INTRODUCTION

TO LIMITS
What is a

LIMIT?
Limitis one of the
most basic and
fundamental ideas
of calculus.
Limitsallow us to
look at what
happens in a very,
very small region
around a point.
…so what is a

LIMIT?
 Definition of Limit

Suppose that the function f(x)

is defined for all values of x
near c, but not necessarily at c.
 Definition of Limit
If as x approaches c (without actually
attaining the value c), f(x) approaches
the number L, then L is the limit of
f(x) as x approaches c.
 Definition of Limit

lim f(x) = L
x→c
“The limit of f(x) as x approaches
c equals L.”
Finding Limit of a Function
Using Table of Values
 One-Sided Limits

Left-Hand Limit
lim f(x) = L
x→c −

“the limit of f(x) as x approaches c from the

left of c equals L.”
 One-Sided Limits

Right-Hand Limit
lim f(x) = L
x→c +
“the limit of f(x) as x approaches c from the
right of c equals L.”
 (x,f(x))
f(x)

(x,f(x))

f(x)
x c x
x

No matter how x approaches c, f(x) approaches L.

 Left & Right Hand Limits
2

lim f ( x)
x →a+

-5 5

lim− f ( x)
x→a
-2

3
lim− x = 0 lim+ x = 0 3
x →0 x →0
Theorem
lim f(x) = 5 lim f(x) = 5
x→c − x→c +

c
lim f(x) = 5
x→c
 The limit does not exist
50 for this function.
40

30

20

10

0 5 10 15 20
x
lim f(x) = 2 lim f(x) = 2 lim f(x) = 2
x→1 ─ + x→1
x→1