LIMITS

LIMITS OF FUNCTION
Limit of a Function
Let f be a function and let a and L be real numbers.
L is the limit of f(x) as x approaches a, written
lim f ( x)  L,
xa
if the following conditions are met.
1. As x assumes values closer and closer (but not equal )
to a on both sides of a, the corresponding values of f(x)
get closer and closer (and are perhaps equal) to L.
2. The value of f(x) can be made as close to L as desired
by taking values of x arbitrarily close to a.
EXAMPLE: FINDING THE LIMIT OF A POLYNOMIAL FUNCTION

Find lim ( x 2  3x  4)
x 1

Solution:
x approaches 1
Left side Right side

x .9 .99 .999 1.001 1.01 1.1
f(x) 2.11 2.0101 2.001 1.999 1.9901 1.91

f(x) approaches 2
The values of f(x) get closer and closer to 1 as x gets
closer and closer to 2.

Hence
lim ( x 2  3x  4)  2
x 1
EXAMPLE:
Use numerical evidence to make a conjecture about the value of f(x) as x approach to 2
x2  4
f ( x) 
x2
Solution:
Use numerical method
Left side Right side
2
x 1.9 1.99 1.999 2.001 2.01 2.1
f(x) 3.9 3.99 3.999 4.001 4.01 4.1

The values of f(x) get closer and closer to 4 as x gets closer and
closer to 2.

We say that

is not defined at x = 2, so its x2  4

“the limit of as x approaches 2 equals 4”
graph has a “hole” at x = 2. x2

and write x2  4
lim  4.
x 2 x  2
Example : Find lim f ( x) where
x 3

 2 x  1 if x  3
f ( x)   .
4 x  5 if x  3

x 2.9 2.99 2.999 3.001 3.01 3.1

f(x) 6.8 6.98 6.998 7.004 7.04 7.4

The values of f(x) get closer and closer to 7 as x gets

closer and closer to 3.

Hence lim f ( x)  7
x 3
One-sided limits
Only look for limit at one side of the point.

Right-handed
Left-handed
f ( x)
lim f ( x)  L
lim f ( x)  L x a
x a L

a
x approaches a from x approaches a from
left hand side. right hand side.
Two-sided limits

-Requires value of limits from both sides.

-The limit of function f(x) exist at a if and only if the value of

f(x) must approach to same real number L as x approaches a
from the left or right

lim f ( x)  lim f ( x)  L
x a  x a
Then,
lim f ( x)  L
x a
EXAMPLE:
Sketch f(x) and find xlim
f ( x) , lim f ( x) and lim f ( x) where
2 x  2 x2

 x  6 if x  2
5 if x  2
f ( x)  
 1 x 2 if x  2
 2
Solution

1
f ( x) use the formula f ( x)  x
2
Since x > 2 in xlim
2 
2
In the limit lim f ( x)
x  2
, where x < 2, use f(x) = x + 6.

x  2   2
1 2 1 2
lim f ( x)  lim
x2 x 2 2 2

lim f ( x)  lim ( x  6)  2  6  8
x  2 x2

lim f ( x) does not exist

x2
Rules for Limits
1. Constant rule If k is a constant real number, lim k k .
x a

2. Limit of x rule lim x  a .

xa
For the following rules, we assume that lim f ( x) and lim g ( x) both exist
x a x a
3. Sum and difference rules

lim[ f ( x)  g ( x)]  lim f ( x)  lim g ( x).

xa xa xa

4. Product rule
lim[ f ( x)  g ( x)]  lim f ( x)  lim g ( x).
xa xa xa

5. Quotient rule
f ( x) lim f ( x)
lim  x a
. provided lim g ( x)  0
x a g ( x) lim g ( x) x a
x a
Rules for Limits
6. Polynomial rule If p(x) defines a polynomial function, then
lim p( x)  p(a).
xa

7. Rational function rule

p ( x)
If f ( x) defines as a rational function with q( x)  0, then
q ( x)
lim f ( x)  f (a)
x a

8. Power rule For any real number k

k
lim[ f ( x)]  lim f ( x) 
k
x a  x a 
EXAMPLE
Find lim (3  2 x)
x 4

Solution
lim (3  2 x)  lim 3  lim 2 x Constant rule and sum rule
x 4 x 4 x 4

 3  lim 2  lim x Product rule

x 4 x 4

 3 2 4

 11
EXAMPLE
5x  3
Find lim 2
x 2 x  2

Solution

5 x  3 lim 5x  3
lim 2  x 2 2 Quotient rule
x 2 x  2 lim x  2
x 2

5 lim x  lim 3 Difference rule

 x 2 x 2
lim x. lim x  lim 2 Product rule
x 2 x 2 x 2 Constant rule

7

2
TECHNIQUES OF COMPUTING LIMITS
Polynomial functions

Limits at a point Limits at infinity

Let f (x) is polynomial function Let f (x) is polynomial function
f ( x)  c0  c1 x  c2 x 2  ...  cn x n f ( x)  c0  c1 x  c2 x 2  ...  cn x n

Then, Then,
lim f ( x)  f (a) lim f ( x) depends on the highest
x a x 
degree term.
EXAMPLE:
Find (a) lim 2 x  9 x (b) lim x  3x
5 3 6
x 2 x 
 Rational functions
Limits at a point
Let f (x) is rational function
n( x) , with d(x) and n(x) polynomial function
f ( x) 
d ( x)
Then,
n(a) ,with d (a) . 0 lim f ( x)  f (a)
lim f ( x)  x a
x a d (a)

But how if d (a)  0 ???

1 Case n(a)  0 lim f ( x) does not exist.
x a
0 , factor d(x) and n(x) then
2 Case n( a )  0 lim f ( x) 
x a 0
cancel out.
Rational functions
Limits at a point

Example
x  9 x3
lim
x 1 4x

3u 2  u
lim
u 2 2  u

x2  2x  3
lim 2
x 1 x  3 x  2
 Rational functions
Limits at infinity

Let f (x) is rational function

n( x )
f ( x) 
d ( x)
Then,
lim f ( x) Step 1 Factor out the highest degree of d(x)
x 
Step 2 Cancel it out
Step 3 Substitute   to find the answer
Rational functions
Limits at a infinity

Example

2 x2 1
lim 5
x  4 x  5 x 4  x 3  2 x 2

x2
lim
x  3 x  13
Radical functions, (function involve n )
Limits at a point
Let f (x) is radical function
m( x )
f ( x)  , with e(x) and m(x) radical function
e( x )
Rationalize??
m( a ) For a  b
lim f ( x)  ,with e(a.)  0 then rationalize it
x a e( a ) ( a  b)( a  b)
But how if e(a)  0 ???  a  b2

1 Case m(a)  0 lim f ( x) does not exist.

x a
0
2 Case m(a)  0 lim f ( x)  , rationalize e (x) or m (x)
x a 0
Radical functions
Limits at a point

Example

3t  1
lim
t 3 1 t

x 1
lim
x 1 x 1

4 x
lim
x 4 2  x
Limits at infinity
Let f (x) is radical function
m( x )
f ( x) 
e( x )

Case 1 Case 3
f (x) can be rationalize f (x) can’t be rationalize
Rationalize m (x) or e (x) Step 1 Factor out the highest degree of e(x)

Step 2 Cancel it out

Case 2
f (x) with e (x) = 1 Step 3 Substitute x   to find the answer
Rationalize m (x)
Radical functions
Limits at a point

Example

2 x 8
lim
x  2 x

lim x 6  6 x 3  x 3
x 