Name: Grade & Section: Score:

School: Teacher: Subject: Basic Calculus

LAS Writer: AR JAY S. FRANCO Content Editor: CARLITO B. DIONEDAS, JR.
Lesson Topic: Limit Laws (Quarter 3 Wk. 1 LAS 2)
Learning Targets: Illustrate the limit laws (STEM_BC11LC-IIIa-3)
Reference(s): Leithold, L., 1996. TC7 Leithold. 7th ed. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, Inc., pp.41-50.

Limit Laws
Limit laws are used as alternative ways in solving the limit of a function without using table of values and graphs. Below
are the different laws that can be applied in various situations to solve for the limit of a function.
A. The limit of a constant is itself. If k is any constant, then, 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒌 = k
𝒙→𝒄
Examples: 1. lim 3 = 3 2. lim(−8) = −8
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
B. The limit of 𝑥 as 𝑥 approaches 𝑐 is equal to c. That is, 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒙 = c
𝒙→𝒄
Examples: 1. lim 𝑥 = 5 2. lim 𝑥 = −1
𝑥→5 𝑥→−1
Suppose lim 𝑓(𝑥) = L and lim 𝑔(𝑥) = M, then
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
C. The Constant Multiple Theorem. The limit of a constant 𝑘 times a function is equal to the product of that
constant and its function’s limit. [ k • f(x)] = k • 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) = k • L
𝒙→𝒄
Examples:
If lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 6, then 1. lim(−2) • 𝑓(𝑥) -2 • lim 𝑓(𝑥) = -2 • 6 = -12
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
D. The Addition theorem. The limit of a sum of functions is the sum of the limits of the individual functions.
𝐥𝐢𝐦[𝒇(𝒙) + 𝒈(𝒙)] = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) + 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈(𝒙) = L + M
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄
Example: 1. If lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 7 and lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 2, then lim 𝑓(𝑥) + lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 7 + 2 = 9
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
E. The Subtraction Theorem. The limit of a difference of functions is the difference of the limits of the individual
functions. 𝐥𝐢𝐦[𝒇(𝒙) − 𝒈(𝒙)] = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) - 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈(𝒙) = L - M
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄
Example: 1. If lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 3 and lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 5, then lim 𝑓(𝑥) - lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 3 – 5 = -2
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
F. The Multiplication Theorem. The limit of a product of functions is the product of the limits of the individual
functions. 𝐥𝐢𝐦[𝒇(𝒙) • 𝒈(𝒙)] = 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) • 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈(𝒙) = L • M
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄
Example: 1. If lim 𝑓(𝑥) = -2 and lim 𝑓(𝑥) = -4, then lim 𝑓(𝑥) • lim 𝑔(𝑥) = (-2) • (-4) = 8
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
G. The Division Theorem. The limit of a quotient of functions is the quotient of the limits of the individual
functions, provided that the denominator is not equal to zero.
𝒇(𝒙) 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) 𝑳
𝐥𝐢𝐦[ 𝒈(𝒙)] = 𝒙→𝒄
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈(𝒙)
= 𝑴, M ≠ 0
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄
𝑓(𝑥) −7 1
Example: 1. If lim 𝑓(𝑥) = -7 and lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 14, then lim[ 𝑔(𝑥)] = 14
= −2
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
H. The Power Theorem. The limit of an integer power 𝑝 of a function is just that power of the limit of the function.
𝐥𝐢𝐦[ 𝒇(𝒙)]𝒑 = [𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙)]𝒑 = (𝑳)𝒑
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄
Example: 1. If lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 2, then lim[𝑓(𝑥)]5 = [lim 𝑓(𝑥)]5 = (2)5 = 32
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
I. The Radical/Root Theorem. If 𝑛 is a positive integer, the limit of the 𝑛𝑡ℎ root of a function is just the 𝑛𝑡ℎ root
of the limit of the function, provided that the 𝑛𝑡ℎ root of the limit is a real number.
𝒏
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒏√𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒏√𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) = √𝑳
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄
3
Example: 1. If lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 8, then lim 3√𝑓(𝑥) = √8 = 2
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
Activity: Identify what Limit Law is used in evaluating the following limits. Write only the letter that corresponds to
the limit law discussed above.
____1. lim(3) = 3 ____5. If lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 1, then lim[𝑓(𝑥)]3 = (1)3 = 1
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
____2. If lim 𝑓(𝑥) = -4, then lim[𝑓(𝑥)]2 = (-4)2 = 16 ____6. If lim 𝑓(𝑥) = -6 and lim 𝑓(𝑥) = -1,
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
____3. If lim 𝑓(𝑥) = -2, then lim(3) • 𝑓(𝑥) = 3(-2) = -6 then lim 𝑓(𝑥) • lim 𝑔(𝑥) = (-6) • (-1) = 6
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
4 4
____4. If lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 16, then lim √𝑓(𝑥) = √16 = 2 ____7. If lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 8 and lim 𝑓(𝑥) = -3,
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
then lim 𝑓(𝑥) - lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 8 – (-3) = 11
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐