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One-sided limits of the floor function at a jump

Let g(x)=⌊x⌋g(x) = \lfloor x \rfloor, the floor function, which outputs the greatest integer less than or equal to xx. The graph of gg near x=2x = 2 is shown below.

Consider g(x)=⌊x⌋g(x) = \lfloor x \rfloor.

One-sided limits of the floor function at a jump graph

Using the graph (or by testing values like x=1.9,1.99,1.999x = 1.9, 1.99, 1.999 and x=2.1,2.01,2.001x = 2.1, 2.01, 2.001), determine the left-hand limit lim⁡x→2−g(x)\lim_{x \to 2^-} g(x), the right-hand limit lim⁡x→2+g(x)\lim_{x \to 2^+} g(x), and state whether lim⁡x→2g(x)\lim_{x \to 2} g(x) exists. If it exists, give its value; if not, explain why using the definition of a two-sided limit.

Hint

Approach x=2x = 2 separately from values slightly less than 2 and values slightly greater than 2, and read off what g(x)g(x) settles to in each direction. Recall that a two-sided limit exists only when both one-sided limits agree.

Step-by-step solution

For xx slightly less than 22, such as 1.9,1.99,1.9991.9, 1.99, 1.999, we have ⌊x⌋=1\lfloor x \rfloor = 1 in every case, since these values lie in the interval [1,2)[1,2). So the left-hand limit is lim⁡x→2−g(x)=1\lim_{x \to 2^-} g(x) = 1.

For xx slightly greater than 22, such as 2.1,2.01,2.0012.1, 2.01, 2.001, we have ⌊x⌋=2\lfloor x \rfloor = 2 in every case, since these values lie in [2,3)[2,3). So the right-hand limit is lim⁡x→2+g(x)=2\lim_{x \to 2^+} g(x) = 2. Since 1≠21 \neq 2, the one-sided limits disagree, so lim⁡x→2g(x)\lim_{x \to 2} g(x) does not exist.

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