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5.1 Definition of Limits: Managerial Mathematics: QQM1023
5.1 Definition of Limits: Managerial Mathematics: QQM1023
Perhaps you have heard about speed limit. What does the word “limit”
means to you??
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Managerial Mathematics: QQM1023
lim f x lim 2 x 1
x 1 x 1
f ( x) 3 x 2 1
and we would like to examine what is the value (limit) of this function as
the input (x) approaches 4. In other word we try to solve this question;
lim f x lim 3x 2 1
x4 x 4
As we know, x can approach 4 in either way, left or right;
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Managerial Mathematics: QQM1023
Step 1:
x approach 4 from left: x 4 therefore the value of x must be less
Closest to 4
Closer to 4
Closer to 4
Less than
4
f x 3x 2 1
When x 3.9
f 3.9 33.9 1 44.63
2
f x 3x 2 1
When x 3.99
f 3.99 33.99 1 46.7603
2
x 3.999 and
Carry on with value of x that are closer to 4 like
x 3.9999 . What can you conclude?? as x approach 4 (from left)
f(x) will approach ??
You can also examine the limit for the function through table:
x 3.9 3.99 3.999 3.9999
f x
Table: x 4
From the table, we can see that, as x approach 4 from the left, f x is
getting closer (approach) to the value of 47 or
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Managerial Mathematics: QQM1023
had f x had 3 x 2 1 47
x4 x4
Step 2:
f x
Table: x 4
From the table, we can see that, as x approach 4 from the right, f x is
getting closer (approach) to the value of 47 or
had f x had 3 x 2 1 47
x4 x4
Step 3: EQUAL
As had f x had f x 47
x4 x4
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Managerial Mathematics: QQM1023
DEFINITION 5.1.1(a):
The limit of a function exist, if and only if the limit of the function from both
side (left/right) are equal.
If
NOTES: lim f x lim f x ,
x a x a
therefore
lim f x DO NOT EXIST
xa
a any value
Example 1:
x3 1
Given f x , find the limit for f x as x approach 1.
x 1
Solution:
Step 1:
f x
Table : x 1
approaching 3 or:
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Managerial Mathematics: QQM1023
x3 1
lim f x lim 3
x 1 x 1
x 1
Step 2:
f x
Table : x 1
approaching 3 or:
x3 1
lim f x lim 3
x 1 x 1
x 1
Step 3: EQUAL
As lim f x lim f x 3
x 1 x 1
x3 1
Therefore, lim f x lim 3
x 1 x 1
x 1
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Managerial Mathematics: QQM1023
Example 2:
1
lim
Determine whether x 3 x 3 exist or not?
Solution:
Step 1:
f x
Table : x 3
1
had f x had 10000
x 3 x 3 x 3
Step 2:
f x
Table : x 3
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Managerial Mathematics: QQM1023
lim f x lim
1
10000
x 3 x 3 x 3
(where f x is getting bigger as x approach 3 from right)
Step 3:
As
lim f x lim f x
x 3 x 3
lim f x lim
1
DOES NOT EXIST
Therefore x 3 x 3 x 3
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Managerial Mathematics: QQM1023
Example 3:
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 x
x 1 1 x
a) Find
iii) lim f x
x 1
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Managerial Mathematics: QQM1023
Example 4:
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 x
x 2 2 x
b) Find
iii)
lim f x
x 2
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Managerial Mathematics: QQM1023
Example 5:
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 x
x 1 1 x
c) Find
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Managerial Mathematics: QQM1023
PROPERTY 1
lim c c
i) x a where c is a constant
Example 6:
a)
lim 7
x 2
b)
lim e
x 5
PROPERTY 2
lim x n a n
ii) x a
Example 7:
lim x 2
a) x 3
b) lim x1 / 3
x 27
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Managerial Mathematics: QQM1023
Let say:
= L ± M
PROPERTY 4
=LxM
PROPERTY 5
=cL
PROPERTY 6
lim n f x n lim f x
vi) x a x a
n
= L
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Managerial Mathematics: QQM1023
Example 8:
a) lim (2 x 3)
x 2
b)
lim ( x 2 1)
x2
c)
lim (2 x 3) ( x 2 1)
x2
d)
lim (2 x 3)( x 2 1)
x2
e)
lim e( x 2 1)
x2
f) lim (2 x 3)
x 2
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Managerial Mathematics: QQM1023
If:
lim f x L and
lim g x M
x a xa
f x
h(x)
The limit for the rational function :
g x , is obatian by
f x L
lim h( x) lim
xa xa g x M
However, there are 4 possibilities for the values of L and M that will define
the limits for this function:
f x L
had 0
x a g x M
Example 9:
Given:
f ( x) 5 x 4 and g ( x) 3 x 7
Find:
a) lim (5 x 4)
x 3
b) lim (3x 7)
x 3
(5 x 4 )
c) lim
x 3 (3 x 7 )
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Managerial Mathematics: QQM1023
Example 10:
Find:
x2
lim
a) x3
x 8
x2 5
b) lim
x2 1 x
f x 0
lim 0
x a g x M
Example 11:
x4
lim
a) x4 =
x2
2x 4
b) lim
x2 3
POSSIBILITY 3 L ≠ 0 and M = 0
Therefore;
f x L
lim
x a g x
DO NOT EXIST
0
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Managerial Mathematics: QQM1023
Example 12:
x
lim
a) x3 =
x3
4x
b) lim
x3 2 x 6
POSSIBILITY 3 L = 0 and M = 0
f x 0
LIMIT MIGHT/MIGHT NOT EXIST
lim
xa g x 0
To determine whether the limit exist/not, check whether the
function is in the simplest form or not.
Example 13:
x2
lim
a) x2
x2 4
3x 2 7 x 2
b) lim
x 2 x4
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Managerial Mathematics: QQM1023
i) a+∞=∞
ii) ∞+a=∞
iii) a - ∞ = -∞
iv) ∞-a=∞
v) a.∞ = ∞
vi) a(-∞) = - ∞
vii) a=0
∞
viii) ∞=∞
a
ix) ∞n = ∞; for n>0
x) ∞n = 0; for n<0
xi) ∞n = 1; for n=0
xii)
n
=∞
* a is constant
Example 14:
Find:
a) lim
x
b) lim 2.718
x
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Managerial Mathematics: QQM1023
Example 15:
Find;
a) lim (3 x 2
1)
x
b) lim (2 x 5 x 4 1000)
x
f ( x) numerator
iii) Limit at infinity for rational function: h( x )
g ( x) deno min ator
Steps to obtain limit at infinity for rational function;
i. Exclude all terms except the one with the greatest power for
numerator and denominator.
ii. Simplify
iii. Substitutes x with ∞ or -
iv. Find the limit for the function.
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Managerial Mathematics: QQM1023
Example 16:
2x4 x2 3
a) lim 3
x x x 2
2 x3 x 2 3
b) lim 3
x x x 2
x 1
c) lim
x 2 x 2 5 x
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