Math 122: Math for Science Teacher 2

Topics: Limits and Continuity

4.1 Limit of a Function
4.2 Limit Theorem
4.3 One sided Limit
4.4 Infinite Limits
Intended Learning Outcomes:
• Evaluate limits of algebraic functions using limit theorems.

• Solve one-sided limits, infinite limits and limits at infinity

• Sketch the graph of functions to illustrate the limits of the function.

Definition of Limit of a Function

 4.2 LIMIT THEOREMS
Theorem 1. Limit of a Constant If c is any constant, then for any a, 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒄 = 𝒄.
𝒙→𝒂
Theorem 2. Limit of a Linear If m and b are any constants, then
Function 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒎𝒙 + 𝒃 = 𝒎𝒂 + 𝒃
𝒙→𝒂
Theorem 3. Limit of the Sum and If lim 𝑓( 𝑥) = 𝐿 and lim 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑀 then
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
Difference of Two Functions 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) ± 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝑳 ± 𝑴
𝒙→𝒂
Theorem 4. Limit of the Product If lim 𝑓( 𝑥) = 𝐿 and lim 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑀 then
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
of Two Functions 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) ∙ 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝑳 ∙ 𝑴
𝒙→𝒂
Theorem 5. Limit of the nth Power If lim 𝑓( 𝑥) = 𝐿 and n is any positive integer,
𝑥→𝑎
of a Function then 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) 𝒏 = 𝑳𝒏
𝒙→𝒂
Theorem 6. Limit of the Quotient If lim 𝑓( 𝑥) = 𝐿 and lim 𝑔 𝑥 = 𝑀 then
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
of Two Functions 𝒇(𝒙) 𝑳
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈(𝒙) = provided 𝑴 ≠ 𝟎
𝒙→𝒂 𝑴

Theorem 7. Limit of nth root of a If n is a positive integer and If lim 𝑓( 𝑥) = 𝐿 then

𝑥→𝑎
function. 𝒏 𝒏
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝑳 with the restriction that if n is
𝒙→𝒂
even, L>0.
 2 −1 + 1
(−1)2 −3 −1 + 4
−𝟏
=
𝟖

𝟏𝟒
=
𝟑
"Evaluating" means to find the value of (think e-"value"-ating)
 Other Strategies for Evaluating Limits
⮚ In this section, we will evaluate limits of functions whose limit by direct substitution is an
indeterminate form 0/0 using the analytical method of factoring and rationalizing.
⮚ These techniques involve simplifying the given rational expression using factoring the
numerator or denominator and rationalizing the numerator or denominator of the fractional
expression.

Factoring Method
Illustrations 1
Illustrations 2

Illustrations 3

Solutions:
 Rationalization Technique to Find Limits

Some limits cannot be evaluated directly by substitution and no factors

immediately cancel.

In these situations there is another algebraic technique to try called rationalization.

With rationalization, you make the numerator and the denominator of an
expression rational by using the properties of conjugate pairs.

Question: How do you evaluate the following limit using rationalization?

Rationalization generally means to multiply a rational function by a clever form

of one in order to eliminate radical symbols or imaginary numbers in the
denominator. Rationalization is also a technique used to evaluate limits in order
to avoid having a zero in the denominator when you substitute.
Example 1:
Example 2:

Example 3:
Now, Let’s have an Application of Rationalization to limit of a functions

1
= lim
𝑥→16 𝑥 + 4
𝟏 𝟏
= =
𝟒+𝟒 𝟖
 4.3 One sided Limits

❖ When evaluating a left-hand limit, we consider only values of x "to the left of c,'' i.e.,
where x<c. The notation x → c− is used to imply that we look at values of x to the left of c. The
notation has nothing to do with positive or negative values of either x or c.
❖ A similar statement holds for evaluating right-hand limits; there we consider only values
of x to the right of c, i.e., x>c. We can use the theorems from previous sections to help us
evaluate these limits; we just restrict our view to one side of c.

Theorem: lim 𝑓(𝑥) exists and is equal to L iff lim− 𝑓(𝑥) and lim+ 𝑓(𝑥) both exist and are equal to L
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
Evaluate the following limits, if it exists:

1
Evaluate the following limits, if it exists:
Solutions:
For these problems, the visual aid of the graph is likely more effective in evaluating
limits than using f itself. Therefore we will refer often to the graph.
1. As 𝑥 goes to 1 from the left, we see that 𝑓(𝑥) is approaching the value of 1.
Therefore 𝑙𝑖𝑚− 𝑓(𝑥) = 1.
𝑥→1
2. As 𝑥 goes to one from the right, we see that 𝑓(𝑥) is approaching the value 2.
Recall that it does not matter that there is an “open circle” there; we are
evaluating a limit, not the value of the function. Therefore 𝑙𝑖𝑚+ 𝑓 𝑥 = 2.
𝑥→1
3. The limit of 𝑓 𝑎𝑠 𝑥 𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑠 1 does not exist, as discussed in the first
section. The function does not approach one particular value, but two different
values from the left and right.
4. Using the definition and by looking at the graph we see that 𝑓(1) = 1.
5. As x goes to 0 from the right, we see that f(x) is also approaching 0. Therefore
𝑙𝑖𝑚+ 𝑓 𝑥 = 0. Note we cannot consider a left-hand limit at 0 as f is not defined
𝑥→0
for values of 𝑥 < 0.
6. Using the definition and the graph, 𝑓(0) = 0.
7. As x goes to 2 from the left, we see that f(x) is approaching the value of 1.
Therefore lim− 𝑓 𝑥 = 1
𝑥→2
8. The graph and the definition of the function show that 𝑓(2) is not defined.

Definition of Function
Values Increasing
Without bound
Definition of Function
Values Decreasing
Without bound
4. 4 Infinite Limits
Let f be a function defined at every number in some open interval
I, containing a, except possible at the number a itself. As x
approaches a, f(x) increases without bound , which is written:
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇 𝒙 = +∞
𝒙→𝒂
if for any number 𝑁 > 0 there exists a 𝛿 > 0 such that if 0 <
𝑥 − 𝑎 < 𝛿 then 𝒇(𝒙) > 𝑵.
Let f be a function defined at every number in some open interval
I, containing a, except possible at the number a itself. As x
approaches a, f(x) decreases without bound , which is written:
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇 𝒙 = −∞
𝒙→𝒂
if for any number 𝑁 < 0 there exists a 𝛿 < 0 such that if 0 <
𝑥 − 𝑎 < 𝛿 then 𝒇 𝒙 < 𝑵.

Theorems:
If r is any positive integer, then
𝟏
1. 𝐥𝐢𝐦+ 𝒙𝒓 = +∞
𝒙→𝟎
𝟏
2. 𝐥𝐢𝐦− 𝒙𝒓 = −∞ if r is odd and +∞ if r is even
𝒙→𝟎
The graph shows that the branches of the curve get closer and closer to
the y-axis as x approaches 0. Therefore, the vertical line 𝑥 = 𝑎 is a
vertical asymptote of the graph of the function.
Example 1:
Example 2:
𝑥+2
Evaluate infinite limits: lim+
𝑥→3 𝑥−3
Solutions:
𝑥+2
lim+
𝑥→3 𝑥−3
𝟑+𝟐
= +
𝟑 −𝟑
𝟓
= +
𝟎
= +∞
As 𝑥 → 3+ the values 𝑥 − 3 → 0, and 𝑥 > 3 so 𝑥 − 3 > 0: 𝑥 − 3 takes small
𝑥+2 5
positive value. Then the value of = are larger positive
𝑥−3 𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒
value so we represent the limit as “+∞”.

Vertical asymptote is 𝒙 = 𝟑
Let’s Try This!!!
Use the information to evaluate the following limits:
1. Given lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 2 and lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 2
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
a. lim 4 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥→𝑎
b. lim 𝑓 𝑥 + 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑥→𝑎
c. lim 𝑓(𝑥) ∙ 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑥→𝑎
𝑓(𝑥)
d. lim
𝑥→𝑎 𝑔(𝑥)
2. Find the limits of the following
3𝑥 2 −17𝑥+20
a. lim
𝑥→4 4𝑥 2 −25𝑥+36
𝑥+5−3
b. lim
𝑥→4 𝑥−4
Solutions for #2B:
𝑥+5−3 𝑥+5+3
= lim ∙
𝑥→4 𝑥−4 𝑥+5+3
2
𝑥 + 5 + 3 𝑥 + 5 − 3 𝑥 + 5 − 3(3)
= lim
𝑥→4 (𝑥 − 4)( 𝑥 + 5 + 3)
𝑥+5−9
= lim
𝑥→4 (𝑥 − 4)( 𝑥 + 5 + 3)
𝑥−4
= lim
𝑥→4 (𝑥− 4)( 𝑥 + 5 + 3)
1
= lim
𝑥→4 ( 𝑥 + 5 + 3)
1
=
6
REFERENCES:

• Differential Calculus A Mathematical Creativity Development Approach Worktext

(Dennis Roble, Ph.D)
• Basic Calculus by (John Gabriel P. Pelias)
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn4r4eagvnU
• https://www.khanacademy.org/math/ap-calculus-ab/ab-limits-new/ab-1-
14/v/introduction-to-infinite-limits
• https://sites.millersville.edu/bikenaga/calculus1/left-and-right-limits/left-and-right-
limits.html

Prepared by: Melissa E. Saavedra