🌐
Reddit
reddit.com › r/math › calculating limits on desmos
r/math on Reddit: Calculating limits on Desmos
April 26, 2016 -

Sorry if this question is not adaquete for this subreddit; r/Desmos is dead, so r/math is the first alternative.


Desmos is a free graphing program. It accepts most functions in the form of f(x)=x. It can also calculate derivatives, which is really awesome if you are a math teacher trying to explain why a derivative relates to the slope of a function at a point.

Now to address my question: how can I find a limit in Desmos? If I have the function f(x)=sin(x)/x , the limit is clearly 1. Desmos does actually seem to sort of indicate this; it uses an open point instead of a closed point at x=0 for this function. Despite this, I can't define that anywhere else. There is no "limit" notation in Desmos. If there was, SO much more could be done, mainly anti-derivative stuff.

Is there a way to do it? I have a neat little graph set up to find the arc length of a given function between two points. I can't finish the parameters of the graph, however, because doing so would require finding the limit of a summation. Summations, by the way, are available in Desmos. So what gives? Why is there no limit notation? I understand there not being integral notation, since that is many orders of magnitude more complex in terms of programming than derivatives, but a limit should be simple. Is there some kind of way to define a limit?

By the way, I apologize if this post is too wordy or seems full of non-sequiturs. It's quite late.

Oh! And if anyone knows a way to contact the desmos team, that would help a lot. I would like to speak to them about this and see if they are working on implementing this (if it is possible), or if they are too busy to do so.

Top answer
1 of 2
3
Just noticed you also said "anti-derivative stuff" in your comment as well. Just two weeks ago, as I found out at the NCTM National Conference, Desmos added the "int" feature for definite integrals. Here's something I threw together for my AP class review using integrals. You'll notice it has the FTC all taken care of in that it can continue to graph function derivatives/antiderivatives, but it will never explicitly define the function with that good ol' +C. From the 2012 Free Response on College Board AP Calculus AB Page (Question 3) (so you can follow along with the problem) https://www.desmos.com/calculator/np24b0nofz
2 of 2
2
There are two ways I introduce my students to limits with desmos. As far as I'm aware, there is no actual way to do \lim_(x->c)f(x). https://www.desmos.com/calculator/goq987kmgw This graph has both methods. One is just by creating the table of values (and instead of y_1, you explicitly define the function). The other way, I do by creating a slider for a movable point on one side (knowing which number I would like to approach), and then fix another point to rely on that original slider. The result is the two points coming together (continuous function), coming together and then briefly blipping out of existence (removable discontinuity), or obviously not coming together (jump/infinite discontinuity). I wouldn't recommend JUST changing the function if you're going to play around with the graph I just sent; you're going to need to make sure that a and b are stepping in the proper way. Oh man, just realized; I should make "c" a movable point and have both a and b be dependent on that. Brb, going to edit the graph. Edit: Not as obvious; going to spend some time on how to do this. I will still need a slider, which only defining c as a movable point will not allow for.
🌐
Desmos
desmos.com › calculator › fslhmsn3jn
Limit Calculator | Desmos
Explore math with our beautiful, free online graphing calculator. Graph functions, plot points, visualize algebraic equations, add sliders, animate graphs, and more.
Discussions

Limit digits in Desmos Graph?
Is there a way to limit the number of significant digits displayed on the value of an expression used in a label to be displayed in the desmos graph of an activity? More on cl.desmos.com
🌐 cl.desmos.com
0
September 2, 2020
Creating bounds on graph that zoom in based on student's input
If I want students to input an equation to see if it graphs as a linear or quadratic function, how can I set the bounds so that if they get creative and go beyond a -10 to 10 boundary that the graph will zoom in for them? More on cl.desmos.com
🌐 cl.desmos.com
0
April 29, 2020
Calculating limits on Desmos
Just noticed you also said "anti-derivative stuff" in your comment as well. Just two weeks ago, as I found out at the NCTM National Conference, Desmos added the "int" feature for definite integrals. Here's something I threw together for my AP class review using integrals. You'll notice it has the FTC all taken care of in that it can continue to graph function derivatives/antiderivatives, but it will never explicitly define the function with that good ol' +C. From the 2012 Free Response on College Board AP Calculus AB Page (Question 3) (so you can follow along with the problem) https://www.desmos.com/calculator/np24b0nofz More on reddit.com
🌐 r/math
3
6
April 26, 2016
Limits on Desmos?

Our servers have a hard limit of 5 Mb on request bodies. You can make graph states larger than that on your local machine; you just can't save them to desmos.com. And even with relatively compact graphs you can certainly make things that take extremely long to render, in which case we'll keep trying until your browser runs out of resources.

More on reddit.com
🌐 r/desmos
21
6
June 30, 2019
🌐
Desmos Help Center
help.desmos.com › hc › en-us › articles › 4407885334285-Inequalities-and-Restrictions
Inequalities and Restrictions – Desmos Help Center
November 7, 2025 - Watch the video on the right to get started, and learn more with the resources below. To limit the domain or range (\(x\) or \(y\) values of a graph), you can add the restriction to the end of your equation in curly brackets \({}\).
🌐
Desmos
desmos.com › calculator › cevwm3atol
Find The Limits | Desmos
Explore math with our beautiful, free online graphing calculator. Graph functions, plot points, visualize algebraic equations, add sliders, animate graphs, and more.
🌐
Desmos Help Center
help.desmos.com › hc › en-us › articles › 4406810279693-Integrals
Integrals – Desmos Help Center
2 weeks ago - One way to do so is by including \(x\) in the upper bound, \(0\) in the lower bound, and integrating with respect to a variable other than \(x\). Try graphing the integral from \(0\) to \(x\) of \(t^2 dt\). Desmos will evaluate convergent integrals ...
🌐
Desmos Help Center
help.desmos.com › hc › en-us › articles › 4406360401677-FAQs
FAQs – Desmos Help Center
October 30, 2025 - In Desmos, we’ve chosen \(0^0=1\) because this answer preserves some beautiful theorems (such as the binomial theorem) without introducing special cases. Depending on how you approach the problem, \(0^0\) can equal \(0\), \(1\), or undefined and all of these answers are “right” in some sense. To see arguments for each of these possibilities, check out this article. How do I move my graphs from one account to another?
🌐
Desmos Help Center
help.desmos.com › hc › en-us › articles › 4405296853517-Graph-Settings
Graph Settings – Desmos Help Center
A graph is worth a thousand words, but only if you can see it. Adjust the window automatically with the zoom in, zoom out, and default zoom buttons, or change the view manually to get things just r...
🌐
Desmos
cl.desmos.com › questions
Limit digits in Desmos Graph? - Questions - Computation Layer Support Forum
September 2, 2020 - Is there a way to limit the number of significant digits displayed on the value of an expression used in a label to be displayed in the desmos graph of an activity?
Find elsewhere
🌐
Desmos
desmos.com › calculator › dvxugd7j8e
limit as x approaches infinity | Desmos
Explore math with our beautiful, free online graphing calculator. Graph functions, plot points, visualize algebraic equations, add sliders, animate graphs, and more.
🌐
Desmos
desmos.com › calculator › voiheuzt6o
Skill: Restricting Domain and Range | Desmos
Explore math with our beautiful, free online graphing calculator. Graph functions, plot points, visualize algebraic equations, add sliders, animate graphs, and more.
🌐
Desmos
cl.desmos.com › questions
Creating bounds on graph that zoom in based on student's input - Questions - Computation Layer Support Forum
April 29, 2020 - If I want students to input an equation to see if it graphs as a linear or quadratic function, how can I set the bounds so that if they get creative and go beyond a -10 to 10 boundary that the graph will zoom in for them…
🌐
TikTok
tiktok.com › discover › how-to-graph-limits-on-desmos
How to Graph Limits on Desmos
Good quality at good prices🌟 All creator-tested, shopper-approved, you’ll actually love · Celebrate Super Brand Day on TikTok Shop! Discover the biggest brands and their best deals of the year—exclusively on TikTok Shop · Beachwaver’s Super Brand Day is here from May 20–26, and ...
🌐
iorad
iorad.com › player › 2182923 › Desmos---How-to--find-the-maximum-of-a-function-on-Desmos
Desmos - How to find the maximum of a function on Desmos
In this tutorial, you will learn how to find the maximum of a function on Desmos. The first step is to open Desmos, and click Graphing Calculator.. Click the Text tab.. Type in a Math function.
🌐
Trincoll
calculus.domains.trincoll.edu › desmos-links › desmos-limits-from-a-graph
Limits from a graph (1.1) – Math 131 Calculus 1 Resources
September 8, 2019 - This Desmos link shows what is happening graphically when you construct a table of values to investigate a limit. Desmos is also very useful for quickly evaluating functions at several inputs (just define f(x)=……, and then type f(0.01), f(0.001), etc.
🌐
App Store
apps.apple.com › us › app › desmos-graphing-calculator › id653517540
Desmos Graphing Calculator App - App Store
Explore math with the fast and powerful Desmos Graphing Calculator. Plot any equation, from lines and parabolas to derivatives and Fourier series. Add sliders to demonstrate function transformations, create tables to input and plot data, animate your graphs, and more—all for free. Features: Graphing: Plot polar, cartesian, or parametric graphs. There’s no limit to how many expressions you can graph at one time—and you don’t even need to enter expressions in y= form!
Rating: 4.3 ​ - ​ 1.21K votes
🌐
Desmos
desmos.com › calculator › 4yascaseo4
Limits & Continuity | Desmos
Explore math with our beautiful, free online graphing calculator. Graph functions, plot points, visualize algebraic equations, add sliders, animate graphs, and more.
🌐
Desmos
desmos.com › calculator › pswdnrgyze
Limits to infinity | Desmos
Explore math with our beautiful, free online graphing calculator. Graph functions, plot points, visualize algebraic equations, add sliders, animate graphs, and more.
🌐
TikTok
tiktok.com › discover › how-to-set-limits-on-desmos-graphing-calculator
How to Set Limits on Desmos Graphing Calculator
1 month ago - You can now view TikTok Stories in your browser! Log in to start watching · Browse your favorite items