LIMITS

Consider the function defined by the equation:

f(x) = 3x + 1

and assign some values to x near but not equal, to a specific number, say 2. We construct a tables of
values as shown below:

X 1.500 1.890 1.909 2 X 2.300 2.160 2.009 2

f(x) 5.500 6.670 6.997 7 f(x) 7.900 7.480 7.027 7

The tables show that when x is near 2, whether a little less 2, or a little greater than 2, f(x) = 3x+1
is nearer 7. In other words, “3x+1 approaches the number 7 as a limit when x approaches 2” The
abbreviated symbolic form for this statement is

3x + 1  7 as x  2

We may say also that “the limit of 3x+1 as x approaches 2 is 7.” In symbol we write this as

lim ( 3 x +1 )=7
x →2

From our intuitive discussion above, we may formulate the following definition of the limit of a
function.

DEFINITION: Let f(x) be any function and let a and L be numbers. If we can make f(x) as close to L as we
desire by choosing x sufficiently close to a, then we say that the limit of f(x) as x approaches a is L.

SYMBOLICALLY: lim
x→ a
f ( x )=L

Try this!
2
1. lim ( x ¿ +3 x+ 4)¿ Ans. 14
X→ 2

2. lim ( x + 4) √ 2 x+5 Ans. 18

X→ 2

2
3. lim (3 x + 4) Ans. 169
X→ 3

2 t 2 +1
4. lim Ans. -1/4
X→ 0 t 2 +3 t−4
cos 2 θ
5. limπ tanθ Ans. 0
θ→
2
INDETERMINATE FORM

Consider the function defined by

N (x )
f ( x )= D( x )≠ 0
D(x )
Suppose at x = a, N(a) = D(a) = 0

N (x ) 0
f ( x )= =
D(x ) 0
Which is undefined. This limit is usually found into a form to which the theorems on limits can be used.

Try this!

x 2−4
1. lim = lim x+ 2 Ans. 4
X→ 2 x −2 X→ 2

(x +3)2−9 x+6
2. lim = lim Ans. 3
X→ 0 2x X→ 0 2
1−cosx 1
3. lim 2 = lim Ans. ½
X→ 0 sin x X → 0 1+ cosx

INFINITY

Let f(x) be a function If we can make f(x) as large as we desire by making x close enough, but not
equal, to a real number a, then we describe this situation by writing

lim f ( x )=∞
x→ a

In particular consider the function f(x) = 1/x. The table shows that as x takes on values
successively approaching the number 0, the value of 1/x grows larger and larger. We say that 1/x
becomes infinite as x approaches 0 and indicate this by writing

1
lim =∞
x →0 x

x 0.1000 0.0100 0.0010 0.0001 0

f(x) 10 100 1,000 10,000  infinity
LIMIT AT INFINITY

A function f(x) may have a finite limit even when the independent variable x becomes infinite.
This statement “x becomes infinite is customarily expressed in symbolism by “x  ∞ ”.

Consider again the function f(x) = 1/x. It can be shown that 1/x approaches a finite limit (the
number zero as x increases without bound. That is,

1/x 0 as x∞

We shall consider this fact as an additional theorem on limits and in symbol we write,

1
lim =0
x→ ∞ x
We can also say that

1
lim =0
x→ ∞ xn
N (x ) ∞
A function f ( x )= = may assume indeterminate form. However, the limit of f(x) as x becomes
D(x ) ∞
infinite may be definite. To find this limit we first divide N(x) and D(X) by the highest power of x. Then
1
we evaluate limit by use of lim =0 .
x→ ∞ x
EXAMPLE:

4 x3 +3 x 2−6
Evaluate lim
X→ ∞ 2 x 3+5 x +3
Solution: Divide the numerator and denominator by the highest power of x, x 3, we get

3 6
4+ − 3
3 2
4 x +3 x −6 x x
lim = lim
X→ ∞ 2 x 3+5 x +3 X→ ∞ 5 3
2+ 2 − 3
x x
4+ 0−0
=
2+0+ 0
=2
 DERIVATIVES

To find the derivative of a function y = f(x) we use the slope formula:

Slope = Change in Y/Change in X = Δy/Δx

And (from the diagram) we see that:

x changes from   x to x+Δx

y changes from   f(x) to f(x+Δx)

Now follow these steps:

Δy f ( x + Δx)−f (x )
 Fill in this slope formula:   = 
Δx Δx
 Simplify it as best we can

 Then make Δx shrink towards zero.

 RULES FOR DIFFERENTIATION

d
D1. ( c )=0 Constant Rule
dx

d
D2. ( x )=1 Identity Function Rule
dx

d du
D3. ( cu ) =c
dx dx

d n
D4. ( u ) =n un−1 du Power Rule
dx dx

d du dv
D5. ( u+ v )= + Sum Rule
dx dx dx

d dv du
D6. ( uv )=u + v Product Rule
dx dx dx
 du dv
v−u
D7. d u dx dx Quotient Rule
()
dx v
=
v 2

du
D8. d dx
(√ x)=
dx 2√ u

d 1 −n du
D9.
( )
dx u n
= n+1
u dx

Try this!

1. Find dy/dx if y=2 x2 Ans. 4x

2. Find dy/dx if y= x 3−4 x 2+5 Ans. 3 x 2−8 x

3. Find y’ if y=¿ Ans. 4 x3 −40 x

4 1 1 4
3 + 2− 2
4. Find y’ if y=√ x+ + √ x Ans. 2 √ x x
x 3 x3

3
5. Find y’ if y=√ 3 x+2 Ans.
2 √ 3 x+ 2
 2
3
6. Find y’ if y=√ 2 x−7 Ans. 2
3(2 x−7) 3

7. Find y’ if y=¿ Ans. 18 x+ 36 √ x +16

8. Find y’ if y=3 ¿ Ans. 12 x3 −36

9. Find y’ if y=12 ¿ Ans. 2304 x 2−10368 x+ 11664

12 x 2−24 x +9
10. Find y’ if y=2 x ¿ Ans.
2

11. Find y’ if y=( 4 x 2−3)(7 x+5) Ans. 84 x 2 +40 x−21

12. Find y’ if y=( x 3−10)¿ Ans. 5(4 x +5)(4 x 3 +3 x2 −16)

x −1
13. Find y’ if y= Ans.
x−1 (x−1)2

x 2+1 −4 x
14. Find y’ if y= 2 Ans.
x −1 (x 2−1)2

x+ 2 −5
15. Find y’ if y= Ans. 2
x−3 (x−3)

Chain Rule
Try this!

1. Find y’ if y=7(2 x−3)2 Ans. 28(x-3)

2. Find y’ if y=(3 x 2−4 x+1)5 Ans. 1 0(3 x−2)(3 x2 −4 x +1)4

3. Find y’ if y=( 4 x 2−3 x+2)−2 Ans. −2(8 x−3)(8 x 2−3 x +2)−3

2
4. Find y’ if y= x 2 (2 x−1)3 Ans. 2 x ( 2 x+1 ) (5 x +1)

5. Find y’ if y=7 x ( x 3−3)5 Ans. 7(x 3−3)5 +10 5 x 3( x3 −3) 4

3
6. Find y’ if y=√ 7+ √ 3 x+1 Ans.
4 √3 x+ 1 √ 7+ √ 3 x+1

−8
7. Find y’ if y=√3 1−8 x Ans. ¿
3

−8 x( x2 +1)
8. Find y’ if y=¿ Ans.
( x2 −1)3