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One-sided limits and existence of a two-sided limit at a piecewise breakpoint

Consider the piecewise function w(x)={−xx<0x2+1x≥0w(x) = \begin{cases} -x & x < 0 \\ x^2+1 & x \ge 0 \end{cases}

Using the definition of w(x)w(x) above, find lim⁡x→0−w(x)\lim_{x\to 0^-} w(x) and lim⁡x→0+w(x)\lim_{x\to 0^+} w(x). Based on these two values, does lim⁡x→0w(x)\lim_{x\to 0} w(x) exist? If it exists, give its value; if not, explain why not.

One-sided limits and existence of a two-sided limit at a piecewise breakpoint graph
Hint

Use the formula −x-x for values of xx slightly less than 0, and the formula x2+1x^2+1 for values slightly greater than 0. Compare the two one-sided results to decide if the two-sided limit exists.

Step-by-step solution

For xx approaching 00 from the left, x<0x<0 so w(x)=−xw(x) = -x. As x→0−x \to 0^-, −x→0-x \to 0, so lim⁡x→0−w(x)=0\lim_{x\to 0^-} w(x) = 0.

For xx approaching 00 from the right, x≥0x \ge 0 so w(x)=x2+1w(x) = x^2+1. As x→0+x \to 0^+, x2+1→1x^2+1 \to 1, so lim⁡x→0+w(x)=1\lim_{x\to 0^+} w(x) = 1. Since the left-hand limit (00) does not equal the right-hand limit (11), the two one-sided limits disagree, so lim⁡x→0w(x)\lim_{x\to 0} w(x) does not exist.

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