Applying the Limit Law in Computing the Limit of Various Algebraic (Polynomial, Rational, and

Radical)

Theorem 1 – Basic Limit Laws

x ----- c ax --- a(c)
lim 𝑎 = 𝑎 lim 𝑥 = 𝑐 lim 𝑎𝑥 = 𝑎𝑐 lim 𝑥 𝑛 = 𝑐 𝑛
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐

where a and c are real numbers and n is an integer.

--- c substitution
Examples:
a a
1. lim 15 = 15
𝑥→2

ax ac
2. lim 5𝑥 = 5(7) = 35
𝑥→7
c
3. -3
lim 𝑥 =_____
𝑥→−3
c
4. (1/2)^4 = 1^4 / 2^4 = 1/16
lim1 𝑥 4 =_____
𝑥→
2

Theorem 2 – Limit of a Constant Multiple

If a is any constant and lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐿, then

𝑥→𝑐

lim 𝑎𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎 lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑎𝐿.

𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐

Examples:
L L
1
1. If lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 7 and lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 4, then
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
1
lim 3𝑓(𝑥) = 3(7) = 21 𝑎𝑛𝑑 lim 8𝑔(𝑥) = 8 ( ) = 2
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 4
aL aL
2. If lim 𝑓(𝑥) = −10 and lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 15, then
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
3 -4(15) = -60
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 3/4(-10)=-30/4=-15/2
____________________ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 lim(−4𝑔(𝑥)) = ______________________
𝑥→𝑐 4 𝑥→𝑐
or -7 1/2
aL aL
Theorem 3 – Limit of a Sum and Difference

If lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐿 and lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑀, then

𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐

 lim(𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥)) = lim 𝑓(𝑥) + lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝐿 + 𝑀

𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
 lim(𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑔(𝑥)) = lim 𝑓(𝑥) − lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝐿 − 𝑀
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐

Note: These formulas may be extended to more than two functions.

PROPERTY OF MISAMIS UNIVERSITY Page 1 of 3

Examples:
L M
1. If lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 12 and lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 8, then
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
 lim(𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥)) = lim 𝑓(𝑥) + lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 12 + 8 = 20
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
 lim(𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑔(𝑥)) = lim 𝑓(𝑥) − lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 12 − 8 = 4
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
L M
1 -4 + 1 = -3
2. If lim 𝑓(𝑥) = −2 and lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 3, then
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
1
 lim(2𝑓(𝑥) + 3𝑔(𝑥)) = 2 lim 𝑓(𝑥) + 3 lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 2(−2) + 3 (3) = −3
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
 3(-2) - 1/3 = -6 - 1/3 = -18-1 / 3 = - 19 / 3
lim(3𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑔(𝑥)) = _______________________________________
𝑥→𝑐
 5(1/3) - (-2) = 5/3 + 2 = 5+6 / 3 = 11/3
lim(5𝑔(𝑥) − 𝑓(𝑥)) = _______________________________________
𝑥→𝑐

Theorem 4 – Limit of a Product

If lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐿 and lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑀, then

𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐

lim(𝑓(𝑥)𝑔(𝑥)) = (lim 𝑓(𝑥)) (lim 𝑔(𝑥)) = 𝐿𝑀

𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐

Note: This may be extended to more than two functions.

Examples:
L M
1. If lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 6 and lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 20, then
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
lim(𝑓(𝑥)𝑔(𝑥)) = (lim 𝑓(𝑥)) (lim 𝑔(𝑥)) = (6)(20) = 120
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐

3
2. If lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 12 and lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 4, then
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
lim(4𝑓(𝑥)𝑔(𝑥)) = ___________________________________________
4(12)(3/4) = 144/4 = 36
𝑥→𝑐

Theorem 5 – Limit of a Quotient

If lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐿 and lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑀, then

𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐

𝑓(𝑥) lim 𝑓(𝑥) 𝐿

lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥→𝑐 = .
lim 𝑔(𝑥) 𝑀
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐

where M ≠ 0.

Examples: M
L
L/M
1. If lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 6 and lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 20, then
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
𝑓(𝑥) lim 𝑓(𝑥) 6 3
lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑥→𝑐 = = 10
𝑥→𝑐 lim 𝑔(𝑥) 20
𝑥→𝑐
3
2. If lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 12 and lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 4, then
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
2𝑓(𝑥)
lim 2(12) / (3/4) = 24 / (3/4) = 24 (4/3) = 96/3 = 32
= ___________________
𝑥→𝑐 𝑔(𝑥)

PROPERTY OF MISAMIS UNIVERSITY Page 2 of 3

Theorem 6 – Limit of a Power

If n is any positive integer and lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐿, then

𝑥→𝑐
Note: Theorem 6 will work
𝑛 𝑛 for any integer n provided
lim(𝑓(𝑥)) = (lim 𝑓(𝑥)) = (𝐿)𝑛 .
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 the limit exist.

Examples:
L

1. If lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 5, then

𝑥→𝑐 n
3 3
lim(𝑓(𝑥)) = (lim 𝑓(𝑥)) = (5)3 = 125
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
L
2
2. If lim 𝑓(𝑥) = − 3, then
𝑥→𝑐 n
4 (-2/3)^4 = -2^4 / 3^4 = 16/81
lim(𝑓(𝑥)) = _________________________
𝑥→𝑐

Theorem 7 – Limit of a Radical

If n is any positive integer and lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐿, then

𝑥→𝑐

𝑛
Note: Theorem 7 will work
lim 𝑛√𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑛√lim 𝑓(𝑥) = √𝐿. only when nth root of L is a
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
real number.
Examples:
L
1. If lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 49, then
𝑥→𝑐

lim √𝑓(𝑥) = √lim 𝑓(𝑥) = √49 = 7

𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐

2. If lim 𝑓(𝑥) = −64, then

𝑥→𝑐
3 -4
lim √𝑓(𝑥) = ____________________________________
𝑥→𝑐

Practice Exercises

Given the lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 36 and lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 12, evaluate the following using the limit laws:
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐

1. lim(𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥))
𝑥→𝑐
2. lim(4𝑓(𝑥) − 2𝑔(𝑥))
𝑥→𝑐
3. lim(𝑓(𝑥)𝑔(𝑥))
𝑥→𝑐
𝑔(𝑥)
4. lim 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥→𝑐
5. lim √𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥→𝑐

PROPERTY OF MISAMIS UNIVERSITY Page 3 of 3