Math 151-copyright Joe Kahlig, 13C Page 1

Section 2.3: Calculating Limits Using Limit Laws

Limit Laws Suppose that c is a constant and the limits lim f (x) and lim g(x) exists. Then
x→a x→a

1) lim [f (x) + g(x)] = lim f (x) + lim g(x) 2) lim [f (x) − g(x)] = lim f (x) − lim g(x)
x→a x→a x→a x→a x→a x→a

3) lim cf (x) = c lim f (x) 4) lim f (x) ∗ g(x) = lim f (x) ∗ lim g(x)
x→a x→a x→a x→a x→a

f (x) lim f (x)

5) lim = x→a if lim g(x) 6= 0
x→a g(x) lim g(x) x→a
x→a
h in
6) lim [f (x)]n = lim f (x) , where n is a positive integer
x→a x→a

7) lim c = c 8) lim x = a 9) lim xn = an where n is a positive integer

x→a x→a x→a

√ √
10) lim n
x= n
a where n is a positive integer and if n is even, then we assume that a > 0
x→a

p q
11 ) lim n
f (x) = n lim f (x), where n is a positive integer.
x→a x→a

Example: Compute the following limits.

A) lim 4x3 + 5 =
x→2

x2 − 9
B) lim
x→−3 x + 5

x2 − 9
C) lim
x→−3 x2 + x − 6
Math 151-copyright Joe Kahlig, 13C Page 2

(4 + h)2 − 16
D) lim
h→0 h


Example: Use the function f (x) to answer these questions. f (x) = x3 − 2x + 4 if x ≤ 2
3x − 2 if x > 2

A) lim f (x)
x→1

B) lim f (x)
x→2

Example: Evaluate these limits.

|x − 3|
A) lim
x→3 x−3
Math 151-copyright Joe Kahlig, 13C Page 3

x−1 − .5
B) lim
x→2 x−2

√ √
3−x− 3
C) lim
x→0 x

Limits with Vectors  

If r(t) = hx(t), y(t)i is a vector function then lim r(t) = lim x(t), lim y(t)
t→a t→a t→a
* +
4t2 − 11t − 3
Example: Find the lim r(t) if r(t) = 2t,
t→3 t2 − 9
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1
 
Example: Compute lim t2 sin
t→0 t

Squeeze Theorem If f (x) ≤ g(x) ≤ h(x) for all x in an open interval about a (except possibly at a)
and lim f (x) = L = lim h(x) then lim g(x) = L
x→a x→a x→a

Challenge Problem:

Compute these limits.

x3 − 1
1) lim
x→1 x2 − 1

3x2 + 2x − 8
2) lim
x→−2 5x2 + 17x + 14
1 7
 
3) lim − 2 =
x→0 x 4x + 7x

4) Find the value of A so that the lim f (x) = 10. If this is not possible, explain why.
x→2

3x + 4 if x ≤ 2
f (x) = 2
4x + A if x > 2