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Key Concepts

Key Concepts

2.1 A Preview of Calculus

  • Differential calculus arose from trying to solve the problem of determining the slope of a line tangent to a curve at a point. The slope of the tangent line indicates the rate of change of the function, also called the derivative. Calculating a derivative requires finding a limit.
  • Integral calculus arose from trying to solve the problem of finding the area of a region between the graph of a function and the x-axis. We can approximate the area by dividing it into thin rectangles and summing the areas of these rectangles. This summation leads to the value of a function called the integral. The integral is also calculated by finding a limit and, in fact, is related to the derivative of a function.
  • Multivariable calculus enables us to solve problems in three-dimensional space, including determining motion in space and finding volumes of solids.

2.2 The Limit of a Function

  • A table of values or graph may be used to estimate a limit.
  • If the limit of a function at a point does not exist, it is still possible that the limits from the left and right at that point may exist.
  • If the limits of a function from the left and right exist and are equal, then the limit of the function is that common value.
  • We may use limits to describe infinite behavior of a function at a point.

2.3 The Limit Laws

  • The limit laws allow us to evaluate limits of functions without having to go through step-by-step processes each time.
  • For polynomials and rational functions, limx→af(x)=f(a).limx→af(x)=f(a).
  • You can evaluate the limit of a function by factoring and canceling, by multiplying by a conjugate, or by simplifying a complex fraction.
  • The squeeze theorem allows you to find the limit of a function if the function is always greater than one function and less than another function with limits that are known.

2.4 Continuity

  • For a function to be continuous at a point, it must be defined at that point, its limit must exist at the point, and the value of the function at that point must equal the value of the limit at that point.
  • Discontinuities may be classified as removable, jump, or infinite.
  • A function is continuous over an open interval if it is continuous at every point in the interval. It is continuous over a closed interval if it is continuous at every point in its interior and is continuous at its endpoints.
  • The composite function theorem states: If f(x)f(x) is continuous at L and limx→ag(x)=L,limx→ag(x)=L, then limx→af(g(x))=f(limx→ag(x))=f(L).limx→af(g(x))=f(limx→ag(x))=f(L).
  • The Intermediate Value Theorem guarantees that if a function is continuous over a closed interval, then the function takes on every value between the values at its endpoints.

2.5 The Precise Definition of a Limit

  • The intuitive notion of a limit may be converted into a rigorous mathematical definition known as the epsilon-delta definition of the limit.
  • The epsilon-delta definition may be used to prove statements about limits.
  • The epsilon-delta definition of a limit may be modified to define one-sided limits.