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AP Calculus AB Practice Quiz: Estimating Limit Values from Tables

Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026

Test your understanding with short quizzes. This quiz has 7 questions to check your progress.

Question 1 of 7

The table below shows values of a function f(x) for selected values of x near 2. x | 1.9 | 1.99 | 1.999 | 2.001 | 2.01 | 2.1 -------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|------ f(x) | 4.9 | 4.99 | 4.999 | 5.001 | 5.01 | 5.1 Based on the data, what is the best estimate for lim (x→2) f(x)?

All Questions (7)

The table below shows values of a function f(x) for selected values of x near 2. x | 1.9 | 1.99 | 1.999 | 2.001 | 2.01 | 2.1 -------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|------ f(x) | 4.9 | 4.99 | 4.999 | 5.001 | 5.01 | 5.1 Based on the data, what is the best estimate for lim (x→2) f(x)?

A) 5

B) 4.999

C) 5.001

D) The limit does not exist.

Correct Answer: A

To estimate the limit as x approaches 2, we observe the behavior of f(x) as x gets closer to 2 from both the left and the right. As x approaches 2 from the left (1.9, 1.99, 1.999), f(x) approaches 5. As x approaches 2 from the right (2.1, 2.01, 2.001), f(x) also approaches 5. Since the left-hand and right-hand limits appear to be the same, the best estimate for the limit is 5.

The table below gives values of a function h(x) for selected values of x. x | 2.9 | 2.99 | 2.999 | 3.001 | 3.01 | 3.1 -------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|------ h(x) | -1.9 | -1.99 | -1.999| 4.001 | 4.01 | 4.1 Based on the data, what is the best estimate for lim (x→3) h(x)?

A) 3

B) -2

C) 4

D) The limit does not exist.

Correct Answer: D

As x approaches 3 from the left (x < 3), the values of h(x) approach -2. As x approaches 3 from the right (x > 3), the values of h(x) approach 4. Since the limit from the left (-2) is not equal to the limit from the right (4), the two-sided limit does not exist.

The table below shows values of a function g(x) for selected values of x near 4. The function is defined such that g(4) = 10. x | 3.9 | 3.99 | 3.999 | 4.001 | 4.01 | 4.1 -------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|------ g(x) | 7.8 | 7.98 | 7.998 | 8.002 | 8.02 | 8.2 Based on the data, what is the best estimate for lim (x→4) g(x)?

A) 10

B) 8

C) 7.998

D) The limit cannot be determined.

Correct Answer: B

The limit of a function as x approaches a point is determined by the values of the function near that point, not the value of the function at the point itself. As x approaches 4 from both the left and the right, the values of g(x) get closer to 8. The fact that g(4) = 10 does not affect the limit.

The table below shows values of a function p(x) for selected values of x near 1. x | 0.9 | 0.99 | 0.999 | 1.001 | 1.01 | 1.1 -------|-------|-------|-------|--------|--------|------ p(x) | 100 | 10000 | 10^6 | -10^6 | -10000 | -100 Based on the data, what is the best estimate for lim (x→1) p(x)?

A) 0

B) 1

C) Infinity (∞)

D) The limit does not exist.

Correct Answer: D

As x approaches 1 from the left, the values of p(x) are positive and increase without bound (approaching +∞). As x approaches 1 from the right, the values of p(x) are negative and decrease without bound (approaching -∞). Since the function does not approach a single, finite value, the limit does not exist.

The table below gives values of a function k(x) for selected values of x. x | -0.1 | -0.01 | -0.001| 0.001 | 0.01 | 0.1 -------|-------|-------|-------|-------|-------|------ k(x) | 9.1 | 9.01 | 9.001 | 3.001 | 3.01 | 3.1 Based on the data, what is the best estimate for the left-hand limit, lim (x→0⁻) k(x)?

A) 3

B) 9

C) 0

D) The limit does not exist.

Correct Answer: B

The question asks for the left-hand limit, lim (x→0⁻) k(x). This means we only need to consider the values of x that are less than 0 and approaching 0. Looking at the table for x = -0.1, -0.01, and -0.001, the corresponding values of k(x) are 9.1, 9.01, and 9.001. These values are approaching 9.

The table below shows values of a function f(x) for selected values of x near -3. x | -3.1 | -3.01 | -3.001 | -2.999 | -2.99 | -2.9 -------|---------|---------|---------|---------|---------|-------- f(x) | 0.2484 | 0.2498 | 0.2499 | 0.2501 | 0.2502 | 0.2516 Based on the data, what is the best estimate for lim (x→-3) f(x)?

A) -3

B) 0

C) 0.25

D) The limit does not exist.

Correct Answer: C

The numerical information shows that as x approaches -3 from the left side (e.g., -3.1, -3.01), f(x) gets closer to 0.25. As x approaches -3 from the right side (e.g., -2.99, -2.9), f(x) also gets closer to 0.25. Since the function approaches the same value from both sides, the best estimate for the limit is 0.25.

The table below shows values of a function q(x) for selected values of x near 0. x | -0.1 | -0.01 | -0.001 | 0.001 | 0.01 | 0.1 -------|-----------|-----------|-------------|-------------|-----------|----------- q(x) | -0.00544 | 0.0000506 | -0.00000083 | 0.00000083 | -0.0000506| 0.00544 Based on the data, what is the best estimate for lim (x→0) q(x)?

A) 0

B) 0.00544

C) -0.00005

D) The limit does not exist.

Correct Answer: A

Although the sign of q(x) is alternating as x approaches 0 from both the left and the right, the magnitude of q(x) is getting progressively smaller and closer to zero. For example, at x = -0.01, q(x) is 0.0000506, and at x = -0.001, it is -0.00000083. This pattern indicates that the function values are being 'squeezed' toward a single value. The numerical data strongly suggests that the limit is 0.