Exercise 195Calculus › Single-variable calculus › LimitsHigh schoolAdded 1 Nov 2026
One-sided limits of |x|/x
#one-sided limits#absolute value
Statement
Let for . Compute the limit of as and as . Does exist?
Hint
Replace by or according to the sign of .
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Solution
Right of . If then , so . Hence .
Left of . If then , so . Hence .
Conclusion. The two one-sided limits exist but are different, so 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.