Lim its | B asic Calculus | N ova Schola Tanauan

Prepared by: Roi Vincent V. Montenegro

B . C alculating Lim its U sing the Lim it Law s

• Lim it Law s

Take note of the following Limit Laws and some examples:

Given the following computed limits, let’s try to understand some of the limit laws:
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟗 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈(𝒙) = −𝟓 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒉(𝒙) = 𝟐
𝒙→𝒂 𝒙→𝒂 𝒙→𝒂

1. Law # 1 lim [𝑓 (𝑥 ) + 𝑔(𝑥 )] = lim 𝑓(𝑥) + lim 𝑔(𝑥)

𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

a. Exam ples:
i. lim [𝑓 (𝑥 ) + 𝑔(𝑥 )] = lim 𝑓(𝑥) + lim 𝑔(𝑥) = (9) + (−5) = 𝟒
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

ii. lim [ℎ(𝑥 ) + 𝑓 (𝑥 )] = lim ℎ(𝑥) + lim 𝑓(𝑥) = (2) + (9) = 𝟏𝟏

𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

2. Law # 2 lim [𝑓 (𝑥 ) − 𝑔(𝑥 )] = lim 𝑓 (𝑥 ) − lim 𝑔(𝑥 )

𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

a. Exam ples:
i. lim [𝑓 (𝑥 ) − 𝑔(𝑥 )] = lim 𝑓(𝑥) − lim 𝑔(𝑥 ) = (9) − (−5) = 𝟏𝟒
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

ii. lim [ℎ(𝑥 ) − 𝑓 (𝑥 )] = lim ℎ(𝑥) − lim 𝑓(𝑥 ) = (2) − (9) = −𝟕

𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

3. Law # 3 lim 𝑐𝑓(𝑥 ) = 𝑐 lim 𝑓(𝑥)

𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

a. Exam ples:
i. lim 5 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 5 (lim 𝑓(𝑥)) = 5 (9) = 𝟒𝟓
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

ii. lim 2 ℎ(𝑥 ) = 2 (lim ℎ(𝑥)) = 2 (2) = 𝟒

𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

4. Law # 4 lim [𝑓 (𝑥 )𝑔(𝑥 )] = lim 𝑓(𝑥) ∙ lim 𝑔(𝑥)

𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

a. Exam ples:
i. lim [𝑓 (𝑥 )𝑔(𝑥 )] = lim 𝑓 (𝑥 ) ∙ lim 𝑔(𝑥 ) = (9)(−5) = −𝟒𝟓
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

ii. lim [𝑓 (𝑥 )ℎ(𝑥 )] = lim 𝑓(𝑥) ∙ lim ℎ(𝑥 ) = (9)(2) = 𝟏𝟖

𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

𝑓(𝑥) lim 𝑓(𝑥)

5. Law # 5 lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥→𝑎
lim 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

a. Exam ples:
Lim its | B asic Calculus | N ova Schola Tanauan
Prepared by: Roi Vincent V. Montenegro

𝑓(𝑥) lim 𝑓(𝑥) 9 𝟗

i. lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥→𝑎
lim 𝑔(𝑥)
= −5
= −𝟓
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

ℎ(𝑥) lim ℎ(𝑥) 2 𝟐

ii. lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥→𝑎
lim 𝑓(𝑥)
= 9
= 𝟗
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
𝑛
6. Law # 6 lim [𝑓 (𝑥 )]𝑛 = ( lim 𝑓(𝑥 ))
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

a. Exam ples:
2
i. lim [𝑓 (𝑥 )]2 = ( lim 𝑓 (𝑥 )) = (9)2 = 𝟖𝟏
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
2
ii. lim [𝑔(𝑥 )]2 = ( lim 𝑔(𝑥 )) = (−5)2 = 𝟐𝟓
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

𝑛
7. Law # 7 lim √𝑓(𝑥 ) = 𝑛√lim𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

a. Exam ples:

i. lim √𝑓(𝑥) = √ lim 𝑓(𝑥) = √9 = 𝟑

𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

ii. lim √ℎ(𝑥) = √ lim ℎ(𝑥) = √𝟐 ≈ 𝟏. 𝟒𝟏𝟒𝟐𝟏𝟑

𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎

Other B asic yet Im portant Lim it Law s:

1. lim 𝑥 = 𝑎
𝑥→𝑎

2. lim 𝑥 𝑛 = 𝑎𝑛
𝑥→𝑎

3. lim 𝑐 = 𝑐
𝑥→𝑎

Let’s calculate m ore lim its using lim it law s:

1 2 1 5 𝟓𝟑
1. lim1(5𝑥 2 + 6𝑥) = lim1 5𝑥 2 + lim1 6𝑥 = 5 lim1 𝑥 2 + 6 lim1 𝑥 = 5 (4) + 6 (2) = 16 + 3 = 𝟏𝟔 ≈ 𝟑. 𝟑𝟏𝟐𝟓
𝑥→ 𝑥→ 𝑥→ 𝑥→ 𝑥→
2 2 2 2 2

3𝑥 2 −5𝑥+6 lim 3𝑥 2 − lim 5𝑥 + lim 6 3 lim 𝑥 2 − 5 lim 𝑥 + lim 6 3 (2)2 −5 (2)+ 6

𝑥→2 𝑥→2 𝑥→2 𝑥→2 𝑥→2 𝑥→2
2. lim = = = =
𝑥→2 6𝑥 lim 6𝑥 6 lim 𝑥 6 (2)
𝑥→2 𝑥→2

12−10+6 8 𝟐
= 12 = 𝟑
12
Lim its | B asic Calculus | N ova Schola Tanauan
Prepared by: Roi Vincent V. Montenegro

3 3
3. lim (6𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 )3 = ( lim 6𝑥 2 + lim 2𝑥 ) = (6 lim 𝑥 2 + 2 lim 𝑥 ) = [6 (−3)2 + 2(−3)]3 =
𝑥→−3 𝑥→−3 𝑥→−3 𝑥→−3 𝑥→−3

[6(9) + (−6)]3 = (54 − 6)3 = 483 = 𝟏𝟏𝟎 𝟓𝟗𝟐

4. lim √7𝑥 2 − 15 = √lim 7𝑥 2 − 15 = √lim 7𝑥 2 − lim 15 = √7 lim 𝑥 2 − lim 15 = √7 (4)2 − 15 =

𝑥→4 𝑥→4 𝑥→4 𝑥→4 𝑥→4 𝑥→4

√7(16) − 15 = √𝟗𝟕 ≈ 𝟗. 𝟖𝟒𝟖𝟖𝟔

Try solving the limits using the limit laws:

−3𝑥 3 +8𝑥
1. lim 9𝑥+2
𝑥→−1
𝑥 3 +6𝑥
2. lim
𝑥→−2 9𝑥−4

3. lim (6𝑥 2 − 24)2 + 2𝑥

𝑥→3

𝑥 2 −2𝑥+4
4. lim √
𝑥→3 6𝑥−12

5. lim −2𝑥 3 + 8𝑥
𝑥→9

Note: All these limits can be solved through direct substitution but when you are asked to solve using
limit laws, then limit laws shall be applied instead of directly substituting the value of x.

C . Lim its of Som e Transcenden tal Functions

• Limits of some transcendental functions are relatively similar in solving limits of algebraic
functions. This means that the limits can still be computed through (1) direct substitution, (2)
simplifying by factoring, and (3) table of values.
• The difference is that to solve limits of transcendental functions, one must be aware of the
rules and properties of these functions (Recall General Mathematics Lessons).
• 𝑒 ≈ 2.718282
• ln basically refers to a logarithm to the base e. This is also known as a natural logarithm. The
common log can be represented as log10(x).
• ln e = 1
• y = ex ; y = ln x
Lim its | B asic Calculus | N ova Schola Tanauan
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• Lim its of Exponential Functions

Exponential Functions:
• lim 𝑏 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑏 𝑔(𝑎)
𝑥→𝑎
• lim 𝑒 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑒 𝑔(𝑎)
𝑥→𝑎

Examples:
a. lim 𝑒 𝑥 = 𝑒 0 = 𝟏
𝑥→0
b. lim (32𝑥−3 + 5) = (32(4)−3 + 5) = 38−3 + 5 = 35 + 5 = 243 + 5 = 𝟐𝟒𝟖
𝑥→4
1 1 1
3
c. lim (1252𝑥−7 + 2) = (1252(5)−7 + 2) = (1253 + 2) = ( √125 + 2) = 5 + 2 = 𝟕
𝑥→5
1 𝑥−1 1 1 1−1 1 1 0 1 1 𝟏 𝟓
d. lim (2) + 4 = ( 2) + 4 = (2) + 4 − 1 + 4 = 𝟏 𝟒 𝒐𝒓 𝟒 𝒐𝒓𝟏. 𝟐𝟓
𝑥→1
4𝑥 −1 40 −1 1−1 0
e. lim 2𝑥−1 = = 1−1 = 0 𝑜𝑟 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒 Since indeterminate is not acceptable in finding the
𝑥→0 20 −1
limits, factoring technique shall be applied.
Based on the function, we can use the product of sum and difference.
4𝑥 − 1 (2𝑥 − 1)(2𝑥 + 1)
lim 𝑥 = = 2𝑥 + 1
𝑥→0 2 − 1 (2𝑥 − 1)
Therefore, to find the limit, we will be solving lim 2𝑥 + 1
𝑥→0
lim 2 + 1 = 2 + 1 = 1 + 1 = 𝟐 The limit is 2.
𝑥 0
𝑥→0

Try this:
1 −𝑥−3 4.
1
lim ( 𝑒 3𝑥+7 )
1. lim (2) +4 𝑥→−2 2
𝑥→−2
2. lim1(102𝑥+1 )𝑥 5. lim2 3(4)5𝑥+3 − 5
𝑥→ 𝑥→
2 5
3 1
3. lim 4 + 27 2𝑥 𝑥
𝑥→3

• Lim its of Logarithm ic Functions

Logarithmic Functions:
• lim log 𝑏 𝑔(𝑥) = log 𝑏 𝑔(𝑎)
𝑥→𝑎
• lim ln 𝑔(𝑥) = ln 𝑔(𝑎)
𝑥→𝑎
• Where g(a) > 0
Lim its | B asic Calculus | N ova Schola Tanauan
Prepared by: Roi Vincent V. Montenegro

Examples:
a. lim ln 𝑥 = ln 1 = 𝟎
𝑥→1
b. lim log 3 (3𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 4) = log 3 (3(5)2 + 2(5) − 4) = log 3 (75 + 10 − 4) = log 3 81 = 𝟒
𝑥→5
1
5𝑥+2 5(− )+2 −1+2 1
c. lim1 log 10𝑥+12 + 6 = log 5
1 + 6 = log −2+12 + 6 = log (10) + 6 = −1 + 6 = 𝟓
𝑥→− 10(− )+12
5 5

d. lim (ln 2𝑥 + 5) + 4 = (ln 2(−1) + 5) + 4 = (ln −2 + 5) + 4 = (ln 3) + 4 ≈ 𝟓. 𝟎𝟗𝟖𝟔

𝑥→−1
e. lim log 2 (𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 − 1) = log 2 ((−5)2 − 8(−5) − 1) = log 2 (25 + 40 − 1) = log 2 64 = 𝟔
𝑥→−5

Try this:
1. lim ln(5𝑥 − 9)
𝑥→2
2. lim [log 5 (𝑥 2 + 9) − 4]
𝑥→−4
3. lim [log 2𝑥 + log(𝑥 2 + 5) − log(𝑥 − 2)]
𝑥→5
4. lim log 1 (𝑥 + 1)
𝑥→15 2
5. lim −3 ln 𝑒 𝑥
𝑥→7