Limits and Derivatives

Concept of a Function

y=

2
x

y is a function of x, and the

relation y = x2 describes a function.
We notice that with such a
relation, every value of x
corresponds to one (and only one)
value of y.

Since the value of y depends on a

given value of x, we call y the
dependent variable and x the
independent variable and of the
function
y = x 2.

Notation for a Function : f(x)

The Idea of Limits

The Idea of Limits

x 4
Consider the function f ( x)
x2
2

f(x)

1.9 1.99 1.999 1.9999

2.0001 2.001 2.01 2.1

The Idea of Limits

x 4
Consider the function f ( x)
x2
2

1.9 1.99 1.999 1.9999

f(x) 3.9 3.99 3.999 3.9999

2.0001 2.001 2.01 2.1

un4.0001 4.001 4.01 4.1

defined

The Idea of Limits

Consider the function g ( x) x 2
x

1.9 1.99 1.999 1.9999

2.0001 2.001 2.01 2.1

g(x) 3.9 3.99 3.999 3.9999

4.0001 4.001 4.01 4.1

g ( x) x 2

2
x
O

If a function f(x) is a continuous at x0,

f ( x) f ( x0 ) .
then xlim
x
0

approaches to,
but not equal to

lim f ( x) 4

x 2

lim g ( x) 4
x 2

The Idea of Limits

Consider the function h( x)
x

g(x)

-4

-3

-2

-1

x
x
2

The Idea of Limits

Consider the function h( x)
x

x
x

-4

-3

-2

-1

h(x) -1

-1

-1

-1

undefined

lim h( x) 1

x 0

lim h( x)
x0

lim h( x) 1

x 0

does not exist.

A function f(x) has limit l at x0 if f(x)

can be made as close to l as we please
by taking x sufficiently close to (but
not equal to) x0. We write

lim f ( x) l

x x0

Theorems On Limits

Theorems On Limits

Theorems On Limits

Theorems On Limits

Exercise 12.1
P.7

Limits at Infinity

Limits at Infinity
1
Consider f ( x) 2
x 1

Generalized, if

lim f ( x)

then

k
lim
0
x f ( x )

Theorems of Limits at Infinity

Theorems of Limits at Infinity

Theorems of Limits at Infinity

Theorems of Limits at Infinity

Exercise 12.2
P.13

Theorem

lim

sin

where is measured in radians.

All angles in calculus are

measured in radians.

Exercise 12.3
P.16

The Slope of the Tangent to a Curve

The Slope of the Tangent to a Curve

The slope of the tangent to a curve

y = f(x) with respect to x is defined
as
y
f ( x x) f ( x)
Slope of AT lim
lim
x 0 x
x 0
x

provided that the limit exists.

Exercise 12.4
P.18

Increments

The increment x of a variable is the

change in x from a fixed value x = x0
to another value x = x1.

For any function y = f(x), if the variable x is given

an increment x from x = x0, then the value of y
would change to f(x0 + x) accordingly. Hence
thee is a corresponding increment of y(y) such
that y = f(x0 + x) f(x0).

Derivatives
(A) Definition of Derivative.

The derivative of a function y = f(x)

with respect to x is defined as

y
f ( x x) f ( x)
lim
lim
x 0 x
x 0
x
provided that the limit exists.

The derivative of a function y = f(x)

with respect to x is usually denoted by

dy d
,
f (x),
dx dx

y' ,

f ' ( x).

The process of finding the

derivative of a function is called
differentiation. A function y = f(x)
is said to be differentiable with
respect to x at x = x0 if the
derivative of the function with
respect to x exists at x = x0.

The value of the derivative of y = f(x)

with respect to x at x = x0 is denoted

dy
by
or f ' ( x0 ) .
dx x x0

To obtain the derivative of a

function by its definition is called
differentiation of the function from
first principles.

Exercise 12.5
P.21