One-sided limits of the floor function at a jump
Let , the floor function, which outputs the greatest integer less than or equal to . The graph of near is shown below.
Consider .
Using the graph (or by testing values like and ), determine the left-hand limit , the right-hand limit , and state whether exists. If it exists, give its value; if not, explain why using the definition of a two-sided limit.
Hint
Approach separately from values slightly less than 2 and values slightly greater than 2, and read off what settles to in each direction. Recall that a two-sided limit exists only when both one-sided limits agree.
Step-by-step solution
For slightly less than , such as , we have in every case, since these values lie in the interval . So the left-hand limit is .
For slightly greater than , such as , we have in every case, since these values lie in . So the right-hand limit is . Since , the one-sided limits disagree, so does not exist.
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