Welcome to

Limits
 Table of contents

Session 01 03
Limits 04
Indeterminate Forms 13
Algebra of limits 15
Methods to solve 16
Rationalisation 20

Session 02 23
Sandwich theorem 29
Important deductions 33
Standard Limits 37
 Session 1
Introduction to Limits and
methods to solve

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Key Takeaways

Limits:

• If 𝑥 → 𝑎 gives 𝑓 𝑥 → 𝑚 then it is represented by lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑚

!→#

• Here 𝑚 is the limiting value of 𝑓 𝑥 at 𝑥 = 𝑎

𝑥 → 𝑎 means 𝑥 tends to 𝑎
 Key Takeaways

𝑌
As 𝑥 tends to 3, 𝑓(𝑥)
tends to 3.99

lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 3.99
!→$
(2.99,3.99)
(3.01,3.99)

𝑋
Key Takeaways

Limits:

• If 𝑥 → 𝑎 gives 𝑓 𝑥 → 𝑚 then it is represented by lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑚

!→#

• Here 𝑚 is the limiting value of 𝑓 𝑥 at 𝑥 = 𝑎

• 𝑥 → 𝑎( 𝑥 ≠ 𝑎) means that 𝑥 approaches to 𝑎

• For RHL 𝑥 = 𝑎 + ℎ
𝑥 =𝑎−ℎ 𝑥 =𝑎+ℎ
For LHL 𝑥 = 𝑎 − ℎ
𝑎
• ℎ is infinitely small +𝑣𝑒 quantity
Key Takeaways

Note:

• lim 𝑓 𝑥 = lim 𝑓 𝑎 − ℎ
!→# ! %→&

• lim 𝑓 𝑥 = lim 𝑓 𝑎 + ℎ 𝑎−ℎ 𝑎 𝑎+ℎ

!→# " %→&

lim 𝑓 𝑥 = lim" 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑙(:inite)

!→# ! !→#
 Key Takeaways

10
𝑓(𝑥)

1 𝑋
−5 −1 1 5 10 15 20

• Limit does not exist at 𝑥 = 5 and 𝑥 = 24 because L.H.L ≠ R.H.L

• Limit exists at 𝑥 = 13 & 18 because L.H.L = R.H.L

 𝑥 + 1, 𝑥 ≤ 1
If 𝑓 𝑥 = % , then evaluate
2𝑥 − 3, 𝑥 > 1
a) lim 𝑓 𝑥 b) lim 𝑓 𝑥
0→2 0→3
 𝑥 + 1, 𝑥 ≤ 1
If 𝑓 𝑥 = B evaluate lim 𝑓 𝑥
2𝑥 − 3, 𝑥 > 1 !→'

a) lim 𝑓 𝑥
!→'

lim 𝑓 𝑥 = lim 1 − ℎ + 1 = 2
!→'! %→&
2𝑥 − 3
lim 𝑓 𝑥 = lim 2 1 + ℎ − 3 = − 1 𝑥+1
!→'" %→&

Since, L.H.L ≠ R.H.L 2

∴ lim 𝑓(𝑥) = does not exist
!→' 1
−1
b) lim 𝑓 𝑥
!→(

lim 𝑓 𝑥 = lim 2 4 − ℎ − 3 = 5
!→( ! %→&
lim 𝑓 𝑥 = lim 2 4 + ℎ − 3 = 5
!→( " %→&

Since, L.H.L = R.H.L

∴ lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 5
!→(
Evaluate lim −1 0
0→22

!
lim −1
!→''

L.H.L 𝑥 = 11 − ℎ R.H.L 𝑥 = 11 + ℎ

'')% '& ''*% ''

lim −1 = −1 = +1 lim −1 = −1 = −1
%→& %→&

Limit does not exist

 0
Evaluate lim
0→4 0 50+

L.H.L R.H.L

𝑥 =0−ℎ 𝑥 =0+ℎ
% %
lim − #
lim
%→& )% * )% %→& % * % #

)% %
lim lim
%→& %*% # %→& %*% #

)% %
lim lim
%→& % '*% %→& % '*%

)' ' ' '

lim = − '*& = −1 lim = '*& = 1
%→& '*% %→& '*%

L.H.L ≠ R.H.L
Limit does not exist
 Key Takeaways

Indeterminate forms:

• Whose value can′t be directly determined by

substituting value of 𝑥

• We have 7 indeterminate forms :

& ,
,
& ,
, ∞ − ∞, 0×∞, 1, , 0& , ∞&
 Which of the following are indeterminate forms:

062 262 4
1. lim 0+62 = 262 = 4 Yes
0→2

2. lim 𝑥8 − 1 − 𝑥 = −∞ 8 − 1 − −∞ → ∞ No
0→67
 Key Takeaways

Algebra of limits:

Let lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑙, and lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑚. If 𝑙 and 𝑚 are finite, then:
!→# !→#

• lim {𝑓 𝑥 ± 𝑔 𝑥 } = 𝑙 ± 𝑚 • lim 𝑘𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑘 lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑘𝑙 , 𝑘 is a constant

!→# !→# !→#
Ex: lim 𝑥 + sin 𝑥 = 2 + sin 2 Ex: lim& 2 tan 𝑥 = 2 3
!→-
!→
$

• lim {𝑓 𝑥 . 𝑔 𝑥 } = 𝑙. 𝑚
!→#
$
$ ./0
Ex: lim$ 𝑥. cos 𝑥 = (
%

!→
%

1 ! 3
• lim 2 !
= 4 ,𝑚 ≠ 0
!→#
! # *'
Ex: lim =1
!→' !*'
Key Takeaways

Methods to solve the limit:

• Questions which do not have [],| |,{ }, defined function

need not be solved by comparing LHL,RHL

• So we just solve them as it is using following methods

(A) Factorization (E) Use of B.T

(B) Rationalization (F) Sandwich Theorem

(C) Double Rationalization (G) Trigo

(D) limit 𝑛 → ∞ (H) Expansion

 0+6905:
Evaluate: lim
0→8 0+6;058

! # )5!*6 ()'&*6 &

lim = = form
!→- ! # )$!*- ()6*- &

(!)-)(!)$)
lim (!)-))(!)')
!→-

-)$
=
-)'

= −1
 0;60+ <=> 05<=> 062
Evaluate: lim 0+62
0→2

! $ )' ) ! # )' 9/: !

= lim
!→' (! # )')

!)' ! # *!*') !*' 9/: !

= lim (!)')(!*')
!→'

! # *!*') !*' 9/: !

= lim (!*')
!→'

3
=
2
 0+
Evaluate : lim
0→4 250+ 6 260+

!# '*! # * ')! #
= lim '*! # ) ')! #
!→&

!# '*! # * ')! #
= lim -! #
!→&

'*'
=
-

=1
Key Takeaways

Rationalization:

When given expression is in the form of 𝑎 − 𝑏 or 𝑎 −𝑏

form we do rationalization.
 05368
Evaluate : lim
0→4 0

( !*()-)( !*(*-)
= lim !( !*(*-)
!→&
!*()(
= lim !( !*(*-)
!→&
'
= lim ( !*(*-)
!→&

'
=
(
 ;6 ?052
Evaluate : lim
0→2 96 83052

$) <!*'
lim
!→' 5) -(!*'

$) <!*' $* <!*' (5* -(!*')

= lim
!→' (5) -(!*')(5* -(!*') $* <!*'

(=) <!*' )(5* -(!*')

= lim
!→' (-5) -(!*' )($* <!*')

<×'&
=
-(×6

5
==
 Session 2
Sandwich theorem and some
standard limits

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 Key Takeaways

Basics:

,
• Less than 1 =0
,
• Greater than 1 →∞
,
• Exactly 1 =1
 A A
lim 3@ + 4@ B is equal to lim 3@ + 4@ + 5@ + 6@ B is equal to
@→7 @→7

'/? '/?
$ ? ( ? $ ? ( ? 5 ?
= lim 4 + = lim 6 6
+ 6
+ 6
+1
?→, ( ( ?→,

&
=4 0+1 & =6 0+0+0+1

= 4×1 = 6×1

=4 =6
 A0+62;052 A0+62;05: 8059
Evaluate: lim Evaluate: lim Evaluate: lim
0→7 90+6805: 0→7 8059 0→7 A0+62;05:

C! # )'$!*' C! # )'$!*6 -!*5

lim lim lim
!→, 5! # )-!*6 !→, -!*5 !→, C! # )'$!*6

'$ ' '$ ) *

!# C ) * # !# C ) * # ! -*
(
= lim (
#
(
) = lim (
*
(
= lim '$ )
!→, !# 5 ) * # !→, ! -* !→, !# C ) * #
( ( ( ( (

C -*&
=5 = 7×∞ = →0
,

DEFG9 ./HIJK.KHLM NK::HO PQG99HO

lim = ./HIJK.KHLM lim PQG99HO
→∞ lim →0
!→, DEFG9 !→, !→, NK::HO
If 𝑓: 𝑅 → 𝑅 is given by 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 + 1, then the value of
1 5 10 5 𝑛−1
lim 𝑓 0 +𝑓 +𝑓 + ⋯+ 𝑓
?→, 𝑛 𝑛 𝑛 𝑛

C $
A - B -

5 '
C - D -
 If 𝑓: 𝑅 → 𝑅 is given by 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥 + 1, then the value of
$ % $& % !'$
lim 𝑓 0 +𝑓 +𝑓 + ⋯+ 𝑓
!→# ! ! ! !

5 '& 5 ?)'
𝑓 0 +𝑓 ?
+𝑓 ?
+ ⋯+ 𝑓 ?

5 '& 5 ?)'
⇒1+ 1+ + 1+ + ⋯+ 1 +
? ? ?

5 ? ?)' -?*5?)5 C?)5

⇒𝑛+? -
= -
= -
' C?)5 C
⇒ lim =
?→, ? - -
Key Takeaways

Sandwich Theorem:

Let 𝑓, 𝑔, ℎ are 3 functions in small open interval,

such that 𝑓 𝑥 ≤ 𝑔 𝑥 ≤ ℎ 𝑥 and
𝑌
lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑙 lim ℎ 𝑥 = 𝑙
!→# !→# ℎ(𝑥)

𝑙
Since 𝑓 𝑥 ≤ 𝑔 𝑥 ≤ ℎ 𝑥 𝑔(𝑥)
⇒ lim 𝑓 𝑥 ≤ lim 𝑔 𝑥 ≤ lim ℎ 𝑥 𝑓(𝑥)
!→# !→# !→#
⇒ 𝑙 ≤ lim 𝑔 𝑥 ≤ 𝑙 𝑎 𝑋
!→#

So, lim 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑙
!→#
Proof:

Chord 𝐴𝐵 < Arc 𝐴𝐵 < 𝐴𝐶 + 𝐵𝐶

R%STU VW VTX VW VR*WR
⇒ < < 𝐵
- - -
g < 𝐵𝐶
⇒ 𝐵𝐸 < BD 𝜃𝐸 𝐷 𝐶
ND Z
N[ WR
O
⇒ YN < \W < \W
⇒ sin 𝜃 < 𝜃 < tan 𝜃 𝐴

0KL ! 0KL ] MGL ] MGL !

!
<1 < 1 < >1
] ] !
 FGH 0 244 FGH 0 2440
Evaluate: lim Evaluate:lim +
0→4 0 0→4 0 IJH 0

lim less than 1 = 0 0KL !

<1
MGL !
>1⇒
!
<1
!→& ! ! MGL !

'&& 0KL ! '&&!

= !
< 100 = MGL !
< 100

= 99.99 = 99.99

= 99 = 99

⇒ 99 + 99 = 198
Key Takeaways

Proof:

0KL ] MGL ]
<1<
] ] 𝐵
When 𝜃 → 0
⇒ sin 𝜃 ≅ 𝜃 ≅ tan 𝜃 𝜃 𝐸 𝐷 𝐶
O
0KL ] MGL ]
⇒ lim = 1 & lim =1
]→& ] ]→& ]

𝐴
Remember: 𝜃 → 0

sin 𝜃 ≅ tan 𝜃 ≅ sin)' 𝜃 ≅ tan)' 𝜃 = 𝜃

Important Deductions:
0KL !
lim !
= 1 will be valid under 2 conditions
!→&

Same quantity should be there in denominator

and for argument/angle in numerator &

This quantity should be approaching zero

0KL 0GQH
(0GQH)
0KL !
lim !
= 1 only
!→&
0KL(&)
(&)
Similarly,

sin 𝑥 𝑥 tan 𝑥 𝑥
lim = lim = lim = lim =1
!→& 𝑥 !→& sin 𝑥 !→& 𝑥 !→& tan 𝑥
 Evaluate the following :
FGH K0 FGH K0
a) lim b) lim
0→4 0 0→4 IJH L0

FGH K0 FGH K0
a) lim = 𝑎 lim =𝑎⋅1=𝑎
0→4 0 0→4 K0

FGH K0 K FGH K0 L0 K K
b) lim IJH L0 = lim
L 0→4 K0 IJH L0
=L⋅1⋅1=L
0→4
 FGH M60
Evaluate : lim
0→M M(M60)

Solution:
If 𝑥 → 𝜋 then 𝜋 − 𝑥 → 0

Let 𝑡 = 𝜋 − 𝑥

Now,
0KL(^)!) 0KL _
lim = lim
!→^ ^ ^)! _→& ^⋅_

' 0KL _ '

= lim =
^ _→& _ ^
 FGH; 80 IJH+ ;0
Evaluate : lim
0→4 0 FGHa 30

Solution:

As 𝑥 → 0 sin 𝑥 , tan 𝑥 ≅ 𝑥

So,
0KL$ -! MGL# $! -! $ $! # =
lim ! 0KL% (!
= = $-
!→& ! (! %
Standard Limits

𝑥 ? − 𝑎?
lim = 𝑛 ⋅ 𝑎?)'
!→# 𝑥 − 𝑎

Proof:
We know that
𝑥 ? − 𝑎? = 𝑥 − 𝑎 𝑥 ?)' + 𝑎 ⋅ 𝑥 ?)- + ⋯ + 𝑥 ⋅ 𝑎?)- + 𝑎?)'
! + )# +
⇒ !)#
= 𝑥 ?)' + 𝑎 ⋅ 𝑥 ?)- + ⋯ + 𝑥 ⋅ 𝑎?)- + 𝑎?)'
! + )# +
∴ lim = lim 𝑥 ?)' + 𝑎 ⋅ 𝑥 ?)- + ⋯ + 𝑥 ⋅ 𝑎?)- + 𝑎?)'
!→# !)# !→#

! + )# +
∴ lim = 𝑎?)' + 𝑎?)' + ⋯ 𝑛 times
!→# !)#

= 𝑛 ⋅ 𝑎?)'
 𝑥 ? − 𝑎?
lim = 𝑛 ⋅ 𝑎?)'
!→# 𝑥 − 𝑎

𝑥 4 − 𝑎4 𝑚 4)?
lim = ⋅𝑎
!→# 𝑥 ? − 𝑎? 𝑛

𝑎! − 1
lim = log b 𝑎
!→& 𝑥

𝑒! − 1
lim =1
!→& 𝑥

ln 1 + 𝑥
lim =1
!→& 𝑥
 <H 30+53052
Evaluate lim
0→4 0

Solution:
ln 4𝑥 - + 4𝑥 + 1 ln 1 + 2𝑥 -
lim = lim
!→& 𝑥 !→& 𝑥

2 ln(1 + 2𝑥) ln(1 + 2𝑥)

= lim = 4 lim
!→& 𝑥 !→& 2𝑥
=4⋅1=4
 0c69c
If lim = 500, then the value of 𝑘 is
0→9 069

Solution:
! , )5,
lim = 𝑘 ⋅ 5d)' = 500
!→5 !)5

⇒ 𝑘 ⋅ 5d)' = 4 ⋅ 5$
⇒𝑘=4
 8e6N e
Evaluate : lim
0→4 0

Solution:

We know that
# ( )' b ( )'
lim !
= log b 𝑎 and lim !
=1
!→& !→&

-( )b ( -( )' ) b ( )'
∴ lim = lim
!→& ! !→& !

-( )' b ( )'
= lim !
− lim !
!→& !→&
-
= log b 2 − 1 = log b
b
 ;e62
Evaluate : lim
0→4 25062

Solution:
$( )' $( )' '*!*'
lim '*!)'
= lim '*!)'
⋅ '*!*'
!→& !→&

$( )' '*!*'
= lim
!→& !

$( )'
= lim !
⋅ lim 1+𝑥+1
!→& !→&

= log b 3 ⋅ 2 = log b 9
Evaluate : lim 𝑥 8 + 3𝑥 − 𝑥
0→7

Solution:

lim 𝑥 - + 3𝑥 − 𝑥
!→,

! # *$!)! ! # *$!*!
= lim
!→, ! # *$!*!

$!
= lim
!→, ! '* *'
$
(

$
= lim
!→, $
'* *'
(

$
=-