At the end of this module, I can:

1. Illustrate the limit of a function using the table of values and the graph of the
function.
2. Distinguish between lim x →c
f (x) and f (c).
3. Illustrate the limit laws
4. Apply the limit laws in evaluating the limits of algebraic functions (polynomial,
rational, and radical).
5. Compute limits using a variety of techniques.

Calculus primarily deals with the limit process as it quantifies the relationship
between two variables or quantities. The concept of the limit process eventually
leads to the study of calculus. It can be shown through the following diagram:

As you have learned in general mathematics, mathematical functions are models

of real-life phenomena. Generally, functions appear in different forms, and they
can be represented in many ways. You may write them as equations and
represent them in words, in tables of values, and probably in graphical forms.
The graph is an important representation, as it visually depicts the behavior of
the function under consideration.

Numeric Representation of the Limits of Functions

The behavior of functions can also be described using the concept of limits.
Informally speaking, the limit of a function refers to its "intended" value as x
approaches a specific value. To understand this concept consider the function
x−4 0−4 1
defined by f (x)= 2 . By substitution, f (0)= 2 =
x −16 0 −16 4

Also, as the values of x come close to 0, then the values of f (x) come close to ¼
(or 0.25). This is shown in table 1.1.

The case is different when x = 4. By substitution, f (4) does not exist, because the
denominator is 0. However, when the values of x come close to 4, the values of f
(x) come close to 1/8 (or 0.125), as evident in table 1.2.
Both cases illustrate the limit of a function. In the first case, the "limit off as x
approaches 0 is 0.25" because the function comes closer to the real number 0.25
as x comes closer to 0. This is written as
lim f (x) = 0.25
x →0

For the second case, we write lim f (x) = 0.125

x →2
The concept of limits is important in calculus.

The limit of a function f (x) is the value it approaches as the value of x

approaches a certain value. “As x approaches a, the limit of f (x) approaches L”.
This is written in symbols as follows:
lim f (x) = L
x→ a

Example 1: Find lim

x→ 4
x +2

Solution: The arrow pointing at 4 indicates that x is approaching 4 from the left
side and from the right side of 4. This means that x can take on values less than 4
and values greater than 4. It cannot take 4 as a value because it is just
approaching 4. The first thing to do is to find the limit of the given function is to
construct tables of values. In table 1, let x take on some values of x that are less
than 4. These values of x get closer and closer to 4. In table 2, let x take on some
values x that are greater than 4. These values of x get closer and closer to 4.
As the value of x gets closer to 4 from the left or as x approaches 4 from the left,
the value of f (x) approaches 6. As the value ofx gets closer to 4 from right or as x
approaches 4 from the right, f (x) approaches 6. In other words, the value of f (x)
gets closer and closer to 6 as the value of x gets closer and closer to 4 from either
side. This can be written as follows:
lim x +2=6
x→ 4

This means that the limit of (x + 2) is 6 as x approaches 4 from either side.

Example 3. Find lim

x →2
x −3 .