Limits of Functions

ENG 203
Limits
• Limit is the value to which 𝑓 𝑥 gets closer and closer
when 𝑥 gets closer and closer to 𝑎.
• Notation of Limits
lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝐿
!→#
• This is read as “the limit of 𝑓 𝑥 as 𝑥 approaches 𝑎 is
𝐿.”
• It tells us to what value the functions get closer to, not
the actual value.

ENG 203 (2021) | Unit 1.3: Limits of Functions

Limits
• Consider the equation:

lim 𝑓 𝑥 = −2
!→$

• What does this mean?

• Can I say that 𝑓 3 = −2?

ENG 203 (2021) | Unit 1.3: Limits of Functions

Possible Scenarios:
• The limit and the function are equal.

lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝐿, 𝑓 𝑎 =𝐿
!→#

• The limit and the function are unequal.

lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝐿, 𝑓 𝑎 =𝑀
!→#

ENG 203 (2021) | Unit 1.3: Limits of Functions

Possible Scenarios:
• The function does not exist at 𝑥 = 𝑎

lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝐿, 𝑓 𝑎 does not exist

!→#

• The limit does not exist as 𝑥 approaches 𝑎.

lim 𝑓 𝑥 does not exist, 𝑓 𝑎 =𝑀

!→#

ENG 203 (2021) | Unit 1.3: Limits of Functions

One-Sided Limits: Left-Hand Limit
• This is the limit of the function when 𝑥 gets closer and
closer to 𝑎 from the left side of the graph, i.e. from
values less than 𝑎.
• Notation for the left-hand limit
lim! 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝐾
!→#
• This is read as “the limit of 𝑓 𝑥 as 𝑥 approaches 𝑎 from
the left is 𝐾.”

ENG 203 (2021) | Unit 1.3: Limits of Functions

One-Sided Limits: Right-Hand Limit
• This is the limit of the function when 𝑥 gets closer and
closer to 𝑎 from the right side of the graph, i.e. from
values greater than 𝑎.
• Notation for the left-hand limit
lim" 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑀
!→#
• This is read as “the limit of 𝑓 𝑥 as 𝑥 approaches 𝑎 from
the right is 𝑀.”

ENG 203 (2021) | Unit 1.3: Limits of Functions

One-Sided Limits
• The limit of a function is said to exist if the left- and
right-hand limits are equal, i.e.
lim! 𝑓(𝑥) = lim" 𝑓 𝑥 = lim 𝑓 𝑥
!→# !→# !→#

• Consider the following:

lim! 𝑓 𝑥 = 4, lim" 𝑓 𝑥 = 4, lim 𝑓 𝑥 =? ? ?
!→$ !→$ !→$

ENG 203 (2021) | Unit 1.3: Limits of Functions

Theorems on Limits
• The limit of a constant:

lim 𝑐 = 𝑐, 𝑐 is a constant
!→#

• The limit of the independent variable:

lim 𝑥 = 𝑎
!→#

ENG 203 (2021) | Unit 1.3: Limits of Functions

Theorem on Limits:
• Sum/Difference Laws

lim 𝑓 𝑥 ± 𝑔 𝑥 = lim 𝑓 𝑥 ± lim 𝑔 𝑥

!→# !→# !→#

• Constant Multiple Law

lim 𝑐𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑐 lim 𝑓 𝑥 , 𝑐 is a constant

!→# !→#

ENG 203 (2021) | Unit 1.3: Limits of Functions

Theorem on Limits:
• Product Law

lim [𝑓 𝑥 𝑔(𝑥)] = lim 𝑓 𝑥 lim 𝑔 𝑥

!→# !→# !→#

• Quotient Law

𝑓 𝑥 lim 𝑓 𝑥
!→#
lim =
!→# 𝑔 𝑥 lim 𝑔 𝑥
!→#
ENG 203 (2021) | Unit 1.3: Limits of Functions
Theorem on Limits:
• Power Law

%
%
lim 𝑓 𝑥 = lim 𝑓 𝑥 , 𝑛 is a constant
!→# !→#

'() & !
& ! #→%
lim 𝑓 𝑥 = lim 𝑓 𝑥
!→# !→#

ENG 203 (2021) | Unit 1.3: Limits of Functions

The Direct Substitution Property
• If 𝑎 is a part of the domain of the function, then

lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑓 𝑎
!→#

• What if we are unfamiliar with the domain of the

function?

ENG 203 (2021) | Unit 1.3: Limits of Functions

Example 1: (Direct Substitution)
• Evaluate the following limits:
a.
𝑠+1
lim
*→+ 2𝑠 − 3
b.
! & -.
lim 𝑥 − 3
!→,

ENG 203 (2021) | Unit 1.3: Limits of Functions

Indeterminate Forms
• Sometimes, when direct substitution is applied to solve
for the limit, the result is 0/0. This is an example of an
indeterminate form.

• Why is 0/0 considered indeterminate?

• What do we do to solve if we get 0/0 when we solve for

the limit using direct substitution?

ENG 203 (2021) | Unit 1.3: Limits of Functions

Steps in Solving for the Limit (v1.0):
• Step 1: Use the direct substitution property.
• Step 2: If the result is a real number, it is the answer. If
the result is indeterminate, manipulate/simplify the
expression.
• Special products and factoring;
• Rationalization;
• Trigonometric identities;

ENG 203 (2021) | Unit 1.3: Limits of Functions

Example 2: (Indeterminate Forms)
• Evaluate.
𝑥 , + 2𝑥 − 3
lim
!→-$ 𝑥+3

ENG 203 (2021) | Unit 1.3: Limits of Functions

Example 3: (Indeterminate Forms)
• Evaluate.
𝑥−9
lim
!→/ 𝑥 − 3

ENG 203 (2021) | Unit 1.3: Limits of Functions

Practice Problem:
• Evaluate:
𝑢, − 4
lim ,
0→-, 𝑢 + 3𝑢 + 2

• Answer: 4

ENG 203 (2021) | Unit 1.3: Limits of Functions

Practice Problem:
• Evaluate.
𝑥$ + 1
lim
!→-+ 𝑥 + 1

• Answer: 3

ENG 203 (2021) | Unit 1.3: Limits of Functions

Example 4: (Indeterminate Forms)
• Evaluate
𝑦 $ − 2𝑦 , − 14𝑦 + 33
lim $
1→$ 𝑦 − 𝑦 , − 18𝑦 + 36

ENG 203 (2021) | Unit 1.3: Limits of Functions

Practice Problem:
• Evaluate.
𝐴$ + 𝐴, − 8𝐴 − 12
lim $
2→-, 𝐴 + 7𝐴, + 16𝐴 + 12

• Answer: −5

ENG 203 (2021) | Unit 1.3: Limits of Functions

Steps in Solving for the Limit (v2.0):
• Step 1: Use the direct substitution property.
• Step 2:
• If the result is a real number, it is the answer.
• If the result is indeterminate, manipulate/simplify the
expression.
• If the result are crucial values such as 𝑐/0, 0, log ! 0 , solve
for the one-sided limits, and determine from there the (main)
limit.

ENG 203 (2021) | Unit 1.3: Limits of Functions

Recall!
• 𝑎- means values approaching 𝑎 but less than 𝑎.
• Examples are 100" ≈ 99.9999 and −2" ≈ −2.0001.

• 𝑎3 means values approaching 𝑎 but greater than 𝑎.

• Examples are 100# ≈ 100.0001 and −2# ≈ −1.9999.

• Note!
• We will only use this concept when dealing with limits
involving 𝑐/0, 0, and log ! 0 ; otherwise, just ignore.
ENG 203 (2021) | Unit 1.3: Limits of Functions
Example 5: (One-Sided Limits)
• Evaluate
lim 2 − 𝑥
!→,

ENG 203 (2021) | Unit 1.3: Limits of Functions

Example 6: (One-Sided Limits)
• Evaluate:
lim 𝑥 , − 4
!→,

ENG 203 (2021) | Unit 1.3: Limits of Functions

Example 7: (One-Sided Limits)
• Evaluate:
lim ln 𝑥 − 3
!→$

ENG 203 (2021) | Unit 1.3: Limits of Functions

Example 8: (One-Sided Limits)
• Given the function
3𝑥
, 𝑥<2
𝑓 𝑥 = M𝑥 + 2
,
2𝑥 − 3, 𝑥>2
Evaluate
lim 𝑓 𝑥
!→,

ENG 203 (2021) | Unit 1.3: Limits of Functions

Example 9: (Lecture Video)
• Given the function
2𝑥 + 1, 𝑥≤3
𝑔 𝑥 = M𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏, 3 < 𝑥 < 5,
𝑥 , + 2, 𝑥≥5
Find the values of 𝑎 and of 𝑏 so that both limits below
exist:
lim 𝑔 𝑥 , lim 𝑔 𝑥
!→$ !→.

ENG 203 (2021) | Unit 1.3: Limits of Functions

Example 10: (Given the graph)
• Evaluate the following limits given the graph of a
function

lim! 𝑓 𝑡 , lim" 𝑓 𝑡 ,
4→5 4→,
lim" 𝑓 𝑡 , lim" 𝑓 𝑡 ,
4→5 4→,
lim 𝑓 𝑡 , lim 𝑓 𝑡 ,
4→5 4→,
𝑓 0 , 𝑓 2

ENG 203 (2021) | Unit 1.3: Limits of Functions

Infinite Limits
• Evaluate
1
lim
!→5 𝑥

ENG 203 (2021) | Unit 1.3: Limits of Functions

Infinite Limits:
• Conclusion from the previous slide:
1 1
3
→ +∞, -
→ −∞
0 0

• To generalize this further,

+𝑐 +𝑐
3
→ +∞, -
→ −∞
0 0

ENG 203 (2021) | Unit 1.3: Limits of Functions

Example 11: (Infinite Limits)
• Evaluate
𝑥+2
lim
!→+ 𝑥 − 1

ENG 203 (2021) | Unit 1.3: Limits of Functions

Example 12: (Infinite Limits)
• Evaluate
𝑥+2
lim
!→+ 𝑥 − 1 ,

ENG 203 (2021) | Unit 1.3: Limits of Functions

Limits at Infinity
• From our topic on infinite limits,
+𝑐 +𝑐
3
→ +∞, -
→ −∞
0 0

• Hence, we can also say that

+𝑐 +𝑐
→ 0, →0
+∞ −∞

ENG 203 (2021) | Unit 1.3: Limits of Functions

Example 13: (Limits at Infinity)
• Evaluate the following limits:
5
lim +
6→37
3 + 26
5
lim +
6→-7
3+ 26
5
lim +
6→5
3+ 26

ENG 203 (2021) | Unit 1.3: Limits of Functions

Example 14: (Limits at Infinity)
• Evaluate the following limits:

2𝑥 $ + 3𝑥 − 5
lim
!→37 3𝑥 $ + 5𝑥 , + 𝑥 − 6
𝑥, + 2
lim $
!→-7 𝑥 + 5𝑥
𝑥8 − 𝑥$
lim
!→-7 2𝑥

ENG 203 (2021) | Unit 1.3: Limits of Functions

Example 15: (Limits at Infinity)
• Evaluate

9𝑥 , + 5𝑥 − 7
lim
!→37 4𝑥 , − 7𝑥 + 8

9𝑥 , + 5𝑥 − 7
lim
!→-7 4𝑥 , − 7𝑥 + 8

ENG 203 (2021) | Unit 1.3: Limits of Functions

Example 16: (Limits at Infinity)
• Evaluate:

lim 𝑡 , + 4𝑡 + 3 − 𝑡
4→37

lim 𝑡 , + 4𝑡 + 3 − 𝑡
4→-7

ENG 203 (2021) | Unit 1.3: Limits of Functions

References:
• Workbook on Limits and Continuity by Engr. Verne
Certeza.
• Slides of Engr. Jojo Blanza

ENG 203 (2021) | Unit 1.3: Limits of Functions