Lesson 1

Limits of Functions
OBJECTIVES:

• to define limits
• to illustrate limits and its theorems

 
 DEFINITION: Limits
 
 y

y  x2  x  1
f(x)

f(x)

x
O
2

x 1.9 1.95 1.99 1.995 1.999 2 2.001 2.005 2.01 2.05 2.1
f(x) 2.71 2.852 2.97 2.985 2.997 3.003 3.015 3.031 3.152 3.31

left side right side

 This leads us to the general idea.

 
EXAMPLE:

 
 .99 .999 .9999 .99999 1 1.00001 1.0001 1.001 1.01
1.9949 1.9995 1.99995 1.999995 2.000005 2.00005 2.0005 2.004915
 THEOREMS ON LIMITS

Our strategy for finding limits algebraically has two

parts:

• First, we will obtain the limits of some simpler function

• Then we will develop a list of theorems that will enable
us to use the limits of simple functions as building
blocks for finding limits of more complicated
functions.
 
 
The following theorem will be our basic tool for finding limits
algebraically:

Theorem 1.2.2 (p. 81)

This theorem can be stated informally as follows:

a) The limit of a sum is the sum of the limits.

b) The limit of a difference is the difference of the
limits.
c) The limits of a product is the product of the limits.
d) The limits of a quotient is the quotient of the limits,
provided the limit of the denominator is not zero.
e) The limit of the nth root is the nth root of the limit.

• A constant factor can be moved through a limit symbol.

 DEFINITION: One-Sided Limits
 
 

1 

 -1
This leads to the general idea of a one-sided
limit

1.1.2 (p. 72)

1.1.3 (p. 73)
 DEFINITION: INFINITE LIMITS
 
Figure 1.1.15 (p. 74)
  

 
Figure 1.1.15 (p. 74)
Figure below, illustrates graphically the limits for rational functions
of the form 1 , 1 ,  1 .
 x  a  x  a 2
 x  a 2

Figure 1.2.2 (p. 84)

 

R( x)
If f ( x) 
Q( x)
 DEFINITION: LIMITS AT INFINITY

 
 x

   
In general, we will use the following notation.

1.3.1 (p. 89)

 

Figure 1.3.2 (p. 89)

EXAMPL
 
E:

Figure 1.3.4 (p. 90)

VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL
ASYMPTOTES
 DEFINITION: Vertical
Asymptote
 
 

0 0

x=a x=a
lim f ( x )  
xa

   
 

0 0

x=a x=a
lim f ( x )  
xa

   
 DEFINITION: Horizontal
Asymptote

 
 

y=b

0 y=b

lim f ( x)  b   lim f ( x)  b
x   x  