BASIC CALCULUS Handout #2

LIMIT LAWS

1. Constant Theorem
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒌 = 𝒌
𝒙→𝒄
Example:
• lim 7 = 7
𝑥→5
3 3
• lim (− 4) = − 4
𝑥→0

• lim1 𝜋 = 𝜋
𝑥→
2

2. Substitution Theorem
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒙 = 𝒄
𝒙→𝒄

Example:
• lim 𝑥 = 5
𝑥→5
1
• lim1 𝑥 = −
𝑥→− 2
2

• lim 𝑥 = 𝜋
𝑥→𝜋

3. The Constant Multiple Theorem

𝐥𝐢𝐦[𝒌 ∙ 𝒇(𝒙)] = 𝒌 ∙ 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙)
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄

Example:
Assume the following:
lim 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 5, lim 𝑔(𝑥 ) = −7 , lim ℎ(𝑥 ) = 2
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
Find:
1
1. lim(−4 ∙ 𝑔(𝑥 )) 2. lim ( ∙ ℎ(𝑥 ))
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 2

Solution.
1. lim(−4 ∙ 𝑔(𝑥 )) = −4 ∙ lim 𝑔(𝑥 ) = −4(−7) = 28
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐

1 1 1
2. lim ( ∙ ℎ(𝑥 )) = ∙ lim ℎ(𝑥 ) = (2) = 1
𝑥→𝑐 2 2 𝑥→𝑐 2

Let 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝑳 and 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝑴

𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄

4. The Addition Theorem

𝐥𝐢𝐦[𝒇(𝒙) + 𝒈(𝒙)] = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) + 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝑳 + 𝑴
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄

𝐥𝐢𝐦[𝒇(𝒙) − 𝒈(𝒙)] = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) − 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝑳 − 𝑴

𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄

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BASIC CALCULUS Handout #2

5. The Multiplication Theorem

𝐥𝐢𝐦[𝒇(𝒙) ∙ 𝒈(𝒙)] = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙)∙ 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝑳 ∙ 𝑴
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄

Example:
Assume the following:
lim 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 5, lim 𝑔(𝑥 ) = −7 , lim ℎ(𝑥 ) = 2
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
Find:
1. lim(−2 ∙ 𝑓 (𝑥 ) + 𝑔(𝑥 )) 2. lim(𝑔(𝑥 ) − ℎ(𝑥 )) 3. lim(𝑓 (𝑥 ) ∙ ℎ(𝑥 ))
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐

Solution.
1. lim(−2 ∙ 𝑓 (𝑥 ) + 𝑔(𝑥)) = lim(−2 ∙ 𝑓(𝑥)) + lim 𝑔(𝑥 ) = −2 lim 𝑓(𝑥 ) + lim 𝑔(𝑥) = −2(5) + (−7) = −10 − 7 = −17
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐

2. lim(𝑔(𝑥) − ℎ(𝑥)) = lim 𝑔(𝑥 ) − lim ℎ(𝑥 ) = −7 − 2 = −9

𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐

3. lim(𝑓(𝑥) ∙ ℎ(𝑥 )) = lim 𝑓(𝑥 ) ∙ lim ℎ(𝑥 ) = 5 ∙ 2 = 10

𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐

6. The Division Theorem

𝒇(𝒙) 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) 𝑳
𝒙→𝒄
𝐥𝐢𝐦 = =
𝒙→𝒄 𝒈(𝒙) 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈(𝒙) 𝑴
𝒙→𝒄

7. The Power Theorem

𝒑
𝐥𝐢𝐦[𝒇(𝒙)]𝒑 = [𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙)] = 𝑳𝒑
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄

8. The Radical/Root Theorem

𝒏 𝒏
𝐥𝐢𝐦 √𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒏√𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) = √𝑳
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄

Example:
Assume the following:
lim 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 5, lim 𝑔(𝑥 ) = −7 , lim ℎ(𝑥 ) = 2
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
Find:
ℎ (𝑥 ) 𝑔 (𝑥 )
1. lim ( ∙ 𝑔 (𝑥 )) 2. lim 5 3. lim √−7 ∙ 𝑔(𝑥 )
𝑥→𝑐 𝑓 (𝑥 ) 𝑥→𝑐
(ℎ(𝑥 )) 𝑥→𝑐

Solution.
ℎ( 𝑥 ) lim ℎ(𝑥 ) 2 14
1. lim ( ∙ 𝑔(𝑥 )) = 𝑥→𝑐 ∙ lim 𝑔(𝑥 ) = ∙ (−7) = −
𝑥→𝑐 𝑓 (𝑥 ) lim 𝑓(𝑥 ) 𝑥→𝑐 5 5
𝑥→𝑐

𝑔 (𝑥 ) lim 𝑔(𝑥 ) lim 𝑔(𝑥 ) −7 7

𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
2. lim 5 = 5 = 5 = 5
=−
𝑥→𝑐
(ℎ(𝑥)) lim(ℎ(𝑥)) (2) 32
𝑥→𝑐
(lim ℎ(𝑥 ))
𝑥→𝑐

3. lim √−7 ∙ 𝑔(𝑥 ) = √lim(−7 ∙ 𝑔(𝑥 )) = √−7 lim 𝑔(𝑥) = √−7(−7) = √49 = 7
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐

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BASIC CALCULUS Handout #2

Example:
Determine the limits by applying the different limit laws.
1. lim (3𝑥 4 − 2𝑥 + 1)
𝑥→0

𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 8
2. lim
𝑥→3 2𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 2
√𝑥 2 + 4 − 2
3. lim
𝑥→0 𝑥2 + 1

Solution.
1. lim(3𝑥 4 − 2𝑥 + 1) = lim 3𝑥 4 − lim 2𝑥 + lim 1 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐴𝑑𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑚
𝑥→0 𝑥→0 𝑥→0 𝑥→0

= 3 lim 𝑥 4 − 2 lim 𝑥 + lim 1 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑀𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑖𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑚

𝑥→0 𝑥→0 𝑥→0
4
= 3 (lim 𝑥) − 2 lim 𝑥 + lim 1 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑚
𝑥→0 𝑥→0 𝑥→0

= 3 (0 )4 − 2 (0 ) + 1 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑚 & 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑆𝑢𝑏𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑚

=1

lim(𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 8)
𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 − 8 𝑥→3
2. lim = 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐷𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑚
𝑥→3 2𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 2 lim(2𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 2)
𝑥→3

lim 𝑥 3 − lim 3𝑥 2 + lim 5𝑥 − lim 8

𝑥→3 𝑥→3 𝑥→3 𝑥→3
= 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐴𝑑𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑚
lim 2𝑥 2 − lim 3𝑥 − lim 2
𝑥→3 𝑥→3 𝑥→3

lim 𝑥 3 − 3 lim 𝑥 2 + 5 lim 𝑥 − lim 8

= 𝑥→3 𝑥→3 𝑥→3 𝑥→3
𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑀𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑖𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑚
2 lim 𝑥 2 − 3 lim 𝑥 − lim 2
𝑥→3 𝑥→3 𝑥→3
3 2
(lim 𝑥) − 3 (lim 𝑥) + 5 lim 𝑥 − lim 8
𝑥→3 𝑥→3 𝑥→3 𝑥→3
= 2 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑚
2 (lim 𝑥) − 3 lim 𝑥 − lim 2
𝑥→3 𝑥→3 𝑥→3

(3 )3 )2
− 3(3 + 5(3) − 8
= 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 & 𝑆𝑢𝑏𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑚
2 (3 ) 2 − 3 (3 ) − 2
27 − 27 + 15 − 8
=
18 − 9 − 2
7
=
7
=1

2
lim (√𝑥 + 4 − 2)
√𝑥 2 + 4 − 2 𝑥→0
3. lim = 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐷𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑚
𝑥→0 𝑥2 + 1 lim(𝑥 2 + 1)
𝑥→0

lim 𝑥 2 + lim 4 − lim 2

√𝑥→0 𝑥→0 𝑥→0
= 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐴𝑑𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑚
lim 𝑥 2 + lim 1
𝑥→0 𝑥→0

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BASIC CALCULUS Handout #2

2
√(lim 𝑥) + lim 4 − lim 2
𝑥→0 𝑥→0 𝑥→0
= 2 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑚
(lim 𝑥) + lim 1
𝑥→0 𝑥→0

√02 + 4 − 2
= 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑚 & 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑆𝑢𝑏𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑚
02 + 1
2−2
=
1
=0

Example:
Identify the limit law.
lim √2𝑥 + 5
√2𝑥 + 5 𝑥→2
lim = 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐷𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑚
𝑥→2 1 − 3𝑥 lim (1 − 3𝑥)
𝑥→2

lim 2𝑥 + lim 5
√𝑥→2 𝑥→2
= 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑅𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑚 & 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐴𝑑𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑚
lim 1 − lim 3𝑥
𝑥→2 𝑥→2

√2lim
𝑥→2
𝑥 + lim 5
𝑥→2
= 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑀𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑖𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑚
lim 1 − 3lim 𝑥
𝑥→2 𝑥→2

√2(2) + 5
= 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐶𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑚 & 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑆𝑢𝑏𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑚
1 − 3(2)
√9
=
−5
3
=−
5

Theorem.

Let 𝑓 be a polynomial of the form

𝑓(𝑥 ) = 𝑎𝑛 𝑥 𝑛 + 𝑎𝑛−1 𝑥 𝑛−1 +. . +𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑎0

If 𝑐 is a real number, then

lim 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 𝑓 (𝑐 )
𝑥→𝑐

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BASIC CALCULUS Handout #2

Theorem.

Let ℎ be a rational function of the form

𝑓 (𝑥 )
ℎ (𝑥 ) =
𝑔 (𝑥 )

where 𝑓 and 𝑔 are polynomial functions. If 𝑐 is a real number and 𝑔(𝑐 ) ≠ 0, then

𝑓 (𝑥 ) 𝑓 ( 𝑐 )
lim ℎ(𝑥 ) = lim = .
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑔(𝑥 ) 𝑔 (𝑐 )

Example:
√2𝑥 + 5 √2(2) + 5 √9 3
lim = = =−
𝑥→2 1 − 3𝑥 1 − 3(2) −5 5

Example:
Find the limit of the following:
𝑥2 − 9 𝑥2 − 1 9
1. lim 2. lim 3. lim
𝑥→−3 𝑥 + 3 𝑥→1 √𝑥 −1 𝑥→4 √𝑥 − 2

Solution.
𝑥 2 − 9 (−3)2 − 9 0
1. lim = = 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒
𝑥→−3 𝑥+3 −3 + 3 0
𝑥2 − 9 (𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 + 3)
lim = lim = lim (𝑥 − 3) = −3 − 3 = −6
𝑥→−3 𝑥 + 3 𝑥→−3 𝑥+3 𝑥→−3

𝑥2 − 1 12 − 1 0
2. lim = = 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒
𝑥→1 √𝑥 −1 √1 − 1 0
𝑥2 − 1 𝑥 2 − 1 √𝑥 + 1
lim = lim ( ∙ )
𝑥→1 √𝑥 −1 𝑥→1 √𝑥 − 1 √𝑥 + 1

(𝑥 2 − 1)(√𝑥 + 1)
= lim
𝑥→1 𝑥−1

(𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 1)(√𝑥 + 1)
= lim
𝑥→1 𝑥−1

= lim (𝑥 + 1)(√𝑥 + 1)
𝑥→1

= (1 + 1)(√1 + 1)

= (2)(2)

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BASIC CALCULUS Handout #2

=4

9 9 9
3. lim = = 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑
𝑥→4 √𝑥 − 2 √4 − 2 0
𝟗
∴ 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝑫𝑵𝑬
𝒙→𝟒 √𝒙 − 𝟐

Limit of Exponential, Logarithmic, and Trigonometric Functions

TRY THIS!
Find the limit of the following using table of values and the graph of the function.

1. lim 2𝑥 2. lim log 𝑥 3. lim sin 𝑥

𝑥→0 𝑥→1 𝑥→2𝜋

Independent Learning Period

Practice on computing the limits of exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric functions using
tables of values and graphs of the functions.

1. lim 5𝑥−1
𝑥→2
Ans. lim 5𝑥−1 = 5
𝑥→2
2. lim [5 log(𝑥 + 2)]
𝑥→7
Ans. lim[5 log(𝑥 + 2)] = 4.771
𝑥→7
3. lim (sin 2𝑥 )
𝑥→0
Ans. lim(sin 2𝑥) = 0
𝑥→0

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