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Lecture 3 Intuitive Limits Now We Start Calculus
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The Problem of Tangents
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Tangents to a Circle Radius Tangent Line General line through P C = (h,k) Slope of radius =Slope of tangent =
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Finding the Tangent Line at a Point to a circle of radius r, centered at C = (h,k) using algebra Point slope form: Suffices to find the slope Key – tangent meets the circle only in at the point P.
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Find the points of Intersection Circle: Line Substitute for y
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Illustrate what Happens for (h,k) = (0,0 ) LHS must equal Subtract and get So
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Slope of Secant Connects (a, f(a)) with (a+h, f(a+h)) so slope is
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Go through Similar Process With Some Functions Geometric Idea: Tangent at P meets the tangent line at only at P (near P)
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Tangent to graph of at the point ( )
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Problem: Such calculations are very difficult for more complicated functions – impossible for others. Need a new idea Don’t vary the slope of the general line – vary the other point The “secant line” should approximate the tangent line If one line “approximates” another then it’s slope should approximate that of the other line.
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Tangent Line at (a,f(a)) Approximating Secant Line
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Slope of the secant line is Idea is that as Q gets closer and closer to P (i.e. as h gets closer and closer to 0) the slopes of the secant lines get closer to that of the tangent line
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We denote this Slope of the tangent line to graph of f at x = a is
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Notation: If f is a function and a is in its domain then the slope of the tangent line to the graph of f(x) at the point (a,f(a)) is denoted f ‘ (a) so we write f ‘ (a) =
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Calculate f ‘(4) if f ‘ (a) = Here a = 4 f ‘ (4) =
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= 8
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Calculate f ‘(a) for any a f ‘ (a) = = = ==
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To do these must be able to calculate expressions of form Taken to (intuitively mean) : The value to which f(x) tends as x gets closer and closer to ( but never equals) a
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Facts about Limits Limits may or may not exist – this limit does not exist There is an algebra of limits provided they exist
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Some Basic Limits If c is a number and a is any number then If n is a number and a >0 then If f(x) and g(x) agree except at x = a then
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Some Basic Non-Limits DOES NOT EXIST If c < 0 then DOES NOT EXIST If n > 0 then
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If Here f(x) = x except at x = 0 so = 0 1.1. 2. 3.3.
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The basic limit theorems In general calculating a limit “from scratch” is difficult. The limit theorems allow us to calculate new limits from old without having to repeat what has already been done.
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If exists and c is a number then Example:
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If and both exist then Example: =
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If and both exist then = 4 + 8 = 12 example
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If and both exist and is not zero then Example: = =
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Easy Limits When f is defined by a single formula To calculate First see if you can calculate f(a). If this calculation produces a number then that is almost surely the correct answer. If f(a) has the form where c is not 0 then the limit does not exist If f(a) has the form then the limit may or may not exist. In this use algebra to find a function g(x) which agrees with f everywhere but at x = a. Then repeat the process with g(x).
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Setting x = 2 gives Here = The last “ = “ holds except at x = 2 so g(x) = x+2 agrees with f(x) except at x = 2 therefore Substituting x = 2 now “makes sense” so the answer is 4 Example
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Topic For Next Time: Continuity Read text book from Page 73 to 80 in Chapter 1 Assignment: Complete Homework 3 Start Homework 4
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