Limit of a Function

Example 1

Example 2

lim 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 5 = (1)2 − 2(1) + 5 = 4

𝑥→1

Example 3
3
2𝑥+1 2( )+1 8
2
lim3 = 3 =
𝑥→ 𝑥+5 +5 13
2 2
1. lim 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥→−1
a. lim 𝑓(𝑥) = −1
𝑥→−1−
b. lim + 𝑓(𝑥) = −1
𝑥→−1

Therefore:
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = −1
𝑥→−1

2. lim 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥→2
a. lim− 𝑓(𝑥) = 2
𝑥→2
b. lim+ 𝑓(𝑥) = 3
𝑥→2
therefore
lim 𝑓(𝑥) 𝐷𝑁𝐸
𝑥→2
 1
2. 𝑓 (𝑥 ) =
𝑥−2
*
Example 1

Example 2
For the Recitation

Finding Limits

𝒙𝟐 −𝟗
1. 𝐥𝐢𝐦
𝒙→−𝟑 𝒙+𝟑

𝑥 2 −9 (𝑥−3)(𝑥+3)
lim = lim = lim 𝑥 − 3 = −6
𝑥→−3 𝑥+3 𝑥→−3 𝑥+3 𝑥→−3

√𝒙−𝟒
2. 𝐥𝐢𝐦
𝒙→𝟏𝟔 𝟏𝟔−𝒙

√𝑥 − 4 √𝑥 − 4 √𝑥 + 4
lim = lim ∙( )
𝑥→16 16 − 𝑥 𝑥→16 16 − 𝑥 √𝑥 + 4
𝑥 − 16
= lim
𝑥→16 −(𝑥 − 16)(√𝑥 + 4)
1
= lim
𝑥→16 −(√𝑥 + 4)
−1
=
8

𝒙𝟑 + 𝟐𝟕
3. 𝐥𝐢𝐦
𝒙→−𝟑 𝒙+𝟑

𝑥 3 + 27 𝑥 3 + 27
lim = lim
𝑥→−3 𝑥 + 3 𝑥→−3 𝑥 + 3
(𝑥 + 3)(𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 + 9)
= lim
𝑥→−3 𝑥+3
2
= lim 𝑥 − 3𝑥 + 9
𝑥→−3
= 27
 𝟐𝒙
4. 𝐥𝐢𝐦
𝒙→𝟕 𝒙−𝟕

2𝑥 14
lim = lim undefined
𝑥→7 𝑥−7 𝑥→7 0

2(8) 16
Let us take 8, = + lim 𝑓(𝑥) = +∞
8−7 1 𝑥→7+

2(6) 12
take 6, = −1 − lim 𝑓(𝑥) = −∞
6−7 𝑥→7−

not equal, therefore DNE

2𝑥
lim = 𝐷𝑁𝐸
𝑥→7 𝑥−7

𝒙+𝟏
5. 𝐥𝐢𝐦
𝒙→−𝟑 (𝒙+𝟑)𝟐

−2+1 −1
Let us take -2, (−2+3)2
= − lim 𝑓(𝑥) = −∞
1 𝑥→−3+

−4+2 −2
take -4, (−4+3)2
= − lim 𝑓(𝑥) = −∞
1 𝑥→−3−

since the limits are equal, therefore the limit exists and equal to −∞

𝒙+𝟏
𝐥𝐢𝐦 = −∞
𝒙→−𝟑 (𝒙+𝟑)𝟐
 Just an observation

𝑥 = −8
𝑥 2 = (−8)2 = 64 correct
𝑥 2 = −82 = −64 common mistake

𝑥 = −2𝑎
𝑥 2 = (−2𝑎)2 = 4𝑎2 correct
𝑥 2 = −2𝑎2 = −4𝑎2 common mistake