Limits of Exponential, Logarithmic, and Trigonometric Functions

Limits of Exponential Functions and Logarithmic Functions

This section will focus only on functions involving natural exponential function 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 𝑒 𝑥 and natural
logarithmic function 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = ln 𝑥. If we want to understand these limits, we simply use c-substitution noting that
the domain of the logarithmic function is the set of positive numbers. Thus, ln x does not exist when 𝑥 ≤ 0. We
can also illustrate limits using tables of values or graphs. Some examples of limits of exponential functions and
logarithmic functions using c-substitution are given below.
Examples: Remark: Note that using a
scientific calculator we can
1. lim 𝑒 𝑥 = 𝑒 2 approximate exponential
𝑥→2
2. lim 𝑒 𝑥 = 𝑒 0 = 1 and logarithmic values like
𝑥→0
3. lim 𝑒 2𝑥−1 = 𝑒 2(1)−1 = 𝑒 2−1 = 𝑒 1 = 𝑒 𝑒 ≈ 2.7182
𝑥→1
4. lim ln 𝑥 = 𝑙𝑛1 = 0 𝑒 2 ≈ 7.3891
𝑥→1
5. lim ln 𝑥 = 𝑙𝑛3 ln 2 ≈ 0.6931
𝑥→3
6. lim (1 − 2 ln 𝑥) = lim (1) − 2 lim (ln 𝑥 ) = 1 − 2 ln 2
𝑥→2 𝑥→2 𝑥→2 ln 3 ≈ 1.0986

The graph of y=𝑒 𝑥 is shown below.

It can be seen from the graph that when 𝑥 = 0, 𝑦 = 1 and when 𝑥 = 2, 𝑦 = 𝑒 2 (≈ 7.389).Thus,
graphically, we can check lim 𝑒 𝑥 = 1 and lim 𝑒 𝑥 = 𝑒 2 .
𝑥→𝑜 𝑥→2

Using tables of values, let us investigate the limit of 𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 𝑒 𝑥 as x approaches 0 from both sides. The
tables below show how 𝑒 𝑥 behaves as x approaches 0 from the left ad from the right.
x -0.5 -0.1 -0.01 -0.001 -0.0001 Remarks: The value of f at x can
𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 𝑒 𝑥 0.6065 0.9048 0.9901 0.9990 0.9999 be computed using a scientific
calculator If

x 0.5 0.1 0.01 0.001 0.0001 𝑥 = −0.5, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑓(−0.5)

𝑓 (𝑥 ) = 𝑒 𝑥 1.6487 1.1052 1.0101 1.0010 1.0001 = 𝑒 −0.5 = 0.6065.

Observe that the values of f get closer and closer to 1 as x approaches 0 from either side. Hence, we write
lim = 1.
𝑥→0

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Theorem 14- Limits of Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
Let c be a real number defined in the domain of each function.
lim 𝑒 𝑥 = 𝑒 𝑐 lim ln 𝑥 = ln 𝑐
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐

By theorem 14, we can say that if c=3, lim 𝑒 𝑥 =𝑒 3 and lim ln 𝑥 = ln 3

𝑥→3 𝑥→3

Practice Exercise
Evaluate the following limits:
1. lim 𝑒 2𝑥
𝑥→0
2. lim 𝑒 1−𝑥
𝑥→0
3. lim 𝑒 2𝑥−2
𝑥→1
4. lim ln 𝑥
𝑥→10
ln 𝑥
5. lim
𝑥→2 𝑥

Limits of Trigonometric Functions

Limits of trigonometric functions can be evaluated by the following theorem. These limits are also
computed by c-substitution procedure only. We notice that the angle x is only replaced by limiting number c. the
limit exists if the value of the trigonometric function at c exists. Refer to theorem 15 as follow:
Theorem 15- Limit Trigonometric Functions
Let c be a real number defined on the domain of each trigonometric function.
lim sin 𝑥 = sin 𝑐 lim cot 𝑥 = cot 𝑐 1/tanc = cosc / sin c
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐

lim cos 𝑥 = cos 𝑐 lim 𝑠𝑒𝑥c 𝑥 = sec 𝑐 1 / cos c

𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐

lim tan 𝑥 = tan 𝑐 sin c / cos c lim csc 𝑥 = csc 𝑐 1 / sin c

𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐

Examples:
Evaluate the following limits:
1. lim𝜋 2𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥 2. lim 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑥 3. lim𝜋(𝑥 2 + 𝑐𝑜𝑡2𝑥)
𝑥→ 𝑥→𝜋 𝑥→
2 6

Solutions:
1. lim𝜋 2𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥 c = 90
𝑥→
2
=2lim
𝜋
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑥 Theorem 2
𝑥→
2
𝜋
= 2sin Substitution or theorem 15
2
= 2(1)
=2

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 2. lim 𝑠𝑒𝑐 2 𝑥 c = 180
𝑥→𝜋
= (lim sec 𝑥)2 Theorem 6
1 / cos c 𝑥→𝜋
1 / cos 180 = (sec 𝜋)2 Substitution or theorem 15
1 / -1 = (−1)2
-1 =1

3. lim𝜋(𝑥 2 + cot 2𝑥)

𝑥→
6
=lim𝜋𝑥 2 + lim𝜋 cot 2𝑥 Theorem 3
𝑥→ 𝑥→
6 6
𝜋 2 𝜋
=( 6 ) + 𝑐𝑜𝑡2( 6 ) Theorems 8 and 15
𝜋2 𝜋
= 36 + cot( 3 )
𝜋2 √3 1 / tan 60
=36 + 3 1/ 3

Practice Exercise
Evaluate the following limits:
1. lim𝜋(4 − cos 𝑥)
𝑥→
3

2. lim𝜋(𝑥 csc 𝑥 )2
𝑥→
2
𝑥3
3. lim𝜋 tan 4𝑥
𝑥→
6

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