Proof of Various Limit Properties — Question 3

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Question 3

Assume that lim⁡x→af(x)=L\lim_{x\to a} f(x)=L. Prove that limx→a|f(x)|=|L|.\lim_{x\to a} |f(x)| = |L|.

Original worksheet page 1: question and worked solution for 7-1-003
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Question 3 - Solution

Let ε>0\varepsilon>0 be given. We must show that there exists δ>0\delta>0 such that if 0<|x−a|<δ,0<|x-a|<\delta, then ||f(x)|−|L||<ε.\bigl||f(x)|-|L|\bigr|<\varepsilon.

Recall the inequality ||u|−|v||≤|u−v|\bigl||u|-|v|\bigr| \le |u-v| for all real numbers uu and vv.

Apply this inequality with u=f(x)u=f(x) and v=Lv=L: ||f(x)|−|L||≤|f(x)−L|.\bigl||f(x)|-|L|\bigr| \le |f(x)-L|.

Since lim⁡x→af(x)=L\lim_{x\to a} f(x)=L, there exists δ>0\delta>0 such that whenever 0<|x−a|<δ,0<|x-a|<\delta, we have |f(x)−L|<ε.|f(x)-L|<\varepsilon.

Combining the inequalities gives ||f(x)|−|L||≤|f(x)−L|<ε.\bigl||f(x)|-|L|\bigr| \le |f(x)-L| < \varepsilon.

Thus, whenever 0<|x−a|<δ0<|x-a|<\delta, ||f(x)|−|L||<ε.\bigl||f(x)|-|L|\bigr|<\varepsilon.

Therefore, limx→a|f(x)|=|L|.\lim_{x\to a} |f(x)| = |L|.

Original worksheet page 2: question and worked solution for 7-1-003

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