Calculus Terms

Continuous Function

When a function is smooth—or put another way, not discontinuous. It's a function that can be drawn without lifting our pencil.

Direct Substitution

Plugging in our limit value right into our function. No mess, no fuss, except when there is.

End Behavior

Horizontal Asymptote

A horizontal line that a function f(x) approaches as x approaches ± ∞.

Indeterminate Form

This is the kind of mess that direct substitution will sometimes leave behind. It usually looks like division by zero at the limit.

Limit

The value that the value of a function f(x) approaches as the input x approaches a specific value.

One-Sided Limit

Sometimes we only need the limit from one side of a value. Then we shun the other one.

Properties Of Limits

A number of really straightforward ways that we can manipulate limits to make our lives easier.

Vertical Asymptote

A discontinuous value in a function where the function approaches infinity (heaven) or negative infinity (H-E-double hockey stick) on either side.