Conceptualized by: Raymond D.

Garcia, MA Math
Assistant Professor 1 – Apayao State College

Chapter 3: Limits Limits Theorems and the Limit of a Function

Lesson 2: Limits Theorems and the Limit of a Function

Lesson Objectives:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the tangent line and the limit.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the area between a curve and the x-axis.
3. Understand the notion of the limit of a function as an independent variable approaches a
finite or infinite value.

The limit of a function, which states that a function f(x) has a limit L at x=a, if for every
sequence {xn}, which has a limit at a, the sequence f(xn) has a limit L.

We will now prove that a certain limit exists, namely the limit
of f (x) = x as x approaches any value c. (That f(x) also approaches c should be obvious.)

THEOREM. If f (x) = x, then for any value c that we might name:

lim 𝑓(𝑥 ) = lim 𝑥 = 𝑐
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
For, if a sequence of values of the variable
x approaches c as a limit, then a sequence of values of
the function f(x)= x will also approach c as a limit.

For example,
1. lim 𝑥 = −2
𝑥→−2

2. lim ℎ = 0
ℎ→0
Let f and g be functions of a variable x. Then, if the following limits exist:
lim 𝑓 = 𝐴 , and lim 𝑔 = 𝐵
𝑥→𝑙 𝑥→𝑙

then, the following theorems hold:

1. 𝐥𝐢𝐦(𝒇 + 𝒈) = 𝑨 + 𝑩
𝒙→𝒍

2. 𝐥𝐢𝐦(𝒇𝒈) = 𝑨𝑩
𝒙→𝒍

𝒇 𝑨
3. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 = , if B is not 0
𝒙→𝒍 𝒈 𝑩

In other words:
1) The limit of a sum is equal to the sum of the limits.

2) The limit of a product is equal to the product of the limits.

3) The limit of a quotient is equal to the quotient of the limits, provided the limit of the
denominator is not 0.

Also, if c does not depend on x or if c is a constant, then

Calculus I with Analytic Geometry 83

 Conceptualized by: Raymond D. Garcia, MA Math
Assistant Professor 1 – Apayao State College

Chapter 3: Limits Limits Theorems and the Limit of a Function

4. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒄 = 𝒄
𝒙→𝒍

For example, lim 5 = 5

𝑥→4
To see that, let x approach 4: e.g.,
1 1 1 1 1
4 4 4 4 4 . . .
2 4 8 16 32
Then the value of 5 or any constant does not change. It is constant!

When c is a constant factor, but f depends on x, then

5. 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒄𝒇 = 𝒄𝐥𝐢𝐦𝒇
𝒙→𝒍 𝒙→𝒍

A constant factor may pass through the limit sign. (This follows from Theorems 2 and
4.)
For example,
𝑙𝑖𝑚 8𝑥 3 = 8 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑥 3
𝑥→𝑙 𝑥→𝑙

Example 1: Quote Theorems 1 through 5 to prove that:

𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑥 2 = 4 ∙ 4 = 16
𝑥→4

Solution:
x2 = x · x. And we have proved that the limit exists, and is equal to 4.
Therefore, 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑥 2 = 4 ∙ 4, according to Theorem 2.
𝑥→4
That is, 𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑥 2 = 42
𝑥→4

It should be clear from this example that to evaluate the limit of any power of x as x approaches
any value, simply evaluate the power at that value. Repeated application of Theorem 2 affirms that.

Example 2: Evaluate lim 𝑥 5

𝑥→2

Solution:

𝑙𝑖𝑚 𝑥 5 = 25 = 32
𝑥→2

Example 3. Evaluate the following limits, and justify your answers by quoting Theorems 1 through
5.
a) 𝑙𝑖𝑚 x3 + 4 c) 𝑙𝑖𝑚 5x2
𝑥→4 𝑥→4

𝑥 2 −1
b) b) 𝑙𝑖𝑚 (x2 + 1) d) 𝑙𝑖𝑚
𝑥→4 𝑥→4 𝑥+1

Calculus I with Analytic Geometry 84

 Conceptualized by: Raymond D. Garcia, MA Math
Assistant Professor 1 – Apayao State College

Chapter 3: Limits Limits Theorems and the Limit of a Function

Solution:

a) 𝑙𝑖𝑚 x3 + 4 = 43 + 4 = 64 + 4 = 68. This follows from Theorem 1 and Theorem 2.

𝑥→4

b) 𝑙𝑖𝑚 (x2 + 1) = 42 + 1 = 16 + 1 = 17. This follows from Theorem 1, Theorem 2,

𝑥→4
and Theorem 4

c) 𝑙𝑖𝑚 5x2 = 5· 42 = 5· 16 = 80. This follows from Theorem 5 and Theorem 2

𝑥→4

𝑥 2 −1 42 −1 16−1 15
d) 𝑙𝑖𝑚 = = = = 3. The limits of numerator and denominator follow
𝑥→4 𝑥+1 4+1 5 5
Theorems 1, 2, and 4. The limit of the fraction follows from Theorem 3.

Always take note of these:

Limits of polynomials
The student might think that to evaluate a limit as x approaches a value, all we do is evaluate
the function at that value. And for the most part that is true. One of the most important classes of
functions for which that is true are the polynomials. A polynomial in x has this general form:

where n is a whole number, and an 0.

Therefore, according to the Theorems on limits, to name the limit of a polynomial
as x approaches any value c, simply evaluate the polynomial at that value.
If P(x) is a polynomial, then

Calculus I with Analytic Geometry 85

 Conceptualized by: Raymond D. Garcia, MA Math
Assistant Professor 1 – Apayao State College

Chapter 3: Limits Limits Theorems and the Limit of a Function

Compare Example 1 and Example 2. It is important to state again that when we write

the variable x is never equal to c, and therefore P(x) is never equal to P(c). Both c and P(c) are
approached as limits. The point is, we can name the limit simply by evaluating the function at c.

Example 4: Evaluate

Solution: In that polynomial, let x = -1:

lim (5𝑥 4 − 4𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 1)
𝑥→−1

= 5(-1)4 − 4(−1)3 + 3(-1)2 − 2(−1) + 1

= 5 (1) − 4(−1) + 3 (1) −2(−1) + 1
= 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1 = 15.
Example 5: Evaluate

Solution: On replacing x with c,

lim(𝑥 + 𝑐)
𝑥→𝑐

= c + c = 2c.
Example 6: Evaluate [Hint: This is a polynomial in t.]

Solution: On replacing t with -1:

= 3(-1)2 – 5(-1) + 1
=3+5+1
=9
Example 7: Evaluate [Hint: This is a polynomial in h.]

Solution: On replacing h with 0, the limit is 4x3.

Some of the most important limits, however, will not be polynomials. They will be limits of
0
certain quotients -- and they will appear to be 0 (indeterminate) and dealing with that will be the
challenge.

Example 8. Consider the function g(x) = x + 2, whose graph is a simple straight line. And just to be
perverse (and to illustrate a logical point), let the following function f(x) not be defined for x = 2.

Calculus I with Analytic Geometry 86

 Conceptualized by: Raymond D. Garcia, MA Math
Assistant Professor 1 – Apayao State College

Chapter 3: Limits Limits Theorems and the Limit of a Function

That is, let

In other words, the point (2, 4)

does not belong to the function; it is not
on the graph. Yet
the limit as x approaches 2, whether
from the left or from the right is 4. And

For every sequence of values

of x that approaches 2, can come
as close to 2 as we please. The limit of
a variable is never a member of the
sequence, in any case. Hence the
corresponding values of f(x) will come
closer and closer to 4.

Calculus I with Analytic Geometry 87

 Conceptualized by: Raymond D. Garcia, MA Math
Assistant Professor 1 – Apayao State College

Chapter 3: Limits Limits Theorems and the Limit of a Function

PROBLEM SET NO. 2A
Limits Theorems and the Limit of a Function

Name: ________________________________________________ Date: ________________

Course/Year/Section: ____________________________________ Score: _______________
A. Evaluate the limits of the following functions. Identify which Theorem/s is/are applied in each step.
(Use separate sheet for your answer if needed)

Functions Steps/Solution Theorem/s

1. lim (4𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 1)
𝑥→2

2.
√𝑥 2 − 1
lim
𝑥→−3 2𝑥

3. If
lim 𝑓(𝑥 ) = 3
𝑥→𝑎
and
lim 𝑔(𝑥 ) = −1,
𝑥→𝑎
find
2𝑓 (𝑥 ) − 3𝑔(𝑥)
lim
𝑥→𝑎 𝑓 (𝑥 ) + 𝑔(𝑥)

4.
−4𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 − 5
lim
𝑥→−1 2𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 4

5.
3𝑥 3 + 4𝑥 + 1
lim
𝑥→2 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 − 2

Calculus I with Analytic Geometry 88

 Conceptualized by: Raymond D. Garcia, MA Math
Assistant Professor 1 – Apayao State College

Chapter 3: Limits Limits Theorems and the Limit of a Function

SCRATCH WORKS

Calculus I with Analytic Geometry 89

 Conceptualized by: Raymond D. Garcia, MA Math
Assistant Professor 1 – Apayao State College

Chapter 3: Limits Limits Theorems and the Limit of a Function

SCRATCH WORKS

Calculus I with Analytic Geometry 90