MATH1013 Tutorial 4

The Squeeze Theorem

If f (x) ≤ g(x) ≤ h(x) near a, and lim f (x) = lim h(x) = L, then lim g(x) = L.
x→a x→a x→a

Example 1. If f is a function such that 4x − 9 ≤ f (x) ≤ x2 − 4x + 7 for x ≥ 0, find lim f (x).

x→4

Notice that
lim (4x − 9) = 4 × 4 − 9 = 7
x→4

and
lim (x2 − 4x + 7) = 42 − 4 × 4 + 7 = 7
x→4

By the Squeeze Theorem, lim f (x) = 7.

x→4

1
Example 2. Find the limit lim ecos x sin2 x.
x→0

1
Since −1 < cos < 1 and ex is a positive and increasing function,
x
1 1
≤ ecos x ≤ e
e
so that
1 1
sin2 x ≤ ecos x sin2 x ≤ e sin2 x.
e
1
Notice that lim sin2 x = lim e sin2 x = 0, by the Squeeze Theorem,
x→0 e x→0

1
lim ecos x sin2 x = 0
x→0

1
Limits at Infinities
• lim f (x) = L if f (x) tends to L as x grows sufficiently large positively.
x→∞

• lim f (x) = L if f (x) tends to L as x grows sufficently large negatively.

x→−∞

• y = L is said to be a horizontal asymptote of y = f (x) if either lim f (x) = L or lim f (x) = L.

x→∞ x→−∞

p p 
Example 3. Find the limit lim x2 + 5x − x2 + x .
x→∞

Notice that the limit is in an ∞ − ∞ form, this is calculated by rationalizing

p p  p p  √x2 + 5x + √x2 + x
lim x2 + 5x − x2 + x = lim x2 + 5x − x2 + x · √ √
x→∞ x→∞ x2 + 5x + x2 + x
4x 1
= lim √ √ · x1
x→∞ x2 + 5x + x2 + x x
4
= lim q q
x→∞
1 + x + 1 + x1
5

=2
√
2x2 + 1
Example 4. Find the horizontal asymptotes of y = .
3x − 5
Since
√ √
2x2 + 1 2x2 + 1 1
lim = lim · x
x→∞ 3x − 5 x→∞ 3x − 5 1
x
q
2 + x12
= lim
x→∞ 3 − 5
x
√
2
=
3
√
2
y= is a horizontal asymptote.
3 √
Notice that when x < 0, x2 = |x| = −x, so
√ √ 1
2x2 + 1 2x2 + 1 −x
lim = lim ·
x→−∞ 3x − 5 x→−∞ 3x − 5 1
−x
q
2 + x12
= lim
x→−∞ −3 + 5
x
√
2
=−
3
√
2
y=− is also a horizontal asymptote.
3

2
Infinite Limits
• lim f (x) = ∞ if f (x) grows to ∞ as x tends to a.
x→a

• lim f (x) = −∞ if f (x) grows to −∞ as x tends to a.

x→a

• x = a is said to be a vertical asymptote of y = f (x) if either one of the following is true:

lim f (x) = ∞, lim+ f (x) = ∞, lim− f (x) = ∞, lim f (x) = −∞, lim+ f (x) = −∞, lim− f (x) = −∞
x→a x→a x→a x→a x→a x→a

x3 − 8
Example 5. Find the vertical asymptotes of y = .
x2 − 4
The limit can possibly be infinite only when the denominator tends to 0, which happens at x = 2 or −2.
Notice that
x3 − 8 (x − 2)(x2 + 2x + 4)
lim = lim
x→2 x2 − 4 x→2 (x − 2)(x + 2)
x2 + 2x + 4
= lim
x→2 x+2
=3

so x = 2 is NOT a vertical asymptote.

Also,
x3 − 8 x2 + 2x + 4
lim + = lim =∞
x→−2 x2 − 4 x→2+ x+2
since x + 2x + 4 → 4 > 0 and x + 2 > 0.
2

And
x3 − 8 x2 + 2x + 4
lim = lim = −∞
x→−2− x2 − 4 x→−2− x+2
since x2 + 2x + 4 → 4 > 0 but x + 2 < 0.
x = −2 is a vertical asymptote.

3
Continuity
f (x) is continuous at a if lim f (x) exists and equals to f (a).
x→a


x + 2,
 if x < 2
Example 6. Find a and b that makes f (x) = ax2 − bx + 3, if 2 ≤ x < 3 continuous everywhere.
2x − a + b, if x ≥ 3



Notice that f must be continuous at any number x < 2, 2 < x < 3 or x > 3 because polynomials are continuous. So
it leaves to check the values between the intervals.
Around x = 2,

f (2) = a(2)2 − b(2) + 3

= 4a − 2b + 3
lim f (x)= lim− (x + 2)
x→2− x→2
=4
lim f (x) = lim+ (ax2 − bx + 3)
x→2+ x→2
= 4a − 2b + 3

so 4a − 2b + 3 = 4 if f is continuous at x = 2.
Around x = 3,

f (3) = 2(3) − a + b
=6−a+b
lim f (x)= lim (ax2 − bx + 3)
x→3− x→3−
= 9a − 3b + 3
lim+ f (x) = lim+ (2x − a + b)
x→3 x→3
=6−a+b

so 6 − a + b = 9a − 3b + 3 if f is continuous at x = 3.

Solving the pair of simultaneous equations

(
4a − 2b + 3 = 4
6 − a + b = 9a − 3b + 3

1 1
will obtain a = and b = .
2 2