝒙→𝒂 2𝑥 2 +1 2(−2)2 +1 9
𝐟) 𝐥𝐢𝐦 = , 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈(𝒙) ≠ 𝟎 lim = 𝑥→−2
= = −5
𝒙→𝒂 𝒈(𝒙) 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈(𝒙) 𝒙→𝒂 𝑥→−2 𝑥−3 lim 𝑥−3
𝑥→−2
−2−3
𝒙→𝒂

𝒏
𝐠) 𝐥𝐢𝐦[𝒇(𝒙)]𝒏 = [𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙)] 𝐥𝐢𝐦 [𝟐𝒙𝟐 ]𝟐 = [𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝟐𝒙𝟐 ]𝟐 = [𝟐(𝟐)𝟐 ] = 𝟔𝟒
𝟐

𝒙→𝒂 𝒙→𝒂 𝒙→𝟐 𝒙→𝟐

𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝟐𝒙 − 𝟒
√𝒙→𝟏𝟎
√𝟐𝒙 − 𝟒
𝐥𝐢𝐦 =
𝒙→𝟏𝟎 |𝟏 − 𝒙|
𝐡) 𝐥𝐢𝐦 √𝒇(𝒙) = √𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) | 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝟏 − 𝒙|
𝒙→𝟏𝟎
𝒙→𝒂 𝒙→𝒂
√𝟐(𝟏𝟎) − 𝟒 𝟒
= =
|𝟏 − 𝟏𝟎| 𝟗

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 c) determine the continuity of a function at a point and on an interval;

𝑓(𝑥)𝑖𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝑎𝑡 𝑥 = 𝑎 𝑖𝑓 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑜𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑖𝑓

𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝐥𝐢𝐦− 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) exist
𝒙→𝒂+ 𝒙→𝒂 𝒙→𝒂

and 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒇(𝒂)

𝒙→𝒂

d) use the intermediate value theorem.

INTERMEDIATE VALUE THEOREM,

is to prove the existence of roots of equations

If f is a continuous function in a closed interval [a,b] and k is any number between f(a)
and f(b), then there is at least one number c in [a,b] such that 𝒇(𝒄) = 𝒌

If f is a continuous function in a closed interval [a,b] and f(a) and f(b) have opposite
sign, then there is at least one number c in [a,b] such that 𝑓(𝑐) = 𝑘, that is, the equation
𝑓(𝑥) = 0 has at least one root in the interval (a,b)

PAST YEAR QUESTIONS 2013 – 2016

STPM ‘16 P2/no.1

1. The function f is defined by

𝑥2 − 1
, 𝑥 < 1,
𝑥−1
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑚2 − 2, 𝑥 = 1,
|1 − 𝑥|
{ 𝑥 − 1 + 𝑛, 𝑥 > 1,

where m and n are constants.

(a) If lim 𝑓(𝑥) exists, find the value of n [6m]

𝑥→1
(b) If f is continuous at 𝑥 = 1, determine the values of 𝑚. [2m]

[Ans; 𝑛 = 3, 𝑚 = ±2]

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STPM ‘16 UP2/no.1

2. Evaluate
𝑒 2ℎ −1
(a) lim , [2m]
ℎ→0 𝑒 ℎ −1
𝑥−5
(b) lim . [3m]
ℎ→−∞ √4𝑥 2 +3
1
[Ans; 2, − 2 ]

STPM ‘15 P2/no.1

3. Evaluate
6(𝑥−2)
(a) lim , [2m]
𝑥→2 𝑥 3 −8
𝑥−8
(b) lim , [3m]
𝑥→8 √6−√𝑥−2
1
[Ans; 2 , −2√6 ]

STPM ‘14 P2/no.1

4. The function f is defined by

1 − 𝑒 𝑥, 𝑥 < 0,
𝑓(𝑥) = { 1, 𝑥 = 0,
𝑒 𝑥 − 1, 𝑥 > 0,

(a) Determine the existence of the limit of 𝑓(𝑥)as 𝑥 approaches 0. [5m]

(b) State, with a reason, whether 𝑓 is continuous at 𝑥 = 0. Hence, give the interval(s)
on which 𝑓 continuous. [3m]
(c) Sketch the graph of 𝑓. [3m]

[Ans; 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑓(𝑥) exists, 𝑓(x) is not continuous at 𝑥 = 0, {𝑥: 𝑥 < 0 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 > 0}]
𝑥→0

STPM ‘14 UP2/no.1

5. The function f is defined by

𝑥2 − 4
𝑓(𝑥) = {|𝑥 − 2| , 𝑥≠2
4, 𝑥=2

Determine whether f is continuous at 𝑥 = 2 [5m]

[Ans; -4,4, 𝑓(x) is not continuous at 𝑥 = 2]

STPM ‘13 P2/no.1

6. The function f is defined by

4
, 𝑥 < 0,
√4 − 𝑥
𝑓(𝑥) = √2, 𝑥 = 0,
𝑥
, 𝑥 > 0,
{√1 + 𝑥 − 1

(a) Show that lim 𝑓(𝑥) exists. [5m]

𝑥→0
(b) Determine whether f is continuous at 𝑥 = 1 [2m]
[Ans; 𝑓(x) is not continuous at 𝑥 = 0]
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STPM ‘13 UP2/no.1

7. Evaluate
√2𝑥 2 +25−5
(a) lim 𝑥2
, [3m]
𝑥→0
√9𝑥 2 +1
(b) lim . [3m]
𝑥→∞ 3𝑥−1
1
[Ans; 5
, 1 ]

EXERCISE

√𝑥+1−1
1. (a) Find lim [2 marks]
𝑥→0 𝑥
𝑥 2 −4
𝑖𝑓 𝑥 ≠ −2
(b) Given 𝑓(𝑥) = { 𝑥+2
𝑘 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 = −2
Determine the value of 𝑘 so that 𝑓(𝑥) is continuous on (−∞, ∞) [2 marks]
1
[Ans; , 𝑘 = −4 ]
2

 | 1 x |
 3x 2  4 x  1 , x  1,
2. A function f is defined as follows , f ( x)   .
1
 , x 1
 2
Determine whether f is continuous at x = 1. [5 marks]
1 1
[Ans; 2
, − 2 , 𝒇(𝒙)𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒂𝒕 𝒙 = 𝟏 ]

3. The function 𝑓(𝑥) is defined as

𝑥 2 +𝑥−12
|𝑥−3|
,𝑥 <3
𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐴, 𝑥=3
2𝑥 − 𝐵, 3 < 𝑥 ≤ 4
{ 𝐶, 𝑥>4

(a) Find lim− 𝑓(𝑥) and lim+ 𝑓(𝑥) [4 marks]

𝑥→3 𝑥→3
(b) Use the definition of continuity to determine the values of A and B if 𝑓(𝑥) is
continuous at 𝑥 = 3 . ` [3 marks]
(c) For what values of C is 𝑓(𝑥) discontinuous at 𝑥 = 4. [2 marks]
[Ans; −7, 6 − 𝐵, 𝐵 = 13, 𝐴 = −7 , 𝐶 ≠ −5]

4. The function f is defined by

 x 3  1 , if x2
f ( x)  
5  4 x  x , if
2
x2

(a) Determine whether f is continuous at x = 2. [ 4 marks ]

(b) Sketch the graph of f. [ 3 marks ]
(c) Calculate the area bounded by the curve and the x axis. [ 3 marks ]
3
[Ans; 𝑓(2) = 9, 𝒇(𝒙)𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒂𝒕 𝒙 = 𝟐 , 24 4 unit 2 ]

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 2 x3 x
5. Find (a) lim (b) lim [6 marks]
x 1 x 1 x  
9x2  1
1 1
[Ans;(a) - 4 , (𝑏) − 3
]

2 x2  5x
6. (a) Determine whether the limit exists for lim . [3 marks]
x  2.5 2 x  5

 2  x 2  2cos x 
(b) Evaluate lim  x . [3 marks]
 e  e  2cos x 
x 0 x

[Ans;(a) 2.5, −2.5, 𝒍𝒊𝒎𝒊𝒕 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒆𝒙𝒊𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒕 𝒙 = 𝟐. 𝟓 , (𝒃) 𝟏 ]

7. The function 𝑓 is defined by

4
, 𝑥<0
√4 − 𝑥
𝑓(𝑥) = √2, 𝑥=0
𝑥
, 𝑥>0
{√1 + 𝑥 − 1
(a) Show that lim 𝑓(𝑥) exists. [5 marks]
𝑥→0
(b) Determine whether 𝑓 is continuous at 𝑥 = 0. [2 marks]
[Ans; 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑓(𝑥) ≠ 𝑓(0) ∴ 𝑓 is not continuous at 𝑥 = 0 ]
𝑥→0

1 1 
8. (a) Evaluate lim   1. [4 marks]
h 0 h
 1 h 
𝑥 2 −9
,𝑥 ≠3
(b) Function f is defined by 𝑓(𝑥) = {|3−𝑥|
6, 𝑥 = 3
Determine whether f is continuous at x = 3 [3 marks]

1
[Ans; - 2 , 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑓(𝑥) ≠ 𝑙𝑖𝑚− 𝑓(𝑥) ∴ 𝑓 is not continuous at 𝑥 = 3 ]
𝑥→3+ 𝑥→3

 3e x  2, x0
 2
9. A function f is defined by f ( x)   x  4 x  k , 0  x  2 , where p is a constant.
 x  1, x2

(a) Find
(i) lim− 𝑓(𝑥) ,
𝑥→0
(ii) the value of k if f is continuous for x  2 . [4 marks]

(a) State, with a reason, whether f is continuous at x = 2. [3 marks]

lim
[Ans; 5 , k = 5, f is not continuous at x = 2 because f ( x) does not exist.]
x2

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