Continuity with Piecewise Functions

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| Questions: 15 | Updated: Dec 17, 2025
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1) Consider the piecewise function f(x) = {x² - 1 if x < 1, 2x if x ≥ 1}. What is the limit of f(x) as x approaches 1?

Explanation

To find lim x→-3 f(x), we evaluate the left-hand limit and the right-hand limit. We start with the left-hand limit lim x→-3- f(x). Since for x = -3, f(x) = x², as x approaches -3 from the right, we plug in x=-3 to get (-3)² = 9. Since 1 is not equal to 9, the left-hand limit and the right-hand limit are different. Therefore, the overall limit does not exist.

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About This Quiz
Continuity With Piecewise Functions - Quiz

Want to take your limit skills to the next level? In this quiz, you’ll work with advanced piecewise expressions involving factoring, roots, and absolute values. You’ll simplify tricky functions, uncover hidden cancellations, and determine whether the limit exists at key boundary points. This quiz helps you connect algebraic techniques with... see morelimit reasoning in a deeper way.
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2) Let g(x) = {3x + 2 if x ≤ -1, x² + 4 if x > -1}. Evaluate the limit of g(x) as x approaches -1.

Explanation

To find lim x→2 f(x), we evaluate the left-hand limit and the right-hand limit. We start with the left-hand limit lim x→2- f(x). Since for x ≤ 2, f(x) = 3x, as x approaches 2 from the left, we plug in x=2 to get 3*2 = 6. Next, the right-hand limit lim x→2+ f(x). Since for x > 2, f(x) = 6, as x approaches 2 from the right, f(x) approaches 6. Since both the left-hand limit and the right-hand limit are 6, they are equal. Therefore, the overall limit is 6.

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3) For the function h(x) = {x³ if x < 0, -x³ if x ≥ 0}, what is the limit as x approaches 0?

Explanation

To find lim x→0 f(x), we evaluate the left-hand limit and the right-hand limit. We start with the left-hand limit lim x→0- f(x). Since for x = 0, f(x) = -x - 5, as x approaches 0 from the right, we plug in x=0 to get -0 - 5 = -5. Since both the left-hand limit and the right-hand limit are -5, they are equal. Therefore, the overall limit is -5.

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4) Consider f(x) = {(x² - 4)/(x - 2) if x ≠ 2, 5 if x = 2}. Find the limit of f(x) as x approaches 2.

Explanation

To find lim x→1 f(x), we evaluate the left-hand limit and the right-hand limit. We start with the left-hand limit lim x→1- f(x). Since for x = 1, f(x) = 2x + 2, as x approaches 1 from the right, we plug in x=1 to get 2*1 + 2 = 4. Since both the left-hand limit and the right-hand limit are 4, they are equal. Therefore, the overall limit is 4.

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5) Let g(x) = {|x|/x if x ≠ 0, 1 if x = 0}. What is the limit of g(x) as x approaches 0?

Explanation

To find lim x→3 f(x), we evaluate the left-hand limit and the right-hand limit. We start with the left-hand limit lim x→3- f(x). Since for x = 3, f(x) = x, as x approaches 3 from the right, we plug in x=3 to get 3. Since 27 is not equal to 3, the left-hand limit and the right-hand limit are different. Therefore, the overall limit does not exist.

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6) For h(x) = {x² + 3x if x < 2, 4x + 2 if x ≥ 2}, evaluate the limit as x approaches 2.

Explanation

To find lim x→-1 f(x), we evaluate the left-hand limit and the right-hand limit. We start with the left-hand limit lim x→-1- f(x). Since for x ≤ -1, f(x) = 2x - 1, as x approaches -1 from the left, we plug in x=-1 to get 2*(-1) - 1 = -3. Next, the right-hand limit lim x→-1+ f(x). Since for x > -1, f(x) = x² - 1, as x approaches -1 from the right, we plug in x=-1 to get (-1)² - 1 = 0. Since -3 is not equal to 0, the left-hand limit and the right-hand limit are different. Therefore, the overall limit does not exist.

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7) Consider the function f(x) = {(x² - 9)/(x - 3) if x < 3, 2x + 1 if x ≥ 3}. Find the limit as x approaches 3.

Explanation

To find lim x→4 f(x), we evaluate the left-hand limit and the right-hand limit. We start with the left-hand limit lim x→4- f(x). Since for x = 4, f(x) = 5, as x approaches 4 from the right, f(x) approaches 5. Since both the left-hand limit and the right-hand limit are 5, they are equal. Therefore, the overall limit is 5.

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8) Let g(x) = {√(4 - x²) if -2 ≤ x ≤ 2, x² - 4 if x < -2 or x > 2}. What is the limit of g(x) as x approaches 2 from the left?

Explanation

To find lim x→2 f(x), we evaluate the left-hand limit and the right-hand limit. We start with the left-hand limit lim x→2- f(x). Since for x = 2, f(x) = x - 3, as x approaches 2 from the right, we plug in x=2 to get 2 - 3 = -1. Since 0.5 is not equal to -1, the left-hand limit and the right-hand limit are different. Therefore, the overall limit does not exist.

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9) For the function h(x) = {3 if x < -1, x² + 4 if -1 ≤ x < 2, 2x + 4 if x ≥ 2}, find the limit as x approaches -1.

Explanation

To find lim x→0 f(x), we evaluate the left-hand limit and the right-hand limit. We start with the left-hand limit lim x→0- f(x). Since for x ≤ 0, f(x) = x², as x approaches 0 from the left, we plug in x=0 to get 0² = 0. Next, the right-hand limit lim x→0+ f(x). Since for x > 0, f(x) = -x², as x approaches 0 from the right, we plug in x=0 to get - (0)² = 0. Since both the left-hand limit and the right-hand limit are 0, they are equal. Therefore, the overall limit is 0.

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10) Consider f(x) = {x·sin(1/x) if x ≠ 0, 0 if x = 0}. What is the limit of f(x) as x approaches 0?

Explanation

To find lim x→3 f(x), we evaluate the left-hand limit and the right-hand limit. We start with the left-hand limit lim x→3- f(x). Since for x = 3, f(x) = x + 9, as x approaches 3 from the right, we plug in x=3 to get 3 + 9 = 12. Since both the left-hand limit and the right-hand limit are 12, they are equal. Therefore, the overall limit is 12.

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11) Let g(x) = {(x³ - 8)/(x - 2) if x ≠ 2, 10 if x = 2}. Find the limit as x approaches 2.

Explanation

To find lim x→0 f(x), we evaluate the left-hand limit and the right-hand limit. We start with the left-hand limit lim x→0- f(x). Since for x = 0, f(x) = -x + 2, as x approaches 0 from the right, we plug in x=0 to get -0 + 2 = 2. Since -2 is not equal to 2, the left-hand limit and the right-hand limit are different. Therefore, the overall limit does not exist.

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12) For h(x) = {(√x - 2)/(x - 4) if x > 0 and x ≠ 4, 1/4 if x = 4}, what is the limit as x approaches 4?

Explanation

For piecewise functions, the expression changes at a point, so the left-hand limit using the left piece may differ from the right-hand limit using the right piece. To see if the limit exists, we calculate both and check if they are equal. If they are, the limit exists; if not, it does not, as the function approaches different values from each side.

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13) Consider f(x) = {|x - 3| if x ≠ 3, 0 if x = 3}. Evaluate the limit as x approaches 3.

Explanation

The statement is true because if the left-hand limit and the right-hand limit agree on a value, the overall limit exists and is that value. This is independent of f(c), as the limit is determined only by the approach from both sides, not the function's value at c.

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14) Let g(x) = {(x² - 5x + 6)/(x - 2) if x < 2, ax + 1 if x ≥ 2}. For what value of a does the limit as x approaches 2 exist?

Explanation

The limit does not exist when the left-hand limit and the right-hand limit are not the same. We find this by evaluating each using the appropriate piece, and if the values differ, the limit does not exist because the function does not approach a single value.

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15) Let f(x) = {x + 4 if x ≤ 1, 3x + 1 if x > 1}. What is the limit of f(x) as x approaches 1?

Explanation

The statement is true because the limit exists if the left-hand limit from one piece equals the right-hand limit from the other piece, even if the pieces are different types of functions. We evaluate each one-sided limit by substituting the join point into the respective expression, and if they match, the limit exists. The types of functions do not affect this condition.

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Alva Benedict B. |PhD
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Alva Benedict B. is an experienced mathematician and math content developer with over 15 years of teaching and tutoring experience across high school, undergraduate, and test prep levels. He specializes in Algebra, Calculus, and Statistics, and holds advanced academic training in Mathematics with extensive expertise in LaTeX-based math content development.
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Consider the piecewise function f(x) = {x² - 1 if x < 1, 2x if x...
Let g(x) = {3x + 2 if x ≤ -1, x² + 4 if x > -1}. Evaluate the...
For the function h(x) = {x³ if x < 0, -x³ if x ≥ 0}, what is...
Consider f(x) = {(x² - 4)/(x - 2) if x ≠ 2, 5 if x = 2}. Find the...
Let g(x) = {|x|/x if x ≠ 0, 1 if x = 0}. What is the limit of g(x)...
For h(x) = {x² + 3x if x < 2, 4x + 2 if x ≥ 2}, evaluate the...
Consider the function f(x) = {(x² - 9)/(x - 3) if x < 3, 2x + 1 if...
Let g(x) = {√(4 - x²) if -2 ≤ x ≤ 2, x² - 4 if x < -2 or x...
For the function h(x) = {3 if x < -1, x² + 4 if -1 ≤ x < 2,...
Consider f(x) = {x·sin(1/x) if x ≠ 0, 0 if x = 0}. What is the...
Let g(x) = {(x³ - 8)/(x - 2) if x ≠ 2, 10 if x = 2}. Find the limit...
For h(x) = {(√x - 2)/(x - 4) if x > 0 and x ≠ 4, 1/4 if x = 4},...
Consider f(x) = {|x - 3| if x ≠ 3, 0 if x = 3}. Evaluate the limit...
Let g(x) = {(x² - 5x + 6)/(x - 2) if x < 2, ax + 1 if x ≥ 2}....
Let f(x) = {x + 4 if x ≤ 1, 3x + 1 if x > 1}. What is the limit...
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