Name: Section:

MATH 136 - Differential and Integral Calculus

Topic 1: Limit of a Function - Other Techniques (Worksheet 2)
f (x) 0
Definition 1. If lim f (x) = 0 and lim g(x) = 0 then lim is called an indeterminate form of type .
x→a x→a x→a g(x) 0

• The limit above MAY or MAY NOT exist.

• Some techniques used in evaluating such limits are factoring, rationalization and use of trigonometric identities.

Instruction: Evaluate each of the following:

(x2 − 9)
Example: Evaluate lim .
x→3 x − 3
This can not be evaluated by straight substitution since when x = 3, we have

(x2 − 9) (3 − 3) 0
= = ,
x−3 3−3 0
0
which is meaningless. That is, at x = 3, the function assumes the indeterminate form . However, if x ̸= 3, then That is,
0
(x2 − 9) (x − 3)(x + 3)
lim = lim = lim (x + 3) = 3 + 3 = 9.
x→3 x − 3 x→3 x−3 x→3

sin x sin(2x) x−1

1. lim 4. lim √
x→0 1 − cos x x→1 x+3−2

(x + 3)2 − 9 tan(2x)
2. lim 5. limπ
x→0 2x x→ 4 sec(2x)

x3 − 13x + 12
3. lim f (x) − f (2)
x→3 x3 − 14x + 15 6. If f (x) = x2 − 2x + 3, find lim
x→2 x−2