One-sided limits

Calculus
The Language of Sciences

February 1, 2006

The Language of Sciences

Calculus

One-sided limits

Example

One-sided limits
What is the reasonable value of x 1 at x = 1?

The Language of Sciences

Calculus

One-sided limits

Example

One-sided limits
What is the reasonable value of Clearly the value should be 0. x 1 at x = 1?

The Language of Sciences

Calculus

One-sided limits

Example

One-sided limits
What is the reasonable value of x 1 at x = 1? Clearly the value should be 0. Its value at 1 is 0 if we investigate it with the values at x > 1.

The Language of Sciences

Calculus

One-sided limits

Example

One-sided limits
What is the reasonable value of x 1 at x = 1? Clearly the value should be 0. Its value at 1 is 0 if we investigate it with the values at x > 1. In this situation that we only consider the x from one side, we call it one-sided limit.

The Language of Sciences

Calculus

One-sided limits

Example

One-sided limits
What is the reasonable value of x 1 at x = 1? Clearly the value should be 0. Its value at 1 is 0 if we investigate it with the values at x > 1. In this situation that we only consider the x from one side, we call it one-sided limit. Denition: If a function is dened for x > c that is close to c and f (x) is closer as closer to L as x goes to and greater than c, we say f has right limit L at c and denoted as lim f (x) = L.
xc+

The Language of Sciences

Calculus

One-sided limits

Example

One-sided limits
What is the reasonable value of x 1 at x = 1? Clearly the value should be 0. Its value at 1 is 0 if we investigate it with the values at x > 1. In this situation that we only consider the x from one side, we call it one-sided limit. Denition: If a function is dened for x > c that is close to c and f (x) is closer as closer to L as x goes to and greater than c, we say f has right limit L at c and denoted as lim f (x) = L.
xc+

Similar one can dene lim f (x) = L.

xc

The Language of Sciences

Calculus

One-sided limits

Example

Let H(x) be the Heaviside function. The Heaviside function is equal to 1 if the input value is greater than or equal to zero and equal to 0 otherwise.

The Language of Sciences

Calculus

One-sided limits

Example

Let H(x) be the Heaviside function. The Heaviside function is equal to 1 if the input value is greater than or equal to zero and equal to 0 otherwise. Find lim H(x) and lim H(x).
x0 x0+

The Language of Sciences

Calculus

One-sided limits

Example

Let H(x) be the Heaviside function. The Heaviside function is equal to 1 if the input value is greater than or equal to zero and equal to 0 otherwise. Find lim H(x) and lim H(x).
x0 x0 x0+ x0+

Actually lim H(x) = 0 and lim H(x) = 1.

The Language of Sciences

Calculus

One-sided limits

Example

Let H(x) be the Heaviside function. The Heaviside function is equal to 1 if the input value is greater than or equal to zero and equal to 0 otherwise. Find lim H(x) and lim H(x).
x0 x0 x0+ x0+

Actually lim H(x) = 0 and lim H(x) = 1.

6

1
-

The Language of Sciences

Calculus

One-sided limits

Example

Let the function be dened as f (x) =

x 2 4 x2

x =2 100 x = 2

The Language of Sciences

Calculus

One-sided limits

Example

Let the function be dened as f (x) = Find lim f (x).

x2

x 2 4 x2

x =2 100 x = 2

The Language of Sciences

Calculus

One-sided limits

Example

Let the function be dened as f (x) = Find lim f (x).

x2 2 4 Since xx2

x 2 4 x2

x =2 100 x = 2

= x + 2 for all x = 2, we have lim f (x) = 4.

x2

The Language of Sciences

Calculus

One-sided limits

Example

Let the function be dened as f (x) =

x2 x 1 2x x > 1

The Language of Sciences

Calculus

One-sided limits

Example

Let the function be dened as f (x) = Find lim f (x).

x1

x2 x 1 2x x > 1

The Language of Sciences

Calculus

One-sided limits

Example

Let the function be dened as f (x) = Find lim f (x).

x1

x2 x 1 2x x > 1

Clearly lim f (x) = lim x 2 = 1.

x1 x1+ x1 x1

And lim f (x) = lim (2 x) = 1. Then lim f (x) = 1.

x1

The Language of Sciences

Calculus

One-sided limits

Example

1.5

0.5

0.5

1.5
The Language of Sciences Calculus

One-sided limits

Example

Now if we dene g (x) =

x <1 2 x =1 2x x >1

x2

1.5

0.5

0.5

The Language of Sciences

Calculus

One-sided limits

Example

lim g (x) = 1.
x1

The Language of Sciences

Calculus