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Section 2.3 : One-Sided Limits

  1. Below is the graph of \(f\left( x \right)\). For each of the given points determine the value of \(f\left( a \right)\), \(\mathop {\lim }\limits_{x \to {a^{\, - }}} f\left( x \right)\), \(\mathop {\lim }\limits_{x \to {a^{\, + }}} f\left( x \right)\), and \(\mathop {\lim }\limits_{x \to a} f\left( x \right)\). If any of the quantities do not exist clearly explain why.
    1. \(a = - 4\)
    2. \(a = - 1\)
    3. \(a = 2\)
    4. \(a = 4\)
    Solution
    The graph of a function on \(-6 \le x \le 4.7\) made up of three pieces.  The first piece starts at about (-6,2), rises to a peak at about (-5,4) and falls to a closed dot at (-4,3).  The second piece starts at an open dot at (-4,-2), rises through a closed dot at (-1,4) to a peak of just over 5 near \(x = 0\) and then falls to a closed dot at (2,-1).  The third piece starts at an open dot at (2,5), rises to a peak of about 6 near \(x = 2.7\) and then falls, passing through an open dot at (4,2) and continuing down to below -3.
  2. Below is the graph of \(f\left( x \right)\). For each of the given points determine the value of \(f\left( a \right)\), \(\mathop {\lim }\limits_{x \to {a^{\, - }}} f\left( x \right)\), \(\mathop {\lim }\limits_{x \to {a^{\, + }}} f\left( x \right)\), and \(\mathop {\lim }\limits_{x \to a} f\left( x \right)\). If any of the quantities do not exist clearly explain why.
    1. \(a = - 2\)
    2. \(a = 1\)
    3. \(a = 3\)
    4. \(a = 5\)
    Solution
    The graph of a function on \(-4 \le x \le 5.5\) made up of three pieces.  The first piece is level at \(y = 4\) starting at \(x = -4\), dips down to about 2 near \(x = -2.4\) and then oscillates rapidly between 2 and 4 as it approaches \(x = -2\) from the left.  The second piece starts at a closed dot at (-2,-1), rises to an open dot at (1,3) and then falls to an open dot at (3,1).  There is also a closed dot at (1,4) above the open dot at \(x = 1\) and a closed dot at (3,-2).  The third piece is a straight line that starts at an open dot at (3,-3), rises through a closed dot at (5,4) and continues upward.
  3. Sketch a graph of a function that satisfies each of the following conditions. \[\mathop {\lim }\limits_{x \to {2^{\, - }}} f\left( x \right) = 1\hspace{0.75in}\mathop {\lim }\limits_{x \to {2^{\, + }}} f\left( x \right) = - 4\hspace{0.75in}f\left( 2 \right) = 1\] Solution
  4. Sketch a graph of a function that satisfies each of the following conditions. \[\begin{array}{ccl}\mathop {\lim }\limits_{x \to {3^{\, - }}} f\left( x \right) = 0 & \hspace{0.5in}\mathop {\lim }\limits_{x \to {3^{\, + }}} f\left( x \right) = 4 & \hspace{0.5in}f\left( 3 \right){\mbox{ does not exist}}\\ \mathop {\lim }\limits_{x \to - 1} f\left( x \right) = - 3 & \hspace{0.5in} f\left( { - 1} \right) = 2 & \end{array}\] Solution