Limits are one of the most important notions in calculus, and they can be applied to a variety of

functions. A limit is the value that a function's output approaches as the function's input
approaches a certain value. When limits are applied to provided functions, they form a new
function, and in some cases, the result is 0. You'll learn how to apply limits to polynomials,
rational functions, and root/radical functions in this scrapbook, which includes solved examples.

LIMIT OF POLYNOMIAL FUNCTIONS

● A polynomial function is one that is defined by an algebraic expression with at least one
term. A polynomial function is a function in an equation that contains only non-negative
integer powers or only positive integer exponents of a variable, such as the quadratic
equation or the cubic equation. For example, 2x+5 is a polynomial with an exponent of 1.

If f(x) is a polynomial, then the limit of function of x is equal to the function of a, as x approaches
to a or can be written as:
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑎)
𝑥→𝑎
EXAMPLES:
2
1. lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 − 4𝑥 + 13
𝑥→4
*According to the formula of the limit of a polynomial function, we will just
substitute the value of a in the given function. In this example, the value of a is 4 so we
will substitute 4 to the given function. So:
2
lim 𝑥 − lim 4𝑥 + lim 13
𝑥→4 𝑥→4 𝑥→4
2
(4) − 4(4) + 13 = 16 - 16 + 13
= 13 → 𝐹𝐼𝑁𝐴𝐿 𝐴𝑁𝑆𝑊𝐸𝑅
3 2
2. lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 𝑥 −2
𝑥→2

3 2
lim = (2) + (2) − 2
𝑥→2
=8+4-2
= 10 → 𝐹𝐼𝑁𝐴𝐿 𝐴𝑁𝑆𝑊𝐸𝑅

2
3. lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 4𝑥 −8
𝑥 → −3

2
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 2(− 3) + 4(− 3) − 8
𝑥 → −3
= 18 + (-12) - 8
= -2 → 𝐹𝐼𝑁𝐴𝐿 𝐴𝑁𝑆𝑊𝐸𝑅
LIMIT OF RATIONAL FUNCTIONS
● Any function that can be represented as the ratio of two polynomial functions is referred
to as a rational function. Before you can apply limits to rational functions, you must first
understand what functions are and how to write them. A function f is called a rational
𝑝(𝑥)
function, if 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑞(𝑥)
, where p(x) and q(x) are polynomial functions such that q(x) ≠ 0.
The application of limit for f(x) as x tends to a is given as:
lim 𝑝(𝑥)
𝑝(𝑥) 𝑥→𝑎 𝑝(𝑎)
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = lim 𝑞(𝑥)
= lim 𝑞(𝑥)
= 𝑞(𝑎)
if q(a) ≠ 0
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

OR
𝑝(𝑥) 𝑝(𝑎)
lim 𝑞(𝑥)
= 𝑞(𝑎)
if q(a) ≠ 0
𝑥→𝑎
EXAMPLES:
2
1+𝑥
1. lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥+3
𝑥→2
2
𝑝(𝑥) 1+𝑥
lim 𝑞(𝑥)
= 𝑥+3
𝑥→2
2
lim 1+𝑥 2
𝑥→2 1+(2)
= lim 𝑥+3
= 2+3
𝑥→2

1+4
= 2+3
5
= 5
= 1 → 𝐹𝐼𝑁𝐴𝐿 𝐴𝑁𝑆𝑊𝐸𝑅
2
𝑥 −36
2. lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥+6
𝑥 → −6
2
𝑝(𝑥) 𝑥 −36
lim 𝑞(𝑥)
= 𝑥+6
𝑥 → −6
2
(−6) −36
= −6+6
36−36
= −6+6
0
= 0
→ 𝐼𝑁𝐷𝐸𝑇𝐸𝑅𝑀𝐼𝑁𝐴𝑇𝐸
*Indeterminate- An indeterminate form is an expression involving two functions
whose limit cannot be determined solely from the limits of the individual functions.

By evaluating this function, we got 0/0.

So, let us factorise the functions to cancel the factors if possible.

2
𝑝(𝑥) 𝑥 −36
lim 𝑞(𝑥)
= 𝑥+6
𝑥 → −6

(𝑥−6)(𝑥+6)
= 𝑥+6
*eliminate (x+6)

=x-6
 = -6 - 6

= -12 → 𝐹𝐼𝑁𝐴𝐿 𝐴𝑁𝑆𝑊𝐸𝑅

2
4𝑥 −6𝑥−18
3. lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 2
𝑥→3 𝑥 −9
2
𝑝(𝑥) 4𝑥 −6𝑥−18
lim 𝑞(𝑥)
= 2
𝑥→3 𝑥 −9
2
4(3) −6(3)−18
= 2
(3) −9
0
= 0
→ 𝐼𝑁𝐷𝐸𝑇𝐸𝑅𝑀𝐼𝑁𝐴𝑇𝐸
2
𝑝(𝑥) 4𝑥 −6𝑥−18
lim 𝑞(𝑥)
= 2
𝑥→3 𝑥 −9
(4𝑥+6)(𝑥−3)
= (𝑥+3)(𝑥−3)
*eliminate (x - 3)
(4𝑥+6)
= (𝑥+3)
(4(3)+6)
= (3+3)
18
= 6
= 3→ 𝐹𝐼𝑁𝐴𝐿 𝐴𝑁𝑆𝑊𝐸𝑅
LIMIT OF ROOT/RADICAL FUNCTIONS
𝑡ℎ
● Radical functions are functions which contain 𝑛 roots of variable expressions. When
evaluating a limit involving a radical function, use direct substitution to see if a limit can
be evaluated whenever possible. If not, other methods to evaluate the limit need to be
explored. The limit of a radical function can be found by taking a radical function of the
limit using the following definition:
𝑛
lim 𝑥 = 𝑛 lim 𝑥
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
EXAMPLES:
1. lim 𝑥+4
𝑥→0

= lim 0+4
𝑥→0

= 4
=±2 → 𝐹𝐼𝑁𝐴𝐿 𝐴𝑁𝑆𝑊𝐸𝑅
𝑥−6−1 𝑁 𝑁
2. lim 7−𝑥
⇒ 𝑆𝑢𝑏𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑡𝑒: 7−7
= 0
→ 𝐼𝑁𝐷𝐸𝑇𝐸𝑅𝑀𝐼𝑁𝐴𝑇𝐸
𝑥→7
Since it is indeterminate, we must rationalize it first.
𝑥−6−1 𝑥−6+1
lim 7−𝑥
• ⇒ (𝑎 + 𝑏)(𝑎 − 𝑏)
𝑥−6+1
𝑥→7

2
⇓ ⇒ 𝑥• 𝑥= 𝑥 = 𝑥
(𝑥−6)−1 𝑥−7
= =
(7−𝑥)( 𝑥−6+1) (7−𝑥)( 𝑥−6+1)
 −1(−𝑥+7)
= *eliminate (-x + 7)
(7−𝑥)( 𝑥−6+1)
−1
=
( 𝑥−6+1)
−1 −1 −1 −1
lim = = = = (1+1)
( 𝑥−6+1) ( 7−6+1) ( 1+1)
𝑥→7
1
=− 2
→ 𝐹𝐼𝑁𝐴𝐿 𝐴𝑁𝑆𝑊𝐸𝑅
12−𝑥−3
3. lim
7−𝑥−2
𝑥→3
12−3−3 0
lim = 0
⇒ 𝐼𝑁𝐷𝐸𝑇𝐸𝑅𝑀𝐼𝑁𝐴𝑇𝐸
7−3−2
𝑥→3
12−𝑥−3 7−𝑥+2 ( 12−𝑥−3)( 7−𝑥+2)
lim • = lim *eliminate (2 7 − 𝑥)
7−𝑥−2 7−𝑥+2 7−𝑥+2 7−𝑥−2 7−𝑥−4
𝑥→3 𝑥→3
( 12−𝑥−3)( 7−𝑥+2) ( 12−𝑥+3) (12−𝑥+3 12−𝑥−3 12−𝑥−9)
lim 3−𝑥
• =
( 12−𝑥+3) (3−𝑥)( 12−𝑥+3)
𝑥→3
(3−𝑥)( 7−𝑥+2) ( 7−𝑥+2) ( 7−3+2) ( 4+2)
lim = lim = =
(3−𝑥)( 12−𝑥+3) ( 12−𝑥+3) ( 12−3+3) ( 9+3)
𝑥→3 𝑥→3
(2+2) 4
(3+3)
= 6
2
= 3
→ 𝐹𝐼𝑁𝐴𝐿 𝐴𝑁𝑆𝑊𝐸𝑅