Limits of Algebraic Functions

Limits of Polynomial Functions

Definition of a Polynomial Function

A polynomial function f in terms of x is of the form

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎𝑛 𝑥 𝑛 + 𝑎𝑛−1 𝑥 𝑛−1 + ⋯ + 𝑎2 𝑥 2 + 𝑎1 𝑥 + 𝑎0

where 𝑎𝑖 , for I = 0, 1, 2, … , n, are real coefficients and n is a nonnegative integer. If the leading coefficient
𝑎𝑛 ≠ 0, then n is the degree of the polynomial.

Theorem 8 – Limit of a Polynomial Function

For a polynomial function f in terms of x,

lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑓(𝑐)

𝑥→𝑐

where c is any real number.

Examples: Evaluate the following limits:

1 11
1. lim1(3𝑥 + 5) = 3 (6) + 5 =
𝑥→ 2
6
2. lim (2𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 1) = ___________________________
𝑥→1
3. lim (𝑥 3 + 7𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 4) = ___________________________
𝑥→−2

Limits of Rational Functions

Definition of a Rational Function

A rational function f in terms of x is of the form

𝑝(𝑥)
𝑓(𝑥) =
𝑞(𝑥)

where p(x) and q(x) are polynomials in x and q(x) ≠ 0.

Theorem 9 – Limit of a Rational Function

For a rational function f in terms of x,

𝑝(𝑥) 𝑝(𝑐)
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = lim =
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑞(𝑥) 𝑞(𝑐)
where c is any real number and q(c) ≠ 0.

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Examples: Evaluate the following limits:
𝑥 5 5
1. lim 𝑥+6 = 5+6 = 11
𝑥→5
𝑥 2 −24
2. lim = ______________________________
𝑥→0 𝑥+8
𝑥 3 +2𝑥+4
3. lim = ______________________________
𝑥→−1 3𝑥 2 −𝑥+8

Limits of a Radical Functions

Definition of a Radical Function
A radical function f in terms of x is of the form
𝑛
𝑓(𝑥) = √𝑝(𝑥)

where n is a positive integer and p is a polynomial function or a ratio of polynomial functions.

Theorem 10 – Limit of a Radical Function

For a radical function f in terms of x

𝑛
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = lim √𝑝(𝑥) = 𝑛√lim 𝑝(𝑥)
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐

where c is any real number, n is a positive integer, and p(c) > 0 if n is even.

Examples: Evaluate the following limits:

1. lim √16 − 𝑥 2 = √ lim(16 − 𝑥 2 ) = √(16 − 32 ) = √(16 − 9) = √7

𝑥→3 𝑥→3

3 𝑥
2. lim √11−2𝑥 = _____________________________________
𝑥→−8
√𝑥 2 +8𝑥−5
3. lim = = ______________________________________
𝑥→1 3𝑥+7

Practice Exercises:
𝑥−4
1. lim 𝑥 2 −16
𝑥→4
𝑥 2 +6𝑥+5
2. lim
𝑥→−1 𝑥 2 −2𝑥−3
𝑥 3 −9𝑥
3. lim
𝑥→3 𝑥 2 +4𝑥−21
√𝑥 3 +8𝑥 2 −𝑥−5
4. lim =
𝑥→2 4𝑥+9

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