Functions, Graphs, and Limits - AP Calculus BC

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Given the above graph of , what is ?

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Examining the graph, we can observe that ![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/P7heoexCy1S2HIhWAOx8Kt90yltzmpA2e24vxskSGXbYz4X66XU517PqIh8y_1cZgUXNoyW43HQXEXAqDLWXQZ28yplgG4xEn-era5ygRKWN69mZ3J1xswTsDa-KLrq4LJM8QX8 $"\lim_{x\rightarrow 0}$f(x)") does not exist, as is not continuous at . We can see this by checking the three conditions for which a function is continuous at a point :

A value exists in the domain of

The limit of exists as approaches

The limit of at is equal to

Given , we can see that condition #1 is not satisfied because the graph has a vertical asymptote instead of only one value for and is therefore an infinite discontinuity at .

We can also see that condition #2 is not satisfied because ![](https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/UwmCajmpQYMZ9A-uvKxXR7mwucumTdrfGyS_XMzSzXtv-2vSQF15bUpKZ3hY8x5QcHEIAaohKG599Vekzb2yUL4cHaFZWIcvMEdMIdttxv5Knocr_XPCmxSXxAkPWUf6fMdJWto $"\lim_{x\rightarrow 0}$f(x)") approaches two different limits: $\infty$ from the left and $-\infty$ from the right.

Based on the above, condition #3 is also not satisfied because ![](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/zvax84PofCymRxlIiFSo2th1IluK7evqYR30rOjbPEZw6IoSPWn4H9kCqI5eZPFGdgElnT5pNdzQaa8FAV77oQa8o34n65IFAo-slniLLPPSfpU2Ibfl_Zc3fs_GsV5mOjHgFBg $"\lim_{x\rightarrow 0}$f(x)") is not equal to the multiple values of .

Thus, ![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/GQF7dNkHBIBB7bdbVXMiBgzwsYSd6SAkrC5QIINNrDYIMSgDGHCMFNbRV0k2CLQot3KB_vBJLC28c5xpWbfslV1fgK7np2lXISPcI2YC_b441xpLYq02RcIrpwPcsI_3dhpyeGg $"\lim_{x\rightarrow 0}$f(x)") does not exist.

Given the graph of above, what is ?

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Examining the graph of the function above, we need to look at three things:

What is the limit of the function as it approaches zero from the left?

What is the limit of the function as it approaches zero from the right?

What is the function value at zero and is it equal to the first two statements?

If we look at the graph we see that as approaches zero from the left the values approach zero as well. This is also true if we look the values as approaches zero from the right. Lastly we look at the function value at zero which in this case is also zero.

Therefore, we can observe that as approaches .

Given the graph of above, what is ?

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Examining the graph above, we need to look at three things:

What is the limit of the function as approaches zero from the left?

What is the limit of the function as approaches zero from the right?

What is the function value as and is it the same as the result from statement one and two?

Therefore, we can determine that does not exist, since approaches two different limits from either side : $-\infty$ from the left and $\infty$ from the right.

Given the above graph of , what is ?

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Examining the graph, we want to find where the graph tends to as it approaches zero from the right hand side. We can see that there appears to be a vertical asymptote at zero. As the x values approach zero from the right the function values of the graph tend towards positive infinity.

Therefore, we can observe that as approaches from the right.

$\begin{align}&$\text{What is the likely value of}$\&f(-\infty)\&$\text{Based on the graph?}$\end{align}$

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$\begin{align}&$\text{Although actually observing a function at an infinite value}$\&$\text{of x is impossible, we can often determine via observation if}$\&$\text{the function approaches a certain limit. Looking at the values}$\&$\text{the function approaches as the absolute value of x increases}$\&$\text{gives a clue. Things to look out for are if the function continuously}$\&$\text{climbs/decreases, flattens, or has unchecked oscillatory behavior.}$\&$\text{If the function continuously climbs/decreases, it likely has}$\&$\text{a limit that approaches positive/negative infinity. If it flattens,}$\&$\text{the limit is a real number. If it oscillates without control,}$\&$\text{the limit does not exist.}$\&$\text{The limit of }$f(-\infty)$\text{ is most likely }$$\text{Nonexistent.}$\end{align}$

$\begin{align}&$\text{What is the likely value of}$\&f(-\infty)\&$\text{Based on the graph?}$\end{align}$

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$\begin{align}&$\text{Although actually observing a function at an infinite value}$\&$\text{of x is impossible, we can often determine via observation if}$\&$\text{the function approaches a certain limit. Looking at the values}$\&$\text{the function approaches as the absolute value of x increases}$\&$\text{gives a clue. Things to look out for are if the function continuously}$\&$\text{climbs/decreases, flattens, or has unchecked oscillatory behavior.}$\&$\text{If the function continuously climbs/decreases, it likely has}$\&$\text{a limit that approaches positive/negative infinity. If it flattens,}$\&$\text{the limit is a real number. If it oscillates without control,}$\&$\text{the limit does not exist.}$\&$\text{The limit of }$f(-\infty)$\text{ is most likely }$0\end{align}$

$\begin{align}&$\text{Which of the values most likely represents the value of f(x) at}$\&x=\infty\end{align}$

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$\begin{align}&$\text{Although actually observing a function at an infinite value}$\&$\text{of x is impossible, we can often determine via observation if}$\&$\text{the function approaches a certain limit. Looking at the values}$\&$\text{the function approaches as the absolute value of x increases}$\&$\text{gives a clue. Things to look out for are if the function continuously}$\&$\text{climbs/decreases, flattens, or has unchecked oscillatory behavior.}$\&$\text{If the function continuously climbs/decreases, it likely has}$\&$\text{a limit that approaches positive/negative infinity. If it flattens,}$\&$\text{the limit is a real number. If it oscillates without control,}$\&$\text{the limit does not exist.}$\&$\text{The limit of }$f(\infty)$\text{ is most likely }$-5\end{align}$

$\begin{align}&$\text{Which of the values most likely represents the value of f(x) at}$\&x=\infty\end{align}$

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$\begin{align}&$\text{Although actually observing a function at an infinite value}$\&$\text{of x is impossible, we can often determine via observation if}$\&$\text{the function approaches a certain limit. Looking at the values}$\&$\text{the function approaches as the absolute value of x increases}$\&$\text{gives a clue. Things to look out for are if the function continuously}$\&$\text{climbs/decreases, flattens, or has unchecked oscillatory behavior.}$\&$\text{If the function continuously climbs/decreases, it likely has}$\&$\text{a limit that approaches positive/negative infinity. If it flattens,}$\&$\text{the limit is a real number. If it oscillates without control,}$\&$\text{the limit does not exist.}$\&$\text{The limit of }$f(\infty)$\text{ is most likely }$-\infty\end{align}$

$\begin{align}&$\text{Based on the graph, decide which of the following functions values likely depicts}$\&f(-\infty)\end{align}$

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$\begin{align}&$\text{Although actually observing a function at an infinite value}$\&$\text{of x is impossible, we can often determine via observation if}$\&$\text{the function approaches a certain limit. Looking at the values}$\&$\text{the function approaches as the absolute value of x increases}$\&$\text{gives a clue. Things to look out for are if the function continuously}$\&$\text{climbs/decreases, flattens, or has unchecked oscillatory behavior.}$\&$\text{If the function continuously climbs/decreases, it likely has}$\&$\text{a limit that approaches positive/negative infinity. If it flattens,}$\&$\text{the limit is a real number. If it oscillates without control,}$\&$\text{the limit does not exist.}$\&$\text{The limit of }$f(-\infty)$\text{ is most likely }$$\text{Nonexistent.}$\end{align}$

$\begin{align}&$\text{What is the likely value of}$\&f(-\infty)\&$\text{Based on the graph?}$\end{align}$

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$\begin{align}&$\text{Although actually observing a function at an infinite value}$\&$\text{of x is impossible, we can often determine via observation if}$\&$\text{the function approaches a certain limit. Looking at the values}$\&$\text{the function approaches as the absolute value of x increases}$\&$\text{gives a clue. Things to look out for are if the function continuously}$\&$\text{climbs/decreases, flattens, or has unchecked oscillatory behavior.}$\&$\text{If the function continuously climbs/decreases, it likely has}$\&$\text{a limit that approaches positive/negative infinity. If it flattens,}$\&$\text{the limit is a real number. If it oscillates without control,}$\&$\text{the limit does not exist.}$\&$\text{The limit of }$f(-\infty)$\text{ is most likely }$\infty\end{align}$

$\begin{align}&$\text{Which of the values most likely represents the value of f(x) at}$\&x=\infty\end{align}$

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$\begin{align}&$\text{Although actually observing a function at an infinite value}$\&$\text{of x is impossible, we can often determine via observation if}$\&$\text{the function approaches a certain limit. Looking at the values}$\&$\text{the function approaches as the absolute value of x increases}$\&$\text{gives a clue. Things to look out for are if the function continuously}$\&$\text{climbs/decreases, flattens, or has unchecked oscillatory behavior.}$\&$\text{If the function continuously climbs/decreases, it likely has}$\&$\text{a limit that approaches positive/negative infinity. If it flattens,}$\&$\text{the limit is a real number. If it oscillates without control,}$\&$\text{the limit does not exist.}$\&$\text{The limit of }$f(\infty)$\text{ is most likely }$$\text{Nonexistent.}$\end{align}$

$\begin{align}&$\text{What is the likely value of}$\&f(-\infty)\&$\text{Based on the graph?}$\end{align}$

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$\begin{align}&$\text{Although actually observing a function at an infinite value}$\&$\text{of x is impossible, we can often determine via observation if}$\&$\text{the function approaches a certain limit. Looking at the values}$\&$\text{the function approaches as the absolute value of x increases}$\&$\text{gives a clue. Things to look out for are if the function continuously}$\&$\text{climbs/decreases, flattens, or has unchecked oscillatory behavior.}$\&$\text{If the function continuously climbs/decreases, it likely has}$\&$\text{a limit that approaches positive/negative infinity. If it flattens,}$\&$\text{the limit is a real number. If it oscillates without control,}$\&$\text{the limit does not exist.}$\&$\text{The limit of }$f(-\infty)$\text{ is most likely }$$\text{Nonexistent.}$\end{align}$

$\begin{align}&$\text{What is the likely value of}$\&f(-\infty)\&$\text{Based on the graph?}$\end{align}$

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$\begin{align}&$\text{Although actually observing a function at an infinite value}$\&$\text{of x is impossible, we can often determine via observation if}$\&$\text{the function approaches a certain limit. Looking at the values}$\&$\text{the function approaches as the absolute value of x increases}$\&$\text{gives a clue. Things to look out for are if the function continuously}$\&$\text{climbs/decreases, flattens, or has unchecked oscillatory behavior.}$\&$\text{If the function continuously climbs/decreases, it likely has}$\&$\text{a limit that approaches positive/negative infinity. If it flattens,}$\&$\text{the limit is a real number. If it oscillates without control,}$\&$\text{the limit does not exist.}$\&$\text{The limit of }$f(-\infty)$\text{ is most likely }$0\end{align}$

$\begin{align}&$\text{What is the likely value of}$\&f(-\infty)\&$\text{Based on the graph?}$\end{align}$

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$\begin{align}&$\text{Although actually observing a function at an infinite value}$\&$\text{of x is impossible, we can often determine via observation if}$\&$\text{the function approaches a certain limit. Looking at the values}$\&$\text{the function approaches as the absolute value of x increases}$\&$\text{gives a clue. Things to look out for are if the function continuously}$\&$\text{climbs/decreases, flattens, or has unchecked oscillatory behavior.}$\&$\text{If the function continuously climbs/decreases, it likely has}$\&$\text{a limit that approaches positive/negative infinity. If it flattens,}$\&$\text{the limit is a real number. If it oscillates without control,}$\&$\text{the limit does not exist.}$\&$\text{The limit of }$f(-\infty)$\text{ is most likely }$$\frac{1}{4}$\end{align}$

$\begin{align}&$\text{Which of the values most likely represents the value of f(x) at}$\&x=\infty\end{align}$

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$\begin{align}&$\text{Although actually observing a function at an infinite value}$\&$\text{of x is impossible, we can often determine via observation if}$\&$\text{the function approaches a certain limit. Looking at the values}$\&$\text{the function approaches as the absolute value of x increases}$\&$\text{gives a clue. Things to look out for are if the function continuously}$\&$\text{climbs/decreases, flattens, or has unchecked oscillatory behavior.}$\&$\text{If the function continuously climbs/decreases, it likely has}$\&$\text{a limit that approaches positive/negative infinity. If it flattens,}$\&$\text{the limit is a real number. If it oscillates without control,}$\&$\text{the limit does not exist.}$\&$\text{The limit of }$f(\infty)$\text{ is most likely }$-$\frac{1331}{512}$\end{align}$

$\begin{align}&$\text{Based on the graph, decide which of the following functions values likely depicts}$\&f(\infty)\end{align}$

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$\begin{align}&$\text{Although actually observing a function at an infinite value}$\&$\text{of x is impossible, we can often determine via observation if}$\&$\text{the function approaches a certain limit. Looking at the values}$\&$\text{the function approaches as the absolute value of x increases}$\&$\text{gives a clue. Things to look out for are if the function continuously}$\&$\text{climbs/decreases, flattens, or has unchecked oscillatory behavior.}$\&$\text{If the function continuously climbs/decreases, it likely has}$\&$\text{a limit that approaches positive/negative infinity. If it flattens,}$\&$\text{the limit is a real number. If it oscillates without control,}$\&$\text{the limit does not exist.}$\&$\text{The limit of }$f(\infty)$\text{ is most likely }$0\end{align}$

A cylinder of height and radius is expanding. The radius increases at a rate of $0.1$\frac{in}{s}$$ and its height increases at a rate of $0.2$\frac{in}{s}$$ . What is the rate of growth of its surface area?

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The surface area of a cylinder is given by the formula:

$A=2\pi $r^2$+2\pi rh$

To find the rate of growth over time, take the derivative of each side with respect to time:

$\frac{dA}{dt}$=4\pi r $\frac{dr}{dt}$+2\pi h $\frac{dr}{dt}$ + 2\pi r $\frac{dh}{dt}$

Therefore, the rate of growth of surface area is:

$$\frac{dA}{dt}$=4\pi (1in)\left(0.1$\frac{in}{s}$\right)+2\pi(1in)(4in)\left(0.1$\frac{in}{s}$\right)+2\pi(1in)\left(0.2$\frac{in}{s}$\right)$

The rate of growth of the population of Reindeer in Norway is proportional to the population. The population increased from 9876 to 10381 between 2013 and 2015. What is the expected population in 2030?

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We're told that the rate of growth of the population is proportional to the population itself, meaning that this problem deals with exponential growth/decay. The population can be modeled thusly:

$p(t)=p_$0e^{kt}$$

Where is an initial population value, and is the constant of proportionality.

Since the population increased from 9876 to 10381 between 2013 and 2015, we can solve for this constant of proportionality:

$2k=ln($\frac{10381}{9876}$)$

$k=\frac{ln(\frac{10381}{9876}$)}{2}=0.0252$

Using this, we can calculate the expected value from 2015 to 2030:

The rate of decrease due to poaching of the elephants in unprotected Sahara is proportional to the population. The population in one region decreased from 1038 to 817 between 2010 and 2015. What is the expected population in 2017?

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We're told that the rate of growth of the population is proportional to the population itself, meaning that this problem deals with exponential growth/decay. The population can be modeled thusly:

$p(t)=p_$0e^{kt}$$

Where is an initial population value, and is the constant of proportionality.

Since the population decreased from 1038 to 817 between 2010 and 2015, we can solve for this constant of proportionality:

$5k=ln($\frac{817}{1038}$)$

$k=\frac{ln(\frac{817}{1038}$)}{5}=-0.048$

Using this, we can calculate the expected value from 2015 to 2017:

$\begin{align}&$\text{Decide which of the following functions, most likely represents the graph above.}$\end{align}$

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$\begin{align}&$\text{Observation of the graph shows that there’s a sharp increase}$\&$\text{and decrease on either side of a particular x-value. This type}$\&$\text{of behavior is observed when there’s a vertical asymptote. An}$\&$\text{asymptote is a value that a function may approach, but will}$\&$\text{never actually attain. In the case of vertical asymptotes, this}$\&$\text{behavior occurs if the function approaches infinity for a given}$\&$\text{x-value, often when a zero value appears in a denominator. Noting}$\&$\text{this rule, the above function has a zero in the denominator}$\&$\text{at a definite point:}$\&x=\frac{2}{17}$\&$\text{We find a zero denominator for the function: }$\&$\frac{(13x - 9)}{(17x - 2)}$\end{align}$