SFM 1002 Mathematics II

Chapter 1 Limits

CHAPTER 1
LIMITS
________________________________________________________________________
At the end of chapter, the students are able to
find the limit of function f (x) , whether x approaches a real number or (C1)
trace the limit properties to solve the limit problems (P3, C3)
use the concept of limit to determine continuity of the function (C3)
________________________________________________________________________

1.1

Introduction to Limits

Definition 1.1: Let x be any real number variable, and let c be a fixed real number. To say that x
approaches c means that x can take on any value which is arbitrarily close to c.
Notation: x approaches c is written as x c . If x c , then the distance between x and c
differs by arbitrarily small amount which can be denoted by a positive number such that

xc < .
y

+

Figure 1 : Distance x from c
Example 1.1: If = 2 and = 0.01, then 1.99 < < 2.01 approaches 2.

Definition 1.2 (Limit of a function): If a function () approaches some real number L when x
approaches c, then we call L as limit of when x approaches c.

SFM 1002 Mathematics II

Chapter 1 Limits

Example 1.2(a): Let () =

2 9
3

and 3. As we known, () is defined for all except

= 3. To find the limit of () when approaches 3, we choose any number close to 3.

2
2.5
2.9
2.99 2.999

or

() 5

()

4
7

5.5

3.5
6.5

5.9

5.99

3.1
6.1

5.999

3.01
6.01

3.001
6.001

3.0001
6.0001

Figure 2 : Table of x and ()

From the table above we can observe that as x approaches 3, () will approach 6. If we choose
x close enough to 3, then f will be nearer to 6. We conclude that 6 is the limit of f as x
approaches 3.
The above result can be written as follows,
2 9
= 6.
3 3
lim

Example 1.2(b): Let f ( x) =

x 3 125
and 5. Find the limit of f (x) when approaches 5.
x 5

SFM 1002 Mathematics II

Chapter 1 Limits

Definition 1.3: The limit of () when approaches from right side can be written as
lim+ ().

Definition 1.4: The limit of () when approaches from left side can be written as
lim ().

Proposition 1.1: If lim+ f ( x) = L and lim f ( x) = L , then lim f ( x) = L .

x c

x c

x c

Example 1.3(a): Find lim 2 x + 1 .

x 3

Solution:
Step 1:
Step 2:

lim 2 x + 1 = 7 ;

x 3 +

lim 2 x + 1 = 7 .

x 3

Conclusion: Because of lim+ 2 x + 1 = lim 2 x + 1 , thus lim 2 x + 1 = 7 .

x 3

x 3

x 3

Example 1.3(b): Find lim x 2 + 1 .

x 5

Proposition 1.2: If lim+ f ( x) lim f ( x) , then lim f ( x) does not exist.

x c

x c

xc

Method:
To find the limit of the function f (x) , we need to the follow:
Step 1:
Find the value of lim+ f ( x)
x c

Step 2:

Find the value of lim f ( x)

Step 3:

Make a conclusion
If lim+ f ( x) = lim f ( x) , thus lim f ( x) = lim+ f ( x) = lim f ( x)

x c

x c

x c

x c

x c

x c

If lim+ f ( x) lim f ( x) , thus lim f ( x) does not exist.

x c

x c

x c

Note: The function f (x) and the number c will be given.

SFM 1002 Mathematics II

Chapter 1 Limits

x 2, for x 2
Example 1.4(a): Find lim f ( x) , where f ( x) =
.
x 2
x 1, for x < 2
Solution:
Step 1:
lim+ f ( x) = lim+ x 2 = 0 ;
x2

Step 2:

x2

lim f ( x) = lim x 1 = 1 .

x2

x2

Conclusion: Because of lim+ f ( x) lim f ( x) , thus lim f ( x) does not exist.

x2

x2

x 2

x 2, for x 5
.
Example 1.4(b): Find lim f ( x) , where f ( x) =
x5
x
x

2
,
for
<
5

Theorem 1.1(Limit Properties): Let be a positive integer, be a constant, and f and g be

functions that have limits at . Then
1. lim k = k ;
x c

2. lim kf ( x) = k lim f ( x) ;
x c

x c

3. lim[ f ( x) + g ( x)] = lim f ( x) + lim g ( x) ;

x c

x c

x c

4. lim[ f ( x) g ( x)] = lim f ( x) lim g ( x) ;

x c

x c

x c

5. lim[ f ( x) g ( x)] = lim f ( x) lim g ( x) ;

x c

6. lim
x c

x c

x c

f ( x)
f ( x) lim
, if lim g ( x) 0 ;
= x c
x c
g ( x) lim g ( x)
x c

7. lim[ f ( x)] = lim f ( x) ;

n

x c

x c

8. lim n f ( x) = n lim f ( x) , if lim f ( x) > 0 .

x c

x c

x c

SFM 1002 Mathematics II

Chapter 1 Limits

x2 9
, and g ( x) = 2 x + 1 . Verify the limit
x3

Example 1.5(a): Let n = 2 , k = 5 , c = 3 , f ( x) =

properties.
Solution:
Step 1: lim f ( x) = lim
x 3

x 3

x2 9
= 6 and lim g ( x) = lim 2 x + 1 = 7 ;
x 3
x 3
x 3

Step 2:
1. lim k = lim 5 = 5 ;
x c

x 3

2. lim kf ( x) = k lim f ( x) = 5 lim f ( x) = 5 6 = 30 ;

x c

x c

x 3

3. lim[ f ( x) + g ( x)] = lim f ( x) + lim g ( x) = lim f ( x) + lim g ( x) = 6 + 7 = 13 ;

x c

x c

x c

x 3

x 3

4. lim[ f ( x) g ( x)] = lim f ( x) lim g ( x) = lim f ( x) lim g ( x) = 6 7 = 1 ;

x c

x c

x c

x 3

x 3

5. lim[ f ( x) g ( x)] = lim f ( x) lim g ( x) = lim f ( x) lim g ( x) = 6 7 = 42 ;

x c

6. lim
x c

x c

x c

x 3

x 3

f ( x) lim f ( x) 6
f ( x) lim
= x c
= x 3
= ;
g ( x) lim g ( x) lim g ( x) 7
x c

x 3

] [

7. lim[ f ( x)] = lim f ( x) = lim f ( x) = 6 2 = 36 ;

n

x c

x c

x 3

8. lim n f ( x) = n lim f ( x) = 2 lim f ( x) = 2 6 .

x c

x c

x 3

Example 1.5(b): Let n = 3 , k = 7 , c = 5 , f ( x) =

x 3 125
, and g ( x) = x 2 + 1 . Verify the limit
x 5

properties.

SFM 1002 Mathematics II

Chapter 1 Limits

1.2

Limit involve Infinity

Definition 1.5: If the function f (x) increases without limit when x approaches c , then we
write lim f ( x) = + .
x c

f (x)

x
c
Figure 3: Limit f (x) approach +

Definition 1.6: If the function f (x) decreases without limit when x approaches c , then we
write lim f ( x) = .
x c

f (x)

c
x

Figure 4: Limit f (x) approach

Notation: lim f ( x) = + or lim f ( x) = does not mean that limit does not exist. This is
x c

x c

because + and is not real number.

Example 1.6(a): Find lim
x 3

1
.
x 3
6

SFM 1002 Mathematics II

Chapter 1 Limits

Solution:
Step 1:
Step 2:

lim

1
= + ;
x 3

lim

1
= + .
x 3

x 3 +

x 3

Conclusion: Because of lim+

x 3

Example 1.6(b): Find lim

x 1

1
1
1
, thus lim
= + .
= lim
x 3 x 3
x 3 x 3 x 3

1
.
x 1

Definition 1.7: If the limit of the function f (x) as x approaches a very large value, like +
and then we write lim f ( x) and lim f ( x) .
x +

1
= 0 for any number of n .
x + x n

Proposition 1.3: lim

Method:
To find the limit of the function f (x) as x approaches + or , we need to
the follow:
p( x)
Step 1:
Suppose that f ( x) =
, then determine the highest order of
q( x)
x for functions p (x) and q (x) , let say is n ;
Step 2:
Step 3:

Both functions p (x) and q (x) divided by x n ;

Using the limit properties to solve the limit of function f (x)

SFM 1002 Mathematics II

Chapter 1 Limits

4x + 3
x + 2 x + 5

Example 1.7(a): Find lim

Solution :
3
4x + 3
x
lim
= lim
x + 2 x + 5
x +
5
2+
x
3

lim 4 +
x +
x

=
5

lim 2 +
x +
x

4+

(divide by x)

(Theorem 1.1 (6))

1
lim 4 + 3 lim
x + x

(Theorem 1.1 (2) & (3))
=
1
lim 2 + 5 lim
x +
x + x

4 + 3.0 4
=
= =2
2 + 5.0 2
2x 2 x + 5
Example 1.7(b): Find lim
x
4x3 1
x +

Example 1.7(c): Find lim

x +

3x + 4
2x 2 5

SFM 1002 Mathematics II

Chapter 1 Limits

1.3

Continuity

Definition 1.8: A function f (x) is said to be continuous at x = c if f (x) satisfy the following
three conditions.
(a) f (c) is defined (exist);
(b) exist lim f ( x) , that mean lim+ f ( x) = lim f ( x) ;
x c

xc

x c

(c) lim f ( x) = f (c) .

x c

Method:
To determine the function f (x) is continuous at x = c , we need to the follow:
Step 1:
Find f (c) , the value of f (c) must be a real number;
Step 2:
Find the values of lim+ f ( x) and lim f ( x) , if they are equal, then
x c

x c

exist lim f ( x) ;
xc

Step 3:

Check f (c) is equal to lim f ( x) or not.

xc

Conclusion: If all conditions are fulfill, then function f (x) is continuous at

x = c ; if one of them cannot fulfill, then function f (x) is not
continuous at x = c .

Example 1.8(a): Determine whether f ( x) =

4x2 + 3
is continuous at x = 2 .
2x +1

Solution:
Step 1:

Step 2:

4(2) 2 + 3 19
=
2(2) + 1
5
Thus, f (c) is defined.
f ( 2) =

lim+ f ( x) = lim+

x c

x2

4 x 2 + 3 19
=
2x +1
5

4 x 2 + 3 19
=
x c
x2
2x +1
5
Thus, exist lim f ( x) , because lim+ f ( x) = lim f ( x)
lim f ( x) = lim
xc

Step 3:

x c

x c

lim f ( x) = f (2)
x2

Conclusion: f (c) is continuous at x = 2 .

SFM 1002 Mathematics II

Chapter 1 Limits

Example 1.8(b): Determine whether f ( x) =

x 2 + 3x + 1
is continuous at x = 3 .
x3

Exercise 1:
1.

Evaluate the following limits:

z 3 + 3z + 7
x 1 5 z 2 + 9 z + 6

a) lim(2 x 5 9 x 3 + 3 x 2 11)

b) lim

c) lim 3 x 2 3 x 2

d) lim ( x 2 + 3 x 7)

x2

x 2

x 2
x4

e) lim
x4

f) lim
x2

g) lim(t 5t + 4)
3

x 0

z + z 3
z +1
2

i) lim
x 1

x 2

x2 + x 6
x2

h) lim( x + 5)(2 x 7)
x 3

x 2 + 3 x 10
x 3 3 x 2 + 5 x 7

j) lim

x 3 6 x 2 + 11x 6
x 1 x 3 + 4 x 2 19 x + 14

l) lim

m) lim

x2 + x 2
x 1
x2 1

n) lim

u 2 ux + 2u 2 x
o) lim
u 2
u2 u 6

x 2 + ux x u
p) lim
x 1 x 2 + 2 x 3

k) lim

q) lim

2 x 2 6 x + 4 2
x2 2

x 2 + 7 x + 10
x 2
x+2

x 2 14 x 51
x 3 x 2 4 x 21

( w + 2 )( w 2 w 6 )
w2
w2 + 4w + 4

r) lim

10

SFM 1002 Mathematics II

Chapter 1 Limits

2.

Find the following limits:

b) lim

x2
x 5 x 3

d) lim

t2
t 7 t 2

f) lim

t
t t 5

h) lim

c) lim

e) lim

g) lim

3.

x2
x ( x 5 )( 3 x )

x
x x 5

a) lim

x2
x x 2 8 x + 15

x3
x 2 x 3 100 x 2

5
5 5 4

Determine the function f (x) is continuous or not

x2 4
at x = 2
x +1

a) f ( x) = x 2 + x + 1 at x = 3

b) f ( x) =

x3 2x + 2
c) f ( x) =
at x = 1
x 1

x3 + 2 x + 2
d) f ( x) =
at x = 1
x +1

x 2 16
at x = 4
e) f ( x) =
x4

x 2 3x 4
f) f ( x) =
at x = 4
x +1

x + 2, for x 0
g) f ( x) =
at x = 0
for x = 0
0,

x 2 4, for x 2
i) f ( x) =
at x = 2
x + 2, for x < 2

11