Limit Theorems for Functions

Lesson: Limit Theorems for Functions

Course Developer: Brijendra Yadav

Department/College: Assistant Professor, Department of

Mathematics, Acharya Narendra Dev College, University of Delhi

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 Limit Theorems for Functions

Table of Contents

Chapter: Limit Theorems for Functions

 1: Learning Outcomes
 2: Introduction
 3: Limit at a Point
 4: Bounded Function
 5: Sum, Difference, Product and Quotient of Two Functions
o 5.1: Sum of Two Functions
o 5.2: Difference of Two Functions
o 5.3: Product of Two Functions
o 5.4: Quotient of Two Functions
 6: Algebraic Operations on Limits
 7: Limit Theorems for Functions
 Exercises
 Summary
 References

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 Limit Theorems for Functions

1. Learning outcomes:

After studying this chapter you should be able to understand the

 Limit at a point.
 Bounded Function
 Sum, Difference, Product and Quotient of Two Functions
 Algebraic Operations on Limits
 Limit Theorems for Functions

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 Limit Theorems for Functions

2. Introduction:

Area of mathematics in which various limiting concepts are used in

a systematic way is generally known as Mathematical Analysis. The
rudimentary notion of a limiting process emerged in the 1680s as Isaac
Newton (1642-1727) and Gotfried Leibnitz (1646-1716) struggled with
the creation of the calculus. Initially they were unknown to each other's
work and their creative insights were quite different. In their work, they
realized the need to formulate a notion of function and the idea of
quantities being close to one another. In his work Principia in 1687,
Newton discussed limits "to which they approach nearer than by any
given difference, but never go beyond nor in effect attain to till the
quantities are diminished in infinitum and used the word 'fluent' to denote
a relationship between variables. Leibnitz invented "infinitesimally small
numbers as a way of handling the concept of a limit and introduced the
term function to indicate a quantity that depended on a variable. Leibnitz
also introduced the term calculus for this new method of calculation. In
this lesson we will study the limit theorems on functions.

3. Limit at a Point:

Let X and Y are two non-empty subsets of the real numbers. A real
number L is called the limit of the function f : X  Y at a point x0  X for any
given   0 there exists a   0 such that for each x  X

f ( x)   

whenever x  x0   .

Value Addition: Note

1. Limit of a function f : X  Y at a point x 0  X is denoted by lim f ( x)  .
x  x0

2. If is the limit of the function f : X  Y at a point x 0  X , then the

function f(x) is said to converges to at x0 .
3. If the limit of the function f(x) at x0 does not exist then the function
f(x) is said to diverges at x0 .
4. The value of  in the definition of limit is usually depends on  .

4. Bounded Function:

A function f : X  Y where X and Y are non-empty subsets of R is

called bounded if there exists a constant M  R such that

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 Limit Theorems for Functions

f ( x)  M for all x  X .

Theorem 1: Let X and Y are two non-empty subsets of R and let

f : X  Y . If f(x) has a limit at a point x0  X , then f(x) is bounded on
some neighborhood of x0 .

Proof: Let f : X  Y has a limit L at x0  X then for each   0 there exists

a   0 such that for each x  X

f ( x)    (1)

whenever x  x0   (2)

from inequality (2) we have

x  x0  

   x  x0  

 x0    x  x0  

 ( x0   , x0   ) is called   neighborhood of x0 .

Now if we take   1 in equation (1), we have

f ( x)   1 (3)

We know that

f ( x)   f ( x) 

 f ( x)  1

 f ( x)  1 (4)

Take M  sup{ f ( x0 ),  1}

Then we have

f ( x)  M for each x  ( x0   , x0   )

Thus, f(x) is bounded on the neighborhood of x0 .

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 Limit Theorems for Functions

5. Sum, Difference, Product and Quotient of Two Functions:

Let A and B are two non-empty subsets of R and let f(x) and g(x) are two
functions defined on A and B respectively. Then the domain of the sum,
difference, product and quotient of f and g is the set X  A B .

5.1. Sum of Two Functions:

The sum of the functions f(x) and g(x) is denoted by ( f  g )( x) and

defined as follows

( f  g )( x)  f ( x)  g ( x) for each x  X .

5.2. Difference of Two Functions:

The difference of the functions f(x) and g(x) is denoted by ( f  g )( x)

and defined as follows

( f  g )( x)  f ( x)  g ( x) for each x  X

5.3. Product of Two Functions:

The product of the functions f(x) and g(x) is denoted by ( f .g )( x)

and defined as follows

( f .g )( x)  f ( x).g ( x) for each x  X .

5.4. Quotient of Two Functions:

 f 
The quotient of the functions f(x) and g(x) is denoted by   ( x)
g
and defined as follows

f  f ( x)
  ( x)  provided g ( x)  0 for each x  X .
g g ( x)

6. Algebraic Operations on Limits:

Theorem 2: Let X be any non-empty subset of R and let f(x) and g(x)
are functions defined on X such that lim f ( x)  1 and lim g( x)  2 exist. Then
x  x0 x  x0

(I) Addition of Limits

lim( f  g )( x)  1  2  lim f ( x)  lim g( x)

x  x0 x  x0 x  x0

(II) Difference of Limits

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 Limit Theorems for Functions

lim( f  g )( x)  1  2  lim f ( x)  lim g( x)

x  x0 x  x0 x  x0

(III) Product of Limits

lim( f .g )( x)  1. 2  lim f ( x). lim g( x)

x  x0 x  x0 x  x0

(IV) Reciprocal of Limit

1 1 1
lim   ( x)   provided 2  0 and g ( x)  0 for any x  X .
g
x  x0
2 lim
x x
g( x )
0

(V) Quotient of Limits

f  lim f ( x)
x  x0
lim   ( x)  1
 provided lim g( x)  2  0.
 
x  x0 g
2 lim g( x)
x  x0
x  x0

(VI) Constant Multiple of Limits

lim(a. f )( x)  a. 1  a. lim f ( x)
x  x0 x  x0

Proof: Let X be any non-empty subset of R and let

lim f ( x)  1 and lim g( x)  2 exist.

x  x0 x  x0

(I) Addition of Limits

Since lim f ( x)  1 and lim g( x)  2 exist then by the definition of limit for
x  x0 x  x0

every   0 there exist a numbers 1  0 and  2  0 such that


if 0  x  x0  1 then f ( x)  1  (1)
2

similarly


if 0  x  x0   2 then g( x)  2  (2)
2

Now choose   min{1 ,  2 } and 0  x  x0   then

( f  g )( x)  ( 1  2 )  f ( x)  g ( x)  ( 1  2 )

 ( f ( x )  1 )  ( g ( x)  2 )

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 Limit Theorems for Functions

 ( f ( x)  1 )  ( g ( x)  2 )

 
  [using equation (1) and (2)]
2 2

 ( f  g )( x)  ( 1  2 ) 

Thus for every   0 there exist a numbers   0 such that

if 0  x  x0   then ( f  g )( x)  ( 1  2 ) 

Hence

lim( f  g )( x)  1  2  lim f ( x)  lim g( x) .

x  x0 x  x0 x  x0

(II) Difference of Limits

Proof of this part is similar to (I) therefore left as an exercise to the

reader.

(III) Multiplication of Limits

Since lim f ( x)  1 exist then by the definition of limit for every   0 there
x  x0

exist a numbers 1  0 such that


if 0  x  x0  1 then f ( x)  1  (1)
2 2

By the boundedness property there exists a number  2  0 such that

g ( x)  2 for all x V2 ( x0 ) (2)

Furthermore there exists a numbers  3  0 such that


if 0  x  x0   3 then g ( x)  2  (1)
2 1

Now choose   min{1 ,  2 ,  3} and 0  x  x0   then

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 Limit Theorems for Functions

( f .g )( x)  ( 1. 2 )  f ( x).g ( x)  1 g ( x)  1 g ( x)  ( 1. 2 )
 g ( x)  f ( x)    1  g ( x)  2 
1

 g ( x)  f ( x)  1   1  g ( x)  2 
 g ( x)  f ( x)  1   1  g ( x)  2 
 
 2  1
2 2 2 1

 
  
2 2

Thus for every   0 there exist a numbers   0 such that

if 0  x  x0   then ( f .g )( x)  ( 1. 2 )  

Hence

lim( f .g )( x)  1. 2  lim f ( x). lim g( x) .

x  x0 x  x0 x  x0

(IV) Reciprocal of Limits

Let   0 be given. Since lim g ( x)  2 exist then by the definition of limit

x  x0

for every   0 there exist a number  2  0 such that

if 0  x  x0   2 then g ( x)  2  (1)

Now choose   2
then from equation (1) we have
2

g ( x)  2  2

3
 2
 g ( x)  2

2 2

 g ( x)  2

Also there exist a number  3  0 such that


2

if 0  x  x0   3 then g ( x)  2  2
(2)
2

Now choose   min{ 2 ,  3} and 0  x  x0   then

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 Limit Theorems for Functions

1 1  1  1
  ( x)   
g 2  g ( x)  2
 g ( x)
 2

g ( x). 2
g ( x)  2

2 .g ( x )

g ( x)  2

2 .g ( x )

2
 2
g ( x)  2
2

.
2
2
 2
. 2

2
2

Thus for every   0 there exist a number   0 such that

1 1
if 0  x  x0   then   ( x)  
g 2

Hence

1 1 1
lim   ( x)   .
 
x  x0 g
2 lim g( x)
x x 0

(V) Reciprocal of Limits

Proof of this part is application of part (III) and part (IV).

(IV) Constant Multiple of Limit

If a = 0 then this case is trivially true as both sides becomes zero.

If a  0 , then by the definition of limit for every   0 there exist a number

  0 such that


if 0  x  x0   then f ( x)  1  where a  0 (1)
a

Now if 0  x  x0   then

(a. f )( x)  a. 1  a  f ( x)  1
 a  f ( x)  1

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 Limit Theorems for Functions

a  f ( x)  1 

a 
a

Thus for every   0 there exist a number   0 such that

if 0  x  x0   then (a. f )( x)  a. 1 

Hence

lim(a. f )( x)  a. 1  a. lim f ( x) .
x  x0 x  x0

Example 1: Determine the limit

lim( x3  5), x  R .
x 2

Solution: We have

lim( x3  5)  lim( x3 )  lim (5) [using the theorem of limits]

x 2 x 2 x 2

 (23 )  5

 85  3

Hence, lim( x3  5)  3, x  R
x 2

Example 2: Determine the limit

lim( x  2)(3x  1), x  R .

x 1

Solution: We have

lim( x  2)(3x  2)  lim( x  2).lim(3x  2) [using the theorem of limits]

x 1 x 1 x 1

 (1  2)(3  2)

3

Hence, lim( x  2)(3x  1)  3, x  R

x 1

Example 3: Determine the limit

 1 1 
lim   , x  0.
x 2 ( x  1)
 2x 

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 Limit Theorems for Functions

Solution: We have

 1 1   1   1 
lim 
x 2 ( x  1)
   lim    lim   [using the theorem of limits]
 2x  x  2
 ( x  1)  x 1
 2x 

1 1
  [using the theorem of limits]
lim ( x  1) lim (2 x)
x 2 x 2

1 1 1 1
   
(2  1) 2x2 3 4
1

12

 1 1  1
Hence, lim     , x  0.
x 2 ( x  1)
 2 x  12

Alternative Method:

We have

 1 1   2 x  ( x  1) 
lim     lim  
x 2 ( x  1) 2 x  x2  ( x  1)2 x 


 x 1 
 lim   [using the theorem of limits]
x 2 ( x  1)2 x
 

lim( x  1)
 x 2
[using the theorem of limits]
lim( x  1)2 x
x 2

lim( x  1)
 x 2
[using the theorem of limits]
lim( x  1) lim(2 x)
x 2 x 2

(2  1) 1
 
(2  1)(2x2) 12

 1 1  1
Hence, lim     , x  0.
x 2 ( x  1)
 2 x  12

Example 4: Determine the limit

 x2  3 
lim  2
x 1 x  3
, x  0 .
 

Solution: We have

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 Limit Theorems for Functions

 x 2  3  lim ( x 2  3)
 [using the theorem of limits]
x 1
lim  2
x 1 x  3 ( x 2  3)
  lim
x 1

lim ( x 2 )  lim (3)

 x 1 x 1
[using the theorem of limits]
lim ( x 2 )  lim (3)
x 1 x 1

1 3

1 3
4
  2
2

 x2  3 
Hence, lim  2
x 1 x  3
  2, x  0 .
 

Example 5: Determine the limit

 x 1 
lim  2
x 0 x  2
.
 

Solution: We have

 x  1  lim ( x  1)
lim  2   x 0
[using the theorem of limits]
x 0 x  2 ( x 2  2)
  lim
x 0

lim ( x)  lim (1)

 x 0 x 0
[using the theorem of limits]
lim ( x )  lim (2)
2
x 0 x 0

0 1

02
1 1
 
2 2

 x 1  1
Hence, lim  2  .
x 0 x  2
  2

Example 6: Determine the limit

4x 1
lim .
x 2 x2

Solution: We have

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 Limit Theorems for Functions

4x 1  4x 1 
lim  lim   [using the theorem of limits]
x 2 x2 x 2
 x2 

lim(4 x  1)
 x 2
[using the theorem of limits]
lim( x  2)
x 2

lim(4 x)  lim(1)
 x 2 x 2

lim( x)  lim(2)
x 2 x 2

(4x2  1)

(2  2)

9 3
 
4 2

4x 1 3
Hence, lim  .
x 2 x2 2

Example 7: Determine the limit

 x2  9 
lim  .
x 3
 x 3 

Solution: Since lim ( x  3)  0 therefore we cannot apply the limit theorems

x 3

directly. Thus, we have

 x2  9   x 2  32 
lim    lim  
x 3
 x  3  x3  x  3 

 ( x  3)( x  3) 
 lim  
x 3
 ( x  3) 

 lim( x  3)
x 3

 (3  3)  6 [using the theorem of limits]

 x2  9 
Hence, lim    6.
x 0
 x 3 

Example 8: Determine the limit

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 Limit Theorems for Functions

 x 1 
lim   .
x 1
 x  1 

Solution: Since lim ( x  1)  0 therefore we cannot apply the limit theorems

x 1

directly. Thus, we have

 x 1   ( x  1) ( x  1) 
lim   
 x1  ( x  1) . ( x  1) 
lim
x 1
 x  1   

 ( x  1) 1 
 lim  . 
x 1 ( x  1) ( x  1)
 

 1 
 lim  
x 1 ( x  1)
 

1

lim( x  1)
x 1

1 1
  [using the theorem of limits]
(1  1) 2

 x 1  1
Hence, lim    .
 x 1  2
x 1

Example 9: Determine the limit

 ( x  1)2  1 
lim 
x 0
.
 x 

Solution: Since lim ( x)  0 therefore we cannot apply the limit theorems

x 0

directly. Thus, we have

 ( x  1)2  1   ( x 2  2 x  1)  1 
lim 
x 0
  lim  
 x  x 0  x 

 x( x  2) 
 lim  
x 0
 x 

 lim( x  2)
x 0

 (0  2) [using the theorem of limits]

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 Limit Theorems for Functions

2

 ( x  1)2  1 
Hence, lim 
x 0
  2.
 x 

Example 10: Determine the limit

 1  2 x  1  3x 
lim   .
x 0
 x  2 x2 

Solution: Since lim ( x  2 x 2 )  0 therefore we cannot apply the limit

x 0

theorems directly. Thus, we have

 1  2 x  1  3x  

 1  2 x  1  3x . 1  2 x  1  3x 


lim    lim
x 0
 x  2 x 2

x 0 

x  2x 2
 1  2 x  1  3x 
 
 (1  2 x)  (1  3x) 
 lim 
 . 1 
x 0 

(x  2x )2
 1  2 x  1  3x 
 
 
x 1
 lim  . 
x 0  x(1  2 x)
  1  2 x  1  3x 
 
 
1 1
 lim  . 
x 0  (1  2 x)
  1  2 x  1  3x 
 
 
 1   1 
 lim   lim
x 0 (1  2 x) x 0 
 
  1  2 x  1  3x 
 
1 1
 .
lim(1  2 x) lim
x 0 x 0
 1  2 x  1  3x 
1 1

 
.
lim(1  2 x) lim 1  2 x  lim 1  3x
x 0 x 0 x 0

1 1

 
.
(1  2lim x) lim(1  2 x)  lim(1  3 x)
x 0
x 0 x 0

Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi pg.16

 Limit Theorems for Functions

1 1
 .
(1  0)  (1  0)  (1  0) 
1
  1.
1  1
1
  1.
2

 1  2 x  1  3x  1
Hence, lim    .
x 0
 x  2 x2  2

7. Limit Theorems for Functions:

Theorem 3: If f(x) is a polynomial function, then

lim f ( x)  f ( x0 ) .
x 0

Proof: Let f(x) be a polynomial function of degree n in x on R such that

f ( x)  a0 x n  a1x n1  a2 x n2  . . .  an1x  an (a0  0) (1)

thus f ( x0 )  a0 x0n  a1x0 n1  a2 x0 n2  . . .  an1x0  an (a0  0) (2)

We have

lim f ( x)  lim  a0 x n  a1 x n1  a2 x n2  . . .  an1 x  an  , (a0  0)

x  x0 x  x0

 lim  a0 x n   lim  a1 x n1   lim  a2 x n2   . . .  lim  an1 x   lim  an 

x  x0 x  x0 x  x0 x  x0 x  x0

 a0 lim  x n   a1 lim  x n1   a2 lim  x n2   . . .  an1 lim  x   lim  an 

x  x0 x  x0 x  x0 x  x0 x  x0

 lim f ( x)  a0 x0n  a1 x0n1  a2 x0n2  . . .  an1 x0  an (3)

x  x0

Using equation (2) and (3) we have

lim f ( x)  f ( x0 )
x  x0

Hence for a polynomial f(x) of degree n

lim f ( x)  f ( x0 ) .
x  x0

Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi pg.17

 Limit Theorems for Functions

Theorem 4: If f(x) and g(x) are polynomial function on R and if g ( x0 )  0 ,

then

f ( x) f ( x0 )
lim  .
x  x0 g ( x) g ( x0 )

Proof: Let f(x) and g(x) are two polynomial functions on R of degrees n
and m respectively such that

f ( x)  a0 x n  a1x n1  a2 x n2  . . .  an1x  an (a0  0)

and g( x)  b0 xm  b1 xm1  b2 x m2  . . .  bm1 x  bm (b0  0)

Then

f ( x0 )  a0 x0n  a1x0 n1  a2 x0 n2  . . .  an1x0  an (a0  0) (1)

and g( x0 )  b0 x0m  b1 x0m1  b2 x0m2  . . .  bm1 x0  bm (b0  0) (2)

Since g(x) is a polynomial function of degree m, then by the theorem in

algebra there are at most m distinct numbers 1 , 2 , 3 , . . ., m exist such
that

g (1 )  g (2 )  g (3 )  . . .  g (m )  0

Now, for any x   1 , 2 , 3 , . . ., m  and g ( x)  0

Hence if x   1 , 2 , 3 , . . ., m  we can define

f ( x)
r ( x)  (3)
g ( x)

Given that g ( x0 )  0 this implies that

x0   1 , 2 , 3 , . . ., m 

Thus applying the theorem 3 on equation (3), we have

lim r ( x)  r ( x0 )
x  x0

Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi pg.18

 Limit Theorems for Functions

f ( x) xlim
x
f ( x)
lim  0
x  x0 g ( x) lim g ( x)
 x  x0

f ( x0 )

g ( x0 )

f ( x) f ( x0 )
Hence, lim  .
x  x0 g ( x) g ( x0 )

Value Addition: Note

Let X be a non-empty subset of R and let f1 , f 2 , f3 , . . . , f n are functions
defined on X on R such that lim f k ( x) for k = 1, 2, 3, . . . , n exists such
x  x0

that
lim f k ( x)  k for k  1, 2, . . . , n .
x  x0

Then
lim  f1 ( x)  f 2 ( x)  . . .  f n ( x)   1  2 . . . n
x  x0

And lim  f1 ( x). f 2 ( x). . . f n ( x)   1. 2 . . . n

x  x0

and n  N , Then lim  f ( x)  for all n  N .

n
In particular, if lim f ( x)  n
x  x0 x  x0

Theorem 5: Let X be a non-empty subset of R and let f : X  R . If

a  f ( x)  b for all x  X , x  x0 and if lim f ( x) exists. Then a  lim f ( x)  b .
x  x0 x  x0

Proof: Let lim f ( x) exists and let

x  x0

lim f ( x)  (1)
x  x0

Then by the sequential criteria it follows that if  xn  is any sequence of

real numbers such that x0  xn  X for all n  N and if the sequence  xn 
converges to x0 , then the sequence f ( xn ) converges to .

Since

a  f ( xn )  b for all n  N

Then using the theorem that if  xn  is a convergent sequence and if

a  xn  b for all n  N , then a  lim( xn )  b .

 a  lim f ( xn )  b

Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi pg.19

 Limit Theorems for Functions

or we can say that

a  lim f ( x)  b .
x  x0

Hence Proved.

Value Addition: Sequential Criterion:

Let f : X  R then the statement lim f ( x)  is equivalent to the
x  x0

statement that for every sequence  xn  in X that converges to x0 such

that xn  x0 for all n  N , the sequence f ( xn ) converges to .

Theorem 6 (Squeeze Theorem): Let X be a non-emoty subset of R and

f(x), g(x) and h(x) are three functions defined on X, such that
f ( x)  g ( x)  h( x) for all x  X .

And if

lim f ( x)   lim h( x)
x  x0 x  x0

Then,

lim g ( x)  .
x  x0

Proof: Given that

f ( x)  g ( x)  h( x) for all x  X (1)

and lim f ( x)  (2)

x  x0

lim h( x)  (3)
x  x0

By the definition of limit, for a given   0 there exist positive numbers 1

and  2 such that if

0  x  x0  1

 f ( x)   

   f ( x)   

    f ( x)    (4)

Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi pg.20

 Limit Theorems for Functions

and 0  x  x0   2

 h( x)   

   h( x)   

    h( x)    (5)

Now let   min{1 ,  2 }

Then if

0  x  x0  

Then using equation (1), (4) and (5), we have

   f ( x)  g ( x)  h( x)   

    g ( x)   

 g ( x)   

Therefore

lim g ( x)  .
x  x0

Theorem 7: Let X be a non-empty subset of R. Suppose that

f ( x)  g ( x)  h( x) in a deleted neighborhood of x0 and if

lim f ( x)   lim h( x)
x  x0 x  x0

Then,

lim g ( x)  .
x  x0

Proof: Let  is a positive number, then consider

S  ( x0   , x0   )

 S is a neighborhood of x0 .

Given that

f ( x)  g ( x)  h( x) in deleted neighborhood of x0

Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi pg.21

 Limit Theorems for Functions

 f ( x)  g ( x)  h( x) for all x  A and x  x0

Now to show that

lim g ( x) 
x  x0

We have to show that if xn is any sequence which converges to x0 , then

g ( xn ) is a sequence which converges to .

Let  xn  is a sequence such that

xn  x0 and xn  x0 for all n

Then

f ( xn ) 

and h( xn ) 

Since

f ( xn )  g ( xn )  h( xn ) for all n .

Thus, applying the squeeze theorem for sequence we conclude that

g ( xn ) 

 lim g ( x)  .
x  x0

Example 11: Show that lim x3/2  0, ( x  0) .

x  x0

Solution: Let f ( x)  x3/2 for x  0

Now we know that the inequality

x  x1/2  1 holds for 0  x  1

 x2  x3/2  x for 0  x  1

Since

lim x 2  0
x 0

and lim x  0
x 0

Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi pg.22

 Limit Theorems for Functions

Thus applying the squeeze theorem on equation (1), we have

lim x3/2  0 .
x 0

Example 12: Show that lim sin x  0 .

x 0

Solution: We know that

1  cos x  1 for all x  0

on integrating both sides w.r.t. x, between the limits 0 and x.

x x x
  dx   cos dx   dx
0 0 0

  x  sin x  x for all x  0

since

lim( x)   lim( x)  0
x 0 x 0

and lim ( x)  0
x 0

thus applying the squeeze theorem we have

lim (sin x)  0 .
x 0

Example 13: Show that lim cos x  1 .

x 0

Solution: We know that

1  cos x  1 for all x  0

on integrating both sides w.r.t. x, between the limits 0 and x.

x x x
  dx   cos dx   dx
0 0 0

  x  sin x  x for all x  0

on again integrating both sides w.r.t. x, between the limits 0 and x.

x x x
 xdx   sin dx   xdx
0 0 0

x2 x2
   [ cos x]0 
x

2 2

Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi pg.23

 Limit Theorems for Functions

x2 x2
    cos x  1 
2 2

x2 x2
 1    cos x  1 
2 2

x2 x2
 1  cos x  1 
2 2

x2 x2
 1  cos x  1 
2 2

Since

x2 1
lim (1  )  1  lim ( x 2 )  1  0  1
x 0 2 2 x 0

x2 1
and lim (1  )  1  lim ( x 2 )  1  0  1
x 0 2 2 x 0

thus applying the squeeze theorem we have

lim (cos x)  1 .
x 0

 sin x 
Example 14: Show that lim   1.
x 0
 x 

Solution: We know that

1  cos x  1 for all x  0 (1)

on integrating both sides w.r.t. x, between the limits 0 and x.

x x x
  dx   cos dx   dx
0 0 0

  x  sin x  x for all x  0

on again integrating both sides w.r.t. x, between the limits 0 and x.

x x x
 xdx   sin dx   xdx
0 0 0

x2 x2
    cos x  1 
2 2

Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi pg.24

 Limit Theorems for Functions

x2 x2
 1  cos x  1  (2)
2 2

using equation (1) and (2), we have

x2
1  cos x  1 (3)
2

On integrating equation (3) w.r.t. x, between the limits o and x, we have

x3
x  sin x  x for all x  0 (4)
6

x3
and x  sin x  x  for all x  0 (5)
6

Thus from (4) and (5) we conclude that

x 2 sin x
1  1 for all x  0
6 x

Since

x2 1
lim (1  )  1  lim ( x 2 )  1  0  1
x 0 6 6 x 0

and lim (1)  1

x0

thus applying the squeeze theorem we conclude that

sin x
lim ( )  1.
x 0 x

 cos x  1 
Example 15: Show that lim   0.
x 0
 x 

Solution: We know that

1  cos x  1 for all x  0 (1)

 2  cos x  1  0 for all x  0 (2)

on integrating both sides of inequality (1) w.r.t. x, between the limits 0

and x.
x x x
  dx   cos dx   dx
0 0 0

Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi pg.25

 Limit Theorems for Functions

  x  sin x  x for all x  0

on again integrating both sides w.r.t. x, between the limits 0 and x.

x x x
 xdx   sin dx   xdx
0 0 0

x2 x2
    cos x  1 
2 2

x2 x2
  cos x  1  
2 2

x2 x2
   cos x  1  (3)
2 2

Using equation (2) and (3), we have

x2
  cos x  1  0
2

x cos x  1
   0 for all x  0
2 x

x cos x  1
and   0 for all x  0
2 x

cos x  1 x
 0  for all x  0
x 2

Now let

 x
 for x  0
f ( x)   2
 0 for x  0

 0 for x  0

and h( x )   x
 2 for x  0

Then, we have

cos x  1
f ( x)   h( x ) for all x  0
x

Since

Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi pg.26

 Limit Theorems for Functions

lim f ( x)  0
x 0

and lim h( x)  0
x 0

Thus, using the squeeze theorem, we have

 cos x  1 
lim    0.
x 0
 x 

 1
Example 16: Show that lim  x cos   0 .
x 0
 x

Solution: We know that

cos z  1 for all z  R

1
Let z  for x  R and x  0
x

1
 cos  1 for all x  R, x  0
x

1
 x cos  x for all x  R, x  0
x

1
 x cos  x for all x  R, x  0
x

1
  x  x cos  x for all x  R, x  0
x

Since

lim x  0
x 0

Thus, using the squeeze theorem, we have

 1
lim  x cos   0 .
x 0
 x

sin 3x
Example 16: Evaluate lim .
x 0 sin 5 x

Solution: We have

Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi pg.27

 Limit Theorems for Functions

sin 3x  sin 3x x 
lim  lim  
x 0 sin 5 x x  0
 x sin 5 x 

 3sin 3x 5 x 
  lim  
x 0
 3x 5sin 5 x 

3  sin 3x 5 x 
  lim  
5 x  0
 3x sin 5 x 

3   sin 3x   5x 
  lim   lim  
5  x0  3x  x0  sin 5 x  

  
3   sin 3x   1 
  lim    
5  x0  3x   lim sin 5 x  
  x0 5 x  

3 3
  (1).(1) 
5 5

Hence

sin 3x 3
lim  .
x 0 sin 5 x 5

sin x
Example 17: Evaluate lim .
x 0 x

Solution: We have

sin x sin x x
lim  lim .
x 0 x x  0 x x
 sin x 
 lim  x . 
x 0
 x 

 lim
x 0
 x  lim  sinx x 
x 0

 0x1  0

Hence

sin x
lim 0.
x 0 x

Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi pg.28

 Limit Theorems for Functions

Theorem 8: Let X be a non-empty subset of R. If

lim f ( x)  0
x  x0 or lim f (x)  0 , then there exists a neighborhood V (x ) of
x  x0
 0 x0

such that f(x) > 0 (or f(x) < 0) for all x  X V ( x0 ), x  x0 .

Proof: Let

lim f ( x) 
x  x0

and suppose that 0

1
now take   0
2

then there exists a number   0 such that

if 0  x  x0   and x  X

1
then f ( x)  
2

1 1
   f ( x)  
2 2

1 1
   f ( x)  
2 2

1 3
  f ( x) 
2 2

1
 0  f ( x)
2

 f ( x)  0

Thus, if x  X V ( x0 ), x  x0 , then

1
f ( x)  0
2

Similarly, it can be proved that if  0 then f ( x)  0 .

Exercise:

1. Apply algebra of limits to determine the following limits

(I) lim ( x 2  3)  x  7 

x 2

Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi pg.29

 Limit Theorems for Functions

(II) lim ( x  1)(3x  4)

x 3

x2  5
(III) lim ( x  0)
x 1 x 2  5

 x 1 
(IV) lim  2 
x 1 x  1
 x  2 
2x  2
(V) lim , x0
x 3 x3

2. Evaluate the following limits and state which theorem is used

x2  4
(I) lim
x 2 x  2

x 2
(II) lim
x 2 x2
( x  1)2  4 x
(III) lim
x 1 x 1
x2 2
(IV) lim
x 6 x6
xn 1
(V) lim m , (n  m)
x 1 x  1

1 x  1 2x
(VI) lim
x 0 x  2 x2
sin x
3. Using the fact that lim  1 , evaluate the following limits
x 0 x
(I) limsin x
x 0

x
(II) lim
x 0 tan x

tan x
(III) lim
x 0 x
(IV) lim x sin x
x 0

4. Determine whether the following limits exists in R.

 1 
(I) lim  x sin 2  , ( x  0)
x 0
 x 
 1 
(II) lim  x cos 2  , ( x  0)
x 0
 x 
 1 
(III) lim  x sin 2  , ( x  0)
x 0
 x 

Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi pg.30

 Limit Theorems for Functions

 1 
(IV) lim  cos 2  , ( x  0)
x 0
 x 
5. Let X be a non-empty subset of R and let f(x) and g(x) are two
functions defined on X.
(I) Show that if both lim f ( x) and lim ( f  g )( x) exist then lim g ( x)
x a x a x a

exist.
(II) If both lim f ( x) and lim ( f .g )( x) exist, does it follow that lim g ( x)
x a x a x a

exist.

6. Let X be a non-empty subset of R. If lim f ( x) exists and if f ( x) denotes

x a

the function defined for x  X by f ( x)  f ( x) . Prove that lim f ( x)  lim f ( x) .

x a x a

Summary:

In this lesson we have emphasized on the followings

 Limit at a point.
 Bounded Function
 Sum, Difference, Product and Quotient of Two Functions
 Algebraic Operations on Limits
 Limit Theorems for Functions

References:

1. R.G. Bartle and D.R.Sherbert, Introduction to Real Analysis, John

Wiley and Sons (2003).
2. K.A. Ross, Elementary Analysis: The Theory of Calculus, Springer
(2004).

Institute of Lifelong Learning, University of Delhi pg.31