Marikina High School

SHS STEM-Math Department

Teacher: Dan Russell M. Ventura

Email: russellventura@depedmarikina.ph

BASIC CALCULUS
The Limits of Exponential,
Logarithmic, and Trigonometric
Functions, and Some Special Limits
___

QUARTER 3 - MODULE 2

Review:
Last time, we discussed about finding the limits of polynomial, rational, and radical functions. We
learned that the limits of these functions, 𝑓(𝑥), can be found by plugging in the value of 𝑎 if 𝑓(𝑎) is
defined.
1 1
Say for example lim 2 , since the function, 𝑓(𝑥) = 2 , is defined at 𝑥 = 1, then its limit is 𝑓(𝑎).
𝑥→1 𝑥 −9 𝑥 −9

1 1
𝑓(1) = 2 = − 8
𝑜𝑟 − 0. 125
1 −9
1 1
Hence, lim 2 = − 8
𝑥→1 𝑥 −9

To check this, we can graph the function and observe where f(x) or y approaches as x approaches 1
from its left and right sides.
However, if the function is undefined at 𝑓(𝑎), then we have to check its table of values or graph to see
if the limit exists or not.

1
Take for example, the given function above, lim 2 = 𝐷𝑁𝐸 because the left and right hand limits
𝑥→3 𝑥 −9

as 𝑥 approaches 3 diverges to negative and positive infinity respectively.

Again, we need to examine the table of values or graph of functions, whose 𝑓(𝑎) is undefined, because
not all of them has limits that do not exist.
2
5𝑥 +9𝑥−2
Take for example, lim 𝑥+2
. The function would be undefined at 𝑥 =− 2, since the
𝑥 → −2

denominator would be zero. However, if we are to observe its graph below, we would be able to see
clearly that as x approches -2, its left and right-hand limits are approaching a similar value, the value
where it is undefined.
The table of values belowfurther tells us that the limit exists as x approaches -2 which is 11.

From the left-hand side of 𝑥 =− 2:

x -2.5 -2.1 -2.01 -2.001 -2.0001

y / f(x) -13.5 -11.5 -11.05 -11.005 -11.0005

From the right-hand side of 𝑥 =− 2:

x -1.5 -1.9 -1.99 -1.999 -1.9999

y / f(x) -8.5 -10.5 -10.95 -10.995 -10.9995

EXPONENTIAL, LOGARITHMIC, AND TRIGONOMETRIC FUNCTIONS: A REVIEW

Exponential Function

Exponential functions are functions characterized by their ability to grow fast. We were used to having
a variable 𝑥 in the equation with a numerical exponent. But this time, notice that our independent
variable 𝑥 is the “exponent” while we have the numerical base.

𝑥 𝑥
𝑦 = 𝑎 𝑜𝑟 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎

Observe how our exponential function grows using the table of values below. Say, for example, we
𝑥
have 𝑦 = 3 :

x -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
 y / f(x) 1 1 1 1 1 3 9 27 81
81 27 9 3

Note: We evaluate negative exponents by writing the reciprocal of the number and then solving it like positive
0
exponents. While based on the Zero Exponent Rule, 𝑎 = 1, for any number a, except 0.

Let us also observe, the graph of exponential function using the sample given above:

As you can see from the table of values and the graph above, as we move to the negative side of the
x-axis, we get closer and closer to zero, without ever approaching it. However, if our 𝑥 goes to the
positive side, our graph just grew and will keep on growing at an ever-increasing rate as we continue
on to positive infinity.

𝑥
This exponential function is also called Exponential Growth. An exponential function 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎 with
𝑎 > 1, like the one above, represents an exponential growth. The graph of an exponential growth
function rises from left to right.

More characteristics:

● As x increases, f(x) heads to infinity

● As x decreases, f(x) approaches 0
● it is a strictly increasing function (a function is "increasing" when the y-value increases as the
x-value increases) and so is injective (a function f that maps distinct elements to distinct
elements)
● It has a horizontal asymptote along the x-axis
If we have Exponential Growth, we also have its opposite called Exponential Decay. An exponential
function where 0 < 𝑎 < 1 represents an exponential decay. The graph of an exponential decay
function falls from left to right.

More characteristics:

● As x increases, f(x) heads to 0

● As x decreases, f(x) heads to infinity
● It is a strictly decreasing function (y-value decreases as the x-value increases) and also
"injective"
● It has a horizontal asymptote along the x-axis

1 𝑥 −𝑥
To illustrate this, observe the graph of 𝑦 = ( 3 ) or 𝑦 = 3 :

Note that, when a = 1, the graph is a horizontal line at y = 1 just like the graph below:
And when a = 0, the graph is a horizontal line whose x-values starts at 0 to positive infinity only, since
if x<0, the function is undefined just like the graph below.

Logarithm is about getting the power you have to raise a number to, to get a certain number. Say for
4
example, we know that 3 = 3 · 3 · 3 · 3 = 81. But if we are asked what power should we raise 3 to,
so that we can get 81, we would know that the answer should be 3. To denote this in logarithm
notation, we would express it this way, 𝑙𝑜𝑔381 = 4, and read as “the log base 3 of 81” or “the log of 81
to the base 3”.

Note that if a log has no base written, you should generally (in algebra classes) assume that the base is
10. Hence, 𝑙𝑜𝑔100 = 2 since we have to raise 10 to the power of 2, to get 100. The other important log
is the "natural", or base-e, log, denoted as "ln(x)" .

Logarithmic Function

Logarithmic functions are the inverses of exponential functions, and any exponential function can be
expressed in logarithmic form. Similarly, all logarithmic functions can be rewritten in exponential
form. Logarithms are really useful in permitting us to work with very large numbers while
manipulating numbers of a much more manageable size. In general, logarithmic function is expressed
in this notation:

𝑓(𝑥) 𝑜𝑟 𝑦 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑎 𝑥, where a is any value greater than 0 but except 1 (which makes it undefined).

Observe the table of values of the given logarithmic function, 𝑦 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔5 𝑥 which in exponential
𝑦
function, can be expressed as 5 = 𝑥:

x 1 1 1 5 25 125
25 5
 y -2 -1 0 1 2 3

In general, when making a table of values for logarithmic functions, we may want to pick simple
numbers. We can have simple y-values that we want to raise 5 to the power of, and then just get our
x-values. To have better understanding of the function, observe its graph below:

Hence, we can say that as x approaches 0, y goes steeper and steeper to negative infinity but will never
touch the y-axis. While if x increases, y heads to positive infinity.

More characteristics:

● It is a strictly increasing function

● It has a vertical asymptote along the y-axis

Meanwhile, if we let 0 < 𝑎 < 1, our graph, as x nears 0, it heads to infinity and as x increases it heads
to negative infinity. To better visualize this, observe and analyze the graph of 𝑦 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔 1 𝑥 below:
5
From this, we can generate the following characteristics of logarithmic functions:

● It is always on the positive side of (and never crosses) the y-axis

● It always intersects the x-axis at x = 1 ... in other words it passes through (1,0)
● Always equals 1 when x = a, in other words it passes through (a,1)
● It is an injective (one-to-one) function

Trigonometric Function

Trigonometric functions, also known as Circular Functions, can be simply defined as the functions of
an angle of a triangle. It means that the relationship between the angles and sides of a triangle are
given by these trigonometric functions. The basic trigonometric functions are sine, cosine, tangent,
cotangent, secant and cosecant.

From our Precalculus subject, we learned about the values for different angles for all the trigonometric
functions which can be summarized by the unit circle we learned below:
If we want to graph 𝑦 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑥, we can just simply make a table of values by referring to the unit circle,
then graph it on the Cartesian Plane.

For 𝑦 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑥

x 0 π π −
π − π −
3π
2 2 2

y 0 1 0 -1 0 1

Hence, if we are to graph 𝑦 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑥, we have:

Let us recall the domain and range of each function so that we have the idea about their graphs:

And here is the graph for all the functions based on their respective domain and range.
 REFERENCES

Continuous Functions

Exponential Function

Exponential Growth by Khan Academy

Exponential Decay by Khan Academy

 Exponential Growth (and Decay) Functions

Logarithmic Function (1)

Logarithmic Function (2)

Graph of Logarithmic Functions by Khan Academy

Trigonometric Functions