CHAPTER 2

LIMITS AND CONTINUITY

Objectives
After completing this chapter, the students should be able to:
1. Solve the limit of functions using the knowledge gained in algebra.
2. Realize the relevance of limits as a foundation of calculus
3. Familiarize themselves to the use of special limiting values in evaluating limits.

I. LIMITS OF A FUNCTION

Familiarity with the limit concept is absolutely essential for a deeper understanding
of the calculus. In this section, we shall begin our discussion of the limit of a function but
we emphasize that our treatment here will appeal more to our intuition than to rigor. And
since our approach is a non – rigorous one, we therefore conclude, expect you to grasp
this idea.

Consider the function defined by the equation 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 3𝑥 + 1 and assign some

values to x near, but not equal, to a specific number, say 2. For each value of x in the
neighborhood of 2, we compute the corresponding value of y. To get an idea of what is
happening, let’s construct a table of values as shown below:

X 1.500 1.890 1.999 2.009 2.050 2.160 2.300

F(x) 5.500 6.670 6.997 7.027 7.150 7.480 7.900

The table shows that when x is near 2, whether a little less or a little greater that
2, 𝑓(𝑥 ) = 3𝑥 + 1 is nearer 7. In other words, “3x + 1 approaches the number 7 as a limit
when x approaches 2”. The abbreviated symbolic form for this statement is
3𝑥 + 1 → 7 as𝑥 → 2.
We may also say that “the limit of 3x+1 as x approaches 2 is 7”.
lim (3𝑥 + 1) = 7.
𝑥→2

II. THEOREM ON LIMITS

To obtain the limits of more complicated functions, we shall use the following
theorems which we shall state symbolically without proof.

2. LIMITS AND CONTINUITY

 T1. lim 𝑐 = 𝑐 where c = any constant
𝑥→𝑎

T2. lim 𝑥 = 𝑎 where a = any real number

𝑥→𝑎

T3. lim 𝑐 𝑓(𝑥 ) = c lim 𝑓(𝑥)

𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

T4. lim [𝑓 (𝑥 ) + 𝑔(𝑥)] = lim 𝑓(𝑥) + lim 𝑔(𝑥)

𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

T5. lim [𝑓 (𝑥 ) ∙ 𝑔(𝑥)] = lim 𝑓(𝑥) ∙ lim 𝑔(𝑥)

𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

𝑓(𝑥 ) lim 𝑓(𝑥)

𝑥→𝑎
T6. lim [𝑔(𝑥)] = lim
𝑥→𝑎 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑥→𝑎

T7. lim 𝑛√𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑛√ lim 𝑓(𝑥)

𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

𝑛
T8. lim [𝑓 (𝑥 )]𝑛 = [lim 𝑓 (𝑥 )]
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

Examples. Let’s evaluate the limit of the following.

1. lim (𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 4)
𝑥→2
= lim 𝑥 2 +lim 3𝑥+lim 4 by T4
𝑥→2 𝑥→2 𝑥→2
2
= [lim 𝑥] + 3 lim 𝑥 + 4 by T8, T3 and T1
𝑥→2 𝑥→2
2
= 2 + 3(2) + 4 by T2
= 14

𝑥−4
2. lim [ ]
𝑥→4 𝑥 2 −𝑥−12
lim 𝑥−4
= lim𝑥→4 by T6
𝑥 2 −𝑥−12
𝑥→4
4−4
= 42 −4−12 by T2
0
=0
0
This is not valid since is an indeterminate form. So, let’s simplify first the given
0
expression.
𝑥−4
= lim [(𝑥−4)(𝑥+3)] Factor the denominator. Cancel
𝑥→4
out the common terms.
1
= lim 𝑥+3 Simplified expressions.
𝑥→4

2. LIMITS AND CONTINUITY

 1
= 4+3 by T2.
𝟏
=
𝟕

(𝑥+ℎ)2−𝑥 2
3. lim
ℎ→0 ℎ
𝑥 2 +2ℎ𝑥+ℎ2 −𝑥 2
= lim Expand the expression in numerator.
ℎ→0 ℎ
2ℎ𝑥+ℎ2
=lim Perform the indicated operation.
ℎ→0 ℎ
ℎ(2𝑥+ℎ)
= lim Factor out h in the numerator.
ℎ→0 ℎ
2𝑥+ℎ
= lim Cancel out h which is common to
ℎ→0 1
numerator and denominator.
=2𝑥 + 0 By T2.
=2x

𝑥−1
4. lim
𝑥→1 √𝑥 2 +3−2
0
When we apply T2, we will come up to which is indeterminate. We will
0
simplify it first.
𝑥−1 √𝑥 2 +3+2
= lim ∙ Conjugation Property in the denominator.
𝑥→1 √𝑥 2 +3−2 √𝑥 2 +3+2
2
(𝑥−1)(√𝑥 +3+2)
= lim Perform the indicated operation in the
𝑥→1 𝑥 2 −1
denominator. Applying the special
product: (𝐴 − 𝐵)(𝐴 + 𝐵) = 𝐴2 − 𝐵2
(𝑥−1)(√𝑥 2+3+2)
= lim Factoring method at the denominator.
𝑥→1 (𝑥−1)(𝑥+1)
√𝑥 2 +3+2
= lim Cancel similar terms in numerator and
𝑥→1 𝑥+1
denominator.
√12 +3+2
= By T2.
1+1
=2 Perform the indicated operation.

𝑓(𝑥+ℎ)−𝑓(𝑥)
5. Given 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = √5𝑥 + 1, evaluate lim .
ℎ→0 ℎ
√5(𝑥+ℎ)+1−√5𝑥+1
= lim Substitute the given function to the
ℎ→0 ℎ
expression to be evaluated.

2. LIMITS AND CONTINUITY

 √5𝑥+5ℎ+1−√5𝑥+1 √5𝑥+5ℎ+1+√5𝑥+1
= lim ∙ 5𝑥+5ℎ+1+ 5𝑥+1 Distribution Property. Conjugation
ℎ→0 ℎ √ √
Property at the numerator.
5𝑥+5ℎ+1−5𝑥−1
= lim ℎ( Multiply.
ℎ→0 √5𝑥+5ℎ+1+√5𝑥+1)

5ℎ
= lim ℎ( Perform the indicated operation.
ℎ→0 √5𝑥+5ℎ+1+√5𝑥+1)
5
= lim Cancel out h.
ℎ→0 √5𝑥+5ℎ+1+√5𝑥+1
5
= By T2.
√5𝑥+5(0)+1+√5𝑥+1
𝟓
= 𝟐√𝟓𝒙+𝟏 Perform indicated operation.

III. SPECIAL LIMITS

In evaluating limits, you may encounter functions that may seem undefined. But
closer examination reveals that they have a definite value or limit. The following list are
the functions with special limiting values.

1 sin 𝑥
SL1. lim+ 𝑥 = ∞ SL5. lim =1
𝑥→0 𝑥→0 𝑥

1 cos 𝑥−1
SL2. lim− 𝑥 = −∞ SL6. lim =0
𝑥→0 𝑥→0 𝑥
1 1 𝑥
SL3. lim =0 SL7. lim (1 + 𝑥) = 𝑒
𝑥→∞ 𝑥 𝑥→∞
1
SL4. lim =0
𝑥→−∞ 𝑥

Examples. Let’s evaluate the limit of the following.

𝑥
1. lim
𝑥→0 sin 3𝑥
In this example, we will simply multiply the given function by 3/3, which is
equivalent to 1. Why? By doing this, we didn’t change the value of the function, we
simply change its form. Make sure that the new form will be similar with those of
seven (7) special limiting values.
𝑥 3
= lim ∙
𝑥→0 sin 3𝑥 3
1 3𝑥
= lim by T3.
3 𝑥→0 sin 3𝑥

2. LIMITS AND CONTINUITY

 Let 3𝑥 = 𝑦, and as x approaches 0, 3x also approaches 0, then y
𝑦
approaches and so, lim sin 𝑦 = 1, therefore
𝑦→0
1 3𝑥 1 𝑦 𝟏
lim sin 3𝑥=3 lim sin 𝑦 = 𝟑
3 𝑥→0 𝑦→0

sec 𝑥−1
2. lim
𝑥→0 𝑥
We will now find a way to express the given function to a form related to
one of the seven (7) special limiting values. In this example, we will use our
knowledge about trigonometric identities.
1
−1 1
cos 𝑥
= lim Using reciprocal identity sec 𝑥 = .
𝑥→0 𝑥 cos 𝑥
1−cos 𝑥
cos 𝑥
= lim Combining two terms using LCD Method.
𝑥→0 𝑥
𝐴
1−cos 𝑥 𝐵 𝐴 𝐷
= lim By division property 𝐶 = ∙
𝑥→0 𝑥 cos 𝑥 𝐵 𝐶
𝐷
1−cos 𝑥 −1
= lim ∙ lim cos 𝑥 Factor out -1 of numerator. Then, by T5.
𝑥→0 𝑥 𝑥→0
1
= 0∙−1 By SL6 and T2.
=0

𝒇(𝒙)
IV. LIMITS AT INFINITY (in the form 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈(𝒙))
𝒙→∞

𝑓(𝑥 )
If the function is in the form lim ,the numerator and the denominator are
𝑥→∞ 𝑔(𝑥)
divided by the highest power of x present and then simplifying the result by evaluating
𝑐
lim 𝑥 = 0.
𝑥→∞
𝑓(𝑥 )
The limit of the function in the form lim will defend on the highest power of
𝑥→∞ 𝑔(𝑥)
x. If the numerator has highest power of x than that of the denominator, then the limit
of that function is infinity (∞). On the other hand, if the denominator has the highest
power of x than that of the numerator, then the limit of the function is zero (0). If the
numerator and denominator have the same highest power of x, then the limit is equal
to the ratio of the numerical coefficients of the highest power of x. We will prove these
using the following examples.
Examples. Let’s evaluate the limit of the following.
3𝑥 2 −2
1. lim
𝑥→∞ 9𝑥+7

2. LIMITS AND CONTINUITY

 2
3− 2
𝑥
= lim 9 7 Since 2 is the highest exponent, we will
𝑥→∞ 𝑥+ 2
𝑥
divide all terms by 𝑥 2 .
2
3− 2
(0)
= 9 7 BY T2.
+
0 (0)2
3−0 𝑐
= 0−0 By lim = 0.
𝑥→∞ 𝑥
3
=0
=∞

9𝑥+7
2. lim
𝑥→∞ 3𝑥 2 −2
9 7
+
𝑥 𝑥2
= lim 2 Since 2 is the highest exponent, we will
𝑥→∞ 3− 2
𝑥
divide all terms by 𝑥 2 .
9 7
+
0 (0)2
= 2 By T2.
3− 2
(0)
0−0 𝑐
= 3−0 By lim =0
𝑥→∞ 𝑥
0
=3
=0

6𝑥 3 +3𝑥 2 −2𝑥−1
3. lim
𝑥→∞ 2𝑥 2 −3𝑥 3 +3𝑥+7
3 2 1
6+ − 2− 3
𝑥 𝑥 𝑥
= lim 2 3 7 Since 3 is the highest power, we will
𝑥→∞ 𝑥−3+ 2+ 3
𝑥 𝑥
divide all terms by 𝑥 3 .
3 2 1
6+ − 2− 3
0 (0) 0
= 2 3 7 By T2.
−3+ 2+ 3
0 0 0
6+0−0−0 𝑐
= 0−3+0+0 By lim = 0.
𝑥→∞ 𝑥
6
= −3
= -2

2. LIMITS AND CONTINUITY