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Exercise 195Calculus › Single-variable calculus › LimitsHigh schoolAdded 1 Nov 2026

One-sided limits of |x|/x

#one-sided limits#absolute value

Statement

Let f(x)=∣x∣xf(x)=\dfrac{|x|}{x} for x≠0x\neq0. Compute the limit of ff as x→0+x\to0^+ and as x→0−x\to0^-. Does lim⁡x→0f(x)\lim_{x\to0}f(x) exist?

Hint

Replace ∣x∣|x| by xx or −x-x according to the sign of xx.

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Solution

Right of 00. If x>0x>0 then ∣x∣=x|x|=x, so f(x)=1f(x)=1. Hence lim⁡x→0+f(x)=1\lim_{x\to0^+}f(x)=1.

Left of 00. If x<0x<0 then ∣x∣=−x|x|=-x, so f(x)=−1f(x)=-1. Hence lim⁡x→0−f(x)=−1\lim_{x\to0^-}f(x)=-1.

Conclusion. The two one-sided limits exist but are different, so lim⁡x→0f(x)\lim_{x\to0}f(x) does not exist.

Key fact. A limit at a point exists if and only if both one-sided limits exist and are equal. This is the first thing to check when a function has a jump.