Limit and Continuity

Homework Packet
Find the value of each limit. For a limit that does not exist, state why.
1.

lim 3x 2 (2 x 1)

lim x 3 2 x 2 3x 3

2.

x 12

1 1
3 2 1
2 2
3
3
1 1
4
2

x 1

3.

lim ( x 6)

2
4. lim x 5 x 6

x 2

2 6

x 2

5. lim 2 tan

tan
6
6
2 1
2

36 3 36 3
2

7. lim x21

x 1 x 1

0
Indeterminate
0

x 1
x 0 x 1 x 1

lim

lim
x 0

1
1

x 1 2

=7

x2

=5

( x 4) 2 16
x
x 0

6. lim

lim

x 4 4 x 4 4

x 0

lim
x 0

x x 8
lim x 8 8
x 0
x

2
8. lim x 23x 2

x 2

0
Indeterminate
0

x 4

3
2
9. lim 5 x4 8 x 2

x 0 3 x 16 x

0
Indeterminate
0

x 2 (5 x 8)
lim 2 2
x 0 x (3 x 16)
(5 x 8)
1
lim

2
x 0 (3 x 16)
2

(2 x) 3 8
x
x 0

11. lim

x 0

=-

0
Indeterminate
0

2
2 x 2 2 x 2 2 x 4

lim
x 0
x
2
x 2 x 2 2 x 4

lim
x 0
x
2
lim 2 x 2 2 x 4 12

x 0

f ( x h)f ( x )
13. lim
if f(x) = 3x2 2x
h
h0

10. lim

1 1
x2 2

( x h) 2 2( x h) 3 ( x 2 2 x 3)
h
h 0

12. lim

= 2x + 2

2 x 2 4 x, x 2

14. lim f ( x) if f ( x)
x 2
4 sin x , x 2

= 6x - 2
Omit for now!

15. lim e x cos x

16. lim

e 3

x 3

17.

lim x 3

x 3

x 3

x 3 2
x 1 x 1

18.

2x 2 9x 9
x 2 9
x 3

lim

=-

19. lim

x 0

1 1
x 2 2

20.

x 2

2 x,
lim 2
x 2
x 2 x, x 2

Omit for now!

=-

21. If lim f ( x) 2 and lim g ( x) 4 , find each of the following limits. Show your analysis applying
x 3

x 3

the properties of limits.

5 f ( x)
a. lim

x 3 g ( x )

b. lim f ( x) 2 g ( x)

= -5/2

=-6

e. lim 3 f ( x) g ( x)

f. lim
x 3

= 10

= - 2/3

g ( x)
x 3 8

d. lim

x 3

4 f ( x)

x 3

x 3

=-

c. lim

f ( x) g ( x)
12

22. If lim f ( x) 0 and lim g ( x) 3 , find each of the following limits. Show your analysis applying
x 4

x 4

the properties of limits.

g ( x)
a. lim
f

x 4 ( x ) 1

b. lim xf ( x)
x 4

=-3

=0

d. lim g ( x) 3

e. lim g 2 ( x)

x 4

=6

x 4

=9

Find the value of each limit. For a limit that does not exist, state why.
0
Indeterminate
0

2
23. lim cos

2 1 sin

lim

1 sin 1 sin 2
1 sin

2 x 2 3x,

25. lim
x 38 cos x ,
3

x3

26. lim 2 sin 3

0

x3

=6

=9

27.

x 0

=2

1 sin 2
lim

1 sin
2

24. lim x sin x

lim sin2 x

x 0 2 x x

28. lim 5 x sin 3 x

x 0

= -1
=8

29. lim sin 2 x

30. lim 2 sin 4 x

= 1/3

= 8/3

x 0 6 x

lim cos tan

31.

x 0

32. lim 3 3 cos

0

= 1/3

=0

33. lim cos

34. lim

cot

1 tan
sin
0 cos

=1

3x

= -1

3
35. lim c 27

( x 3) 3 8
x 1
x 1

36.

c 3 c 3

lim

= 27
= 12

Below are tables of values for given types of functions. For each table, the type of function represented by the
table is given. Use your knowledge of the numerical behavior of each type of function to find the indicated
limits. For limits that do not exist, write D.N.E.
37. Exponential Function

a) lim H ( x) = -
x

c) lim H ( x) = 3

b) lim H ( x) = 1
x 1

38. Rational Function

a) lim G( x) =

b)

d) lim G( x) =

e) lim G ( x) =

g) lim G( x) =

h) lim G( x) =

x 2

x1

lim G( x)

x 2

x 1

c)

lim G( x) =

x 2

f) lim G ( x) =
x 1

39. Rational Function

a) lim H ( x) =
x

b) lim H ( x) =

x1

c) lim H ( x) =

-7/3

x 4

-2.33
d) lim G( x) =
x 4

e) lim G( x) = DNE
x 4

If they exist, determine the indicated values below each graph. For limits that do not exist, write D.N.E.
40. The graph of h(x) is given.

a) lim h( x) = 2
x 1

c) lim h( x) = DNE
x1

e) h(2) = 4

41. The graph of g(x) is given.

b) lim h( x) = -3
x 1

d) h(1) = -1
f) lim h( x) =
x 2

a) lim g ( x) =

b) lim g ( x) =

c) lim g ( x) =

d) lim g ( x) =

e) g(4) =

f) lim g ( x) =

x 0

x 1

x 4

x3

42. The graph of f(x) is given.

a) lim f ( x) = 1

a) lim q( x) =

b) lim q( x) =

d) lim f ( x) =

c) lim q( x) =

d) lim q( x) =

e) q(3) =

f) q(4) =

c) lim f ( x) =

e) lim f ( x) =

x 1

b) lim f ( x) =

x0

43. The graph of q(x) is given.

x0

x 1

f) lim f ( x)
x 1

x 4

DNE

x 3

x 4

Given the graph of the function, g(x), below, determine if the statements are true or false. For statements that
are false, explain why.
44. lim g ( x) 2
x 1

lim g ( x) DNE
False,

x 1

lim g ( x) 2 1 lim g ( x)

x 1

x 1

45. lim g ( x) exists for every value of c on the interval (1, 1).
x c

True
46. lim g ( x) does not exist.
x 2

False, explanation needed

Sketch a graph of a function that fits the requirements described below.

lim f ( x) 3

46.

x 1

lim f ( x) 1

x 1

f(1) = 1

47.

lim

x 2

f ( x)

lim f ( x)

x 2

f(2) is undefined but lim f ( x) exists.

ANSWERS VARY

x 2

ANSWERS VARY

48. In exercise 46, does lim f ( x) exist? Explain why or why not.
x1

lim f ( x) = dne
x1

Find the limit of each of the following exponential functions. Sketch a graph of each function to aid in your
determination of the limit.
49. lim (0.5) x 2 3
x

= -

50. lim 2 x 2 3
x

=3

51.
=3

52. Using the graph of g(x) pictured to the right, find each of the following
limits.
a. lim g ( x) ___ 1______

b.

c. lim g ( x) ____ 0 _____

d.

x 1

lim g ( x) _________

lim g ( x) _________

x 3

x 2
lim 1
3

Use the graph to the right to find each of the indicated

values below. If a value does not exist, state why.

53. lim F ( x) _________

x

54. lim F ( x) _________

x 2

55.

56.

57.

lim F ( x) _________

x 2

lim F ( x) _________

x 2

lim F ( x) _________

x 2

lim F ( x) _________

60. F(5) = _________

lim F ( x) _________

63.

58. F(4.5) =_________

59.

61. F(1) = _________

62.

64. lim F ( x) _________

65.

67. F(2) = _________

68. F(3) = _________

x 1

x 5

x 1

lim

x 3

F ( x) _________ 66.

lim F ( x) ______

x 1

lim

x 3

F ( x) _____

Find each of the following limits at infinity. What do the results show about the existence of a horizontal
asymptote? Justify your reasoning.
69.

lim

3x 2 5 x 2

70. lim

3x 5

71.

x 2 x 2 3x

2 x 2 3x 1
=0

= -5/2

2x 2 5
x 3x 2
lim

= DNE

Find each of the following limits at infinity. What do the results show about the existence of a horizontal
asymptote? Justify your reasoning.
72.

= -2

lim

2x 1
x2 x

73. lim

= DNE

2x 2 x
2x 2 3

Determine if the function is continuous at each of the

indicated values below. Use the three part definition of
continuity to perform your analysis.

74. x = 5
lim f 1 lim f

x 5

x 5

lim f 1 7 f (5)

x 5

f is not continuous at x 5

75. x = 1
Not Continuous

77. x = 2

Continuous

76. x = 3
Not Continuous

Write a discussion of continuity for each of the functions below. Be sure to include in your discussion where
the function is continuous, and, for the values where the function is not continuous, use the three part definition
to establish discontinuity.
78.

Graph of g(x)

G(x) is continuous everywhere except x = 0, 2. Explanations on why it

isnt continuous using limits must be included

79.

Graph of h(x)

h(x) is continuous everywhere except x = -2, 1. Explanations on why

it isnt continuous using limits must be included

Find the value of a that makes each of the functions below everywhere continuous. Write the two limits that
must be equal in order for the function to be continuous.

4 x 2 , x 1
80. f ( x)
ax 2 1, x 1

x 2 x a, x 2
81. f ( x)
ax 3 x 2 , x 2

lim f ( x) 4 1 3

x 1

lim f ( x) a 1

a = 10/7

x 1

a 1 3
a4

82. For what values of k and m is the function g(x) everywhere continuous? Use limits to set up your
work.

kx 2 m,
x2
ln(2 x 3)
g ( x ) e
, 2 x3
kx m,
x3

k = 16/7 and m = - 15/7

83. Show, using the intermediate value theorem, that the function F(x) = x3 + 2x 1 has a zero on the
interval [0, 1].
F(0) = -1, F(1) = 2
Since F(0) < 0 < F(1), there must be an x value between (0,1) where F(x) is 0.

84. Show, using the intermediate value theorem, whether or not the function g() = 2 2 cos has a
zero on the interval [0, ].

For exercises 85 87, first, verify that the I.V.T. is applicable for the given function on the given interval.
Then, if it is applicable, find the value of the indicated c, guaranteed by the theorem.
85. f(x) = x2 6x + 8

[0, 3]

f(c) = 0

[0, 3]

f(c) = 4

52 ,4

f(c) = 6

C=2

86. g(x) = x3 2x2 + x +2

C=2

87. f ( x)

C=3

x2 x
x 1

For exercises 88 90, determine the vertical asymptotes of each function. Justify your answers by using limits,
showing your numerical analysis.
88. g ( x)

VA: x = - 5

x2 x 6
x5

89. f ( x)

x5
x2 x 2

VA: x = -2, x = 1

90. h( x)

VA: x = 2

2x 2 x 3
x 2 3x 2