NCERT Exemplar MCQs

Overview

Limits of a function

Let \(f\) be a function defined in a domain which we take to be an interval, say, I. We shall study the concept of limit of \(f\) at a point ‘ \(a\) ‘ in \(I\).
We say \(\lim _{x \rightarrow a^{-}} f(x)\) is the expected value of \(f\) at \(x=a\) given the values of \(f\) near to the left of \(a\). This value is called the left hand limit of \(f\) at \(a\).
We say \(\lim _{x \rightarrow a^{+}} f(x)\) is the expected value of \(f\) at \(x=a\) given the values of \(f\) near to the right of \(a\). This value is called the right hand limit of \(f\) at \(a\).
If the right and left hand limits coincide, we call the common value as the limit of \(f\) at \(x=a\) and denote it by \(\lim _{x \rightarrow a} f(x)\).

Some properties of limits

Let \(f\) and \(g\) be two functions such that both \(\lim _{x \rightarrow a} f(x)\) and \(\lim _{x \rightarrow a} g(x)\) exist. Then

  • \(\lim _{x \rightarrow a}[f(x)+g(x)]=\lim _{x \rightarrow a} f(x)+\lim _{x \rightarrow a} g(x)\)
  • \(\lim _{x \rightarrow a}[f(x)-g(x)]=\lim _{x \rightarrow a} f(x)-\lim _{x \rightarrow a} g(x)\)
  • For every real number \(\alpha\)
    \(
    \lim _{x \rightarrow a}(\alpha f)(x)=\alpha \lim _{x \rightarrow a} f(x)
    \)
  • \(\lim _{x \rightarrow a}[f(x) g(x)]=\left[\lim _{x \rightarrow a} f(x) \lim _{x \rightarrow a} g(x)\right]\)
    \(
    \lim _{x \rightarrow a} \frac{f(x)}{g(x)}=\frac{\lim _{x \rightarrow a} f(x)}{\lim _{x \rightarrow a} g(x)} \text {, provided } g(x) \neq 0
    \)


Limits of polynomials and rational functions

If \(f\) is a polynomial function, then \(\lim _{x \rightarrow a} f(x)\) exists and is given by
\(
\lim _{x \rightarrow a} f(x)=f(a)
\)

An Important limit

An important limit which is very useful and used in the sequel is given below:
\(
\lim _{x \rightarrow a} \frac{x^n-a^n}{x-a}=n a^{n-1}
\)

Remark The above expression remains valid for any rational number provided ‘ \(a\) ‘ is positive.

Limits of trigonometric functions

To evaluate the limits of trigonometric functions, we shall make use of the following limits which are given below:

  • \(\lim _{x \rightarrow 0} \frac{\sin x}{x}=1\)
  • \(\lim _{x \rightarrow 0} \cos x=1\)
  • \(\lim _{x \rightarrow 0} \sin x=0\)

Derivatives

Suppose \(f\) is a real valued function, then
\(
f^{\prime}(x)=\lim _{h \rightarrow 0} \frac{f(x+h)-f(x)}{h} \dots(1)
\)
is called the derivative of \(f\) at \(x\), provided the limit on the R.H.S. of (1) exists.

Algebra of derivative of functions

Since the very definition of derivatives involve limits in a rather direct fashion, we expect the rules of derivatives to follow closely that of limits as given below:
Let \(f\) and \(g\) be two functions such that their derivatives are defined in a common domain. Then:

  • Derivative of the sum of two function is the sum of the derivatives of the functions.
    \(
    \frac{d}{d x}[f(x)+g(x)]=\frac{d}{d x} f(x)+\frac{d}{d x} g(x)
    \)
  • Derivative of the difference of two functions is the difference of the derivatives of the functions.
    \(
    \frac{d}{d x}[f(x)-g(x)]=\frac{d}{d x} f(x)-\frac{d}{d x} g(x)
    \)
  • Derivative of the product of two functions is given by the following product rule.
    \(
    \frac{d}{d x}[f(x) \cdot g(x)]=\left(\frac{d}{d x} f(x)\right) \cdot g(x)+f(x) \cdot\left(\frac{d}{d x} g(x)\right)
    \). This is referred to as Leibnitz Rule for the product of two functions.
  • Derivative of quotient of two functions is given by the following quotient rule (wherever the denominator is non-zero). \(\frac{d}{d x}\left(\frac{f(x)}{g(x)}\right)=\frac{\left(\frac{d}{d x} f(x)\right) \cdot g(x)-f(x) \cdot\left(\frac{d}{d x} g(x)\right)}{(g(x))^2}\)

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