Module 1 in Math 4
Module 1 in Math 4
1. Overview
This module covers the key concepts of limits of functions. Throughout the module, you will
illustrate the limit of a function using table of values and graphs. Also, you will be able to distinguish
the limit of a given function and a constant, as well as, illustrate the different limit laws. Moreover, at
the end of this module, you will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the basic concepts of the
limit of a function.
Opening Prayer
God our Father, we come to you in our need to ask your protection against the COVID-19
that has disturbed and even claimed lives.
We pray that you guide the people tasked to find cures for this disease and to stem its
transmission.
Protect the medical experts that they may minister to the sick with competence and
compassion.
We pray for those afflicted, may they be restored to health soon.
Protect those who care for them. Grant eternal rest to those who have died.
Give us the grace in this trying time to work for the good of all and to help those in need.
We implore you to stop the spread of this virus and to save us from our fears.
Grant all these through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son who lives and reigns with you, in the
unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
Dear Mother Mary who assumed into heaven, all the angels and saints acclaim you as our
Queen.
We bless the Lord God who chose you to be our mother of his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
For this, we offer you love and devotion.
Watch over us today with your tender, motherly love.
Lead us always to see and feel the presence of Jesus in our midst, that we may manifest his
kindness, his peace and love for all.
Dear Mother, you are our life, our sweetness, and our hope. We look to you for help in our
needs especially…
(pause and mention special class petitions of the day).
May this day be an opportunity for us all to be like you, O wise (biasa), kind (maganaca) and
loving (mayap) Virgin Mary. Amen.
Hail Mary…
Our Lady Assumed into heaven,
Pray for us.
Motivation
Limited or Unlimited???
Calculus deals mainly with the process of restriction as it quantifies the relationship between two
variables or numbers.
The definition of the limit method essentially leads to the analysis of calculus. The following
diagram can be used to illustrate it:
Mathematical functions are representations of real-life phenomena, as you have found in general
mathematics. Functions usually occur in various forms, and they can be interpreted in several ways.
You can write them in terms of equation, table of values, and graphical. A significant representation
is the graph of a function, since it visually portrays the behavior of the function under consideration.
Using the principle of limits, the behavior of functions can also be defined. Informally speaking,
when 𝑥 reaches a particular value, the limit of a function refers to its "intended" value.
𝑥−4
To understand this concept, consider the function defined by 𝑓(𝑥) = . By substitution,
𝑥 2 −16
0−4 −4 𝟏
𝑓(0) = 2
= =
0 − 16 −16 𝟒
1
Also, as the values of 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑒 to 0, then the values of 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑒 to 4 or (0.25). This is
shown in table 1.1.
𝑥−4
Table 1.1. Table of values for 𝑓(𝑥) =
𝑥2 −16
as 𝑥approaches 0.
The case is different when 𝑥 = 4. By substitution, 𝑓(4) does not exist, because the denominator
1
is 0. However, when the values of 𝑥 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑒 𝑡𝑜 4, the values of 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑒 𝑡𝑜 8 (𝑜𝑟 0.125),
as evident in table 1.2.
𝑥−4
Table 1.2 Table of values for 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥2 −16 as 𝑥approaches 4.
The limit of function was demonstrated in both cases. In the first case, the “limit of 𝑓 as 𝑥
approaches 0 is 0.25” because the function comes closer to the real number 0.25 as 𝑥 comes closer to
𝑥−4
0. Since, 𝑓(𝑥) = then this can be written as
𝑥2 −16
𝑥−4
lim = 𝟎. 𝟐𝟓
𝑥→0 𝑥2 − 16
For the second case, we write
𝑥−4
lim = 𝟎. 𝟏𝟐𝟓
𝑥→4 𝑥2 − 16
Prepared by: Ms. Camille D. Franco 3 | Page
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
MATH 4: BASIC CALCULUS
2nd Semester | AY 2020-2021
Activity 1.1
5. lim (6𝑥 − 3)
𝑥→−1
It will be easier to evaluate limits if one knows the graph of 𝑓(𝑥), as 𝑥 approaches the values given to
𝑐.
𝑥−4 𝑥−4
Consider again 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥2 −16. This is an example of rational function. The graph of 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥2 −16
𝑥−4
also shows that lim 𝑥2−16 = 0.125, as shown in figure 1.1.
𝑥→4
At this point, below shows the formal definition of the limit of a function.
Now, investigate the limit of a function using (𝑎) table of values and (𝑏) graphing: lim(1 + 3𝑥)
𝑥→2
a. Using table of values
Based from the table of values, we can say that lim(1 + 3𝑥) = 𝟕.
𝑥→2
b. Using the graph
𝑥+1 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 < 4
lim 𝑓(𝑥) if 𝑓(𝑥) = {
𝑥→4 (𝑥 − 4)2 + 3 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 ≥ 4
This looks a bit different, but the logic and procedure are exactly the same. We still approach the
constant 4 from the left and from the right, but note that we should evaluate the appropriate
corresponding functional expression. In this case, when 𝑥 𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑠 4 from the left, the values
taken should be substituted in 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 1. Indeed, this is the part of function which accepts values
less than 4. So,
On the other hand, when 𝑥 approaches 4 from the right, the values taken should be substituted in
𝑓(𝑥) = (𝑥 − 4)2 + 3. So,
Observe that the values that 𝑓(𝑥) approaches are not equal, namely, 𝑓(𝑥) approaches 5 from the left
while it approaches 3 from the right. In such a case, we say that the limit of the given function
𝑑𝑜𝑒𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑒𝑥𝑖𝑠𝑡 (𝐃𝐍𝐄). In symbols,
lim 𝑓(𝑥) 𝐃𝐍𝐄.
𝑥→4
b. Using the graph
As shown on the graph, 𝑓(𝑥) approaches 5 from the left while it approaches 3 from the right. Hence,
the limit of the given function 𝑑𝑜𝑒𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑒𝑥𝑖𝑠𝑡 (𝐃𝐍𝐄).
Remark 1: We need an important fact to highlight. Since “DNE” is not a value, we do not say that
lim 𝑓(𝑥) “equals DNE”, nor do we write “lim 𝑓(𝑥) = DNE”. In the previous example, “DNE" indicated
𝑥→4 𝑥→4
that as its variable approaches c from the left and from the right, the function moves in various
1
directions. In other cases, the limit fails to exist because it is undefined, such as for lim 𝑥 which leads
𝑥→0
to division of 1 by zero.
Remark 2: If 𝑥 approaches 𝑐 from the left, or through values less than 𝑐, then we write lim− 𝑓(𝑥). If
𝑥→𝑐
𝑥 approaches 𝑐 from the right, or through values greater than 𝑐, then we write lim+ 𝑓(𝑥).
𝑥→𝑐
Furthermore, we say lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐿 if and only if lim− 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐿 and lim+ 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐿.
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
Existence of a Limit
The limit of a function as 𝑥 → 𝑐 exists if
• 𝑓(𝑐) is defined; or
• 𝑓 approaches the same value as 𝑥 moves closer to 𝑐 from both directions.
Activity 1.2
2. lim 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥→2
3. lim 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥→1
4. lim 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥→3
5. lim 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥→5
The discussion and examples in Lesson 1 will mostly be remembered on this lesson. Consider
again
𝑥−4
lim .
𝑥→0 𝑥2 − 16
Recall that its table of values is:
𝑥−4
Which results to lim 𝑥2 −16 = 0.25.
𝑥→0
Now, if you will substitute 0 as the value of 𝑥 on the function, 𝑓(0) = 0.25. Hence, in this example,
lim 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓(0) are equal. Notice that the same holds for the next examples discussed:
𝑥→0
On this example you see that lim 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑓(𝑐) are not the same.
𝑥→𝑐
Activity 2.1
−𝟐
−𝟏/𝟐
0
1
3
4
You have previously learned that a function's limit can be evaluated in two ways: (1) build a table
of values and study the behavior of the values of the function as x approaches its indicated value, or
(2) draw the function's graph and study the behavior of the function as it approaches the value of x
from both directions. But these approaches can be repetitive and time-consuming. Nonetheless, it
can help simplify this method by following some rules on limits.
Let 𝑐 and 𝑘 be real number so that lim 𝑓(𝑥) and lim 𝑔(𝑥) exist.
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
1. Constant Rule
The limit of a constant is itself. If 𝑘 is any constant, then
lim 𝑘 = 𝑘.
𝑥→𝑐
For example,
i. lim 2 = 2
𝑥→𝑐
ii. lim −3.14 = −3.14
𝑥→𝑐
iii. lim 789 = 789
𝑥→3
2. Identity Rule
The limit of 𝑥 as 𝑥 approaches 𝑐 is equal to 𝑐. This may be thought of as the substitution law,
because 𝑥 is simply substituted by 𝑐.
lim 𝑥 = 𝑐
𝑥→𝑐
For example,
i. lim 𝑥 = 9
𝑥→9
ii. lim 𝑥 = 0.5
𝑥→0.5
iii. lim 𝑥 = −10
𝑥→−10
3. Sum Rule
The limit of a sum of functions is the sum of the limits of the individual functions.
lim[𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥)] = lim 𝑓(𝑥) + lim 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
4. Difference Rule
The limit of a difference of functions is the difference of their limits.
lim[𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑔(𝑥)] = lim 𝑓(𝑥) − lim 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
6. Product Rule
This is similar to the Addition and Subtraction Rules, with multiplication replacing addition
operation involved. Thus, the limit of a product of functions is equal to the product of their limits.
lim[𝑓(𝑥) . 𝑔(𝑥)] = lim 𝑓(𝑥) . lim 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
7. Quotient Rule
The limit of a quotient of functions is equal to the quotient of the limits of the individual functions,
provided that the denominator limit is not equal to 0 (lim 𝑔(𝑥) ≠ 0).
𝑥→𝑐
𝑓(𝑥) 𝑥→𝑐 lim 𝑓(𝑥)
lim =
𝑥→𝑐 𝑔(𝑥) lim 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑥→𝑐
8. Power Rule
The limit of an integer power 𝑝 of a function is just the power of the limit of the function.
𝑝
lim(𝑓(𝑥)) = [lim 𝑓(𝑥)]𝑝
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
9. Root Rule
This states that if 𝑛 is a positive integer, the limit of the 𝑛𝑡ℎ root of a function is just the 𝑛𝑡ℎ root
of the limit of the function, provided that the 𝑛𝑡ℎ root of the limit is a real number. Thus, it is
important to keep in mind that if 𝑛 is even, the limit of the function must be positive.
lim 𝑛√𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑛√lim 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
Activity 3.1
A. Evaluate each limit by building a table of values sufficiently close to the indicated value of 𝑐.
1. lim1 4𝑥
𝑥→
2
𝑥
2. lim
𝑥→−3 3
3. lim (𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 6)
𝑥→0
B. Evaluate each indicated limit using the given graph as well as 𝑓(𝑐). Identify whether lim 𝑓(𝑥) and
𝑥→𝑐
𝑓(𝑐) are equal or unequal at the given value of 𝑐.
−𝟒
−𝟑
0
½
1
4
3
C. Compute the following limits given lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 4, lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 12, and lim ℎ(𝑥) = −3
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
1. lim(4. 𝑓(𝑥) + ℎ(𝑥))
𝑥→𝑐
2. lim 𝑓(𝑥). 𝑔(𝑥). ℎ(𝑥)
𝑥→𝑐
3. lim √−𝑔(𝑥). ℎ(𝑥)
𝑥→𝑐
𝑔(𝑥)
4. lim 2
𝑥→𝑐 (ℎ(𝑥))
𝑔(𝑥)
5. lim 2 . 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥→𝑐 (ℎ(𝑥))
5. Assignment (optional)
As the value of function 𝑓 gets arbitrarily close to the number 𝐿 for all the values of 𝑥 sufficiently close
to 𝑐, then the limit of 𝑓(𝑥) as 𝑥 𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑠 𝑐 is 𝐿. This is written as lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐿.
𝑥→𝑐
The limit of a function as it approaches 𝑥 = 𝑐 is not necessarily equal to its value at 𝑐. Thus, lim 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥→𝑐
can assume a value different from 𝑓(𝑐).
“DNE” is not a value, we do not say that lim 𝑓(𝑥) “equals DNE”, nor do we write “lim 𝑓(𝑥) = DNE”.
𝑥→4 𝑥→4
The limit of a function as 𝑥 → 𝑐 exists if 𝑓(𝑐) is defined; or 𝑓 approaches the same value as 𝑥 moves
closer to 𝑐 from both directions.
Rules on limits are used to simplify the limits of functions. This includes constant rule, identity rule,
sum rule, difference rule, constant multiple rule, product rule, quotient rule, power rule, and root
rule.
7. Evaluation:
Quiz 1
Closing Prayer
Pope Francis prayer during the pandemic to Our Lady of Salus Populi
Romani (First Period)
O Mary, You shine continuously on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope. We entrust
ourselves to you, Health of the Sick, who, at the foot of the cross, were united with Jesus’
suffering, and persevered in your faith. “Protectress of the Roman people”, you know our
needs, and we know that you will provide, so that, as at Cana in Galilee, joy and celebration
may return after this time of trial. Help us, Mother of Divine Love, to conform ourselves to the
will of the Father and to do what Jesus tells us. For he took upon himself our suffering, and
burdened himself with our sorrows to bring us, through the cross, to the joy of the
Resurrection. Amen.
Let us pray:
Glory be, ….
References:
Canlapan, R. B., [Link]. (2017). DIWA Senior High School Series Basic Calculus. Makati City. Diwa
Learning Systems, Inc.