BASIC CALCULUS Handout #3

LIMIT LAWS

Apply the limit laws in evaluating the limit of the following algebraic functions. Show the complete
solution.
1. lim (𝜋𝑥 − √2𝑥 2 − 9)
𝑥→3
3
√𝑥 + 7 − 2
2. lim
𝑥→1 𝑥−1

Solution.
1. lim (𝜋𝑥 − √2𝑥 2 − 9) = lim 𝜋𝑥 − lim √2𝑥 2 − 9
𝑥→3 𝑥→3 𝑥→3

= lim 𝜋𝑥 − √lim (2𝑥 2 − 9)

𝑥→3 𝑥→3

= lim 𝜋𝑥 − √lim 2𝑥 2 − lim 9

𝑥→3 𝑥→3 𝑥→3

= 𝜋lim 𝑥 − √2lim 𝑥 2 − lim 9

𝑥→3 𝑥→3 𝑥→3

2
= 𝜋lim 𝑥 − √2 (lim 𝑥) − lim 9
𝑥→3 𝑥→3 𝑥→3

= 𝜋(3) − √2(3)2 − 9
= 3𝜋 − 3
= 6.42478

3
3 lim ( √𝑥 + 7 − 2)
√𝑥 + 7 − 2 𝑥→1
2. lim =
𝑥→1 𝑥−1 lim (𝑥 − 1)
𝑥→1
3
lim √𝑥 + 7 − lim 2
𝑥→1 𝑥→1
=
lim 𝑥 − lim 1
𝑥→1 𝑥→1

3
lim (𝑥 + 7) − lim 2
√𝑥→1 𝑥→1
=
lim 𝑥 − lim 1
𝑥→1 𝑥→1

3
lim 𝑥 + lim 7 − lim 2
√𝑥→1 𝑥→1 𝑥→1
=
lim 𝑥 − lim 1
𝑥→1 𝑥→1
3
√1 + 7 − 2
=
1−1
0
= 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒
0

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BASIC CALCULUS Handout #3
(𝒂 − 𝒃)(𝒂𝟐 + 𝒂𝒃 + 𝒃𝟐 ) = 𝒂𝟑 − 𝒃𝟑

3 3 𝟑 𝟑
√𝑥 + 7 − 2 √𝑥 + 7 − 2 √(𝒙 + 𝟕)𝟐 + 𝟐 √𝒙 + 𝟕 + 𝟒
lim = lim ( ∙𝟑 )
𝑥→1 𝑥−1 𝑥→1 𝑥−1 √(𝒙 + 𝟕)𝟐 + 𝟐 𝟑√𝒙 + 𝟕 + 𝟒
3
( 3√𝑥 + 7) − 23
= lim 3 3
𝑥→1 (
𝑥 − 1) (√(𝑥 + 7)2 + 2 √𝑥 + 7 + 4)
𝑥+7−8
= lim 3 3
𝑥→1 (
𝑥 − 1) (√(𝑥 + 7)2 + 2 √𝑥 + 7 + 4)
𝑥−1
= lim 3 3
𝑥→1 (
𝑥 − 1) (√(𝑥 + 7)2 + 2 √𝑥 + 7 + 4)
1
= lim 3
𝑥→1 √(𝑥 + 7)2 + 2 3√𝑥 + 7 + 4

1
= 3 3
√(1 + 7)2 + 2 √1 + 7 + 4
1
= 3 3
√(1 + 7)2 + 2 √1 + 7 + 4
1
= 3 3
√64 + 2 √8 + 4
1
=
4 + 2(2) + 4
𝟏
=
𝟏𝟐

I. Compute the limits of exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric functions using tables of values
and graphs of the functions.

1. Consider the graph of 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 3 cos 2𝑥.

What is lim 𝑓(𝑥 )? Ans: lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 3

𝑥→3𝜋 𝑥→3𝜋
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BASIC CALCULUS Handout #3

2. Consider the graph of g(𝑥 ) = ln 𝑥?

What is lim 𝑔(𝑥 )? Ans: lim 𝑔(𝑥) 𝐷𝑁𝐸

𝑥→0 𝑥→0

3. Consider the graph of h(𝑥 ) = −3𝑥 + 2.

What is lim ℎ(𝑥 )? Ans: lim ℎ(𝑥) = −7

𝑥→2 𝑥→2

II. Compute the limit of the following functions using the table of values.
1. lim (42𝑥+3 − 2)
𝑥→−1

2. lim log(𝑥 2 + 5)
𝑥→3

3. lim [3 sin(𝑥 + 𝜋)]

𝑥→−𝜋

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BASIC CALCULUS Handout #3

Answer.
1. lim (42𝑥+3 − 2)
𝑥→−1

lim (42𝑥+3 − 2) lim (42𝑥+3 − 2)

𝑥→−1− 𝑥→−1+

lim (42𝑥+3 − 2) = 2 lim (42𝑥+3 − 2) = 2

𝑥→−1− 𝑥→−1+

Since
lim (42𝑥+3 − 2) = lim (42𝑥+3 − 2) ,
𝑥→−1− 𝑥→−1+
thus
𝐥𝐢𝐦 (𝟒𝟐𝒙+𝟑 − 𝟐) = 𝟐
𝒙→−𝟏

2. lim log(𝑥 2 + 5)
𝑥→3

lim log(𝑥 2 + 5) lim log(𝑥 2 + 5)

𝑥→3− 𝑥→3+

lim log(𝑥 2 + 5) = 1.146 lim log(𝑥 2 + 5) = 1.146

𝑥→3− 𝑥→3+

Since
lim log(𝑥 2 + 5) = lim+ log(𝑥 2 + 5),
𝑥→3− 𝑥→3
thus
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝐥𝐨𝐠(𝒙𝟐 + 𝟓) = 𝟏. 𝟏𝟒𝟔
𝒙→𝟑

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BASIC CALCULUS Handout #3

3. lim [3 sin(𝑥 + 𝜋)]

𝑥→−𝜋

lim [3 sin(𝑥 + 𝜋)] lim [3 sin(𝑥 + 𝜋)]

𝑥→−𝜋− 𝑥→−𝜋+

lim [3 sin(𝑥 + 𝜋)] = 0 lim [3 sin(𝑥 + 𝜋)] = 0

𝑥→−𝜋− 𝑥→−𝜋+

Since
lim [3 sin(𝑥 + 𝜋)] = lim [3 sin(𝑥 + 𝜋)],
𝑥→−𝜋− 𝑥→−𝜋+
thus
𝐥𝐢𝐦 [𝟑 𝐬𝐢𝐧(𝒙 + 𝝅)] = 𝟎 .
𝒙→−𝝅

Note: For exponential, logarithmic, and trigonometric functions, identify the values of 𝑥 (both
from left and right) closest to 𝑐.

SPECIAL LIMITS
Compute the limit of the following functions using the table of values.
sin 𝑡
1. lim
𝑡→0 𝑡
1 − cos 𝑡
2. lim
𝑡→0 𝑡
𝑡
𝑒 −1
3. lim
𝑡→0 𝑡

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