Limit

Limit
a point or level beyond
which something does not or
may not extend or pass.
 Limits
In mathematics, a limit is the value that a
function "approaches" as the input
"approaches" some value. Limits are
essential to calculus and are used to
define continuity, derivatives, and
integrals.
 𝟐
 
𝒙 − 𝟑 𝒙 +𝟐
𝒇 ( 𝒙 )=
𝒙−𝟐

e d
f i n
de
u n
 3

-2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6
-1

-2
 𝟐
 
𝒙 − 𝟑 𝒙 +𝟐
𝒇 ( 𝒙 )=
𝒙−𝟐

 
 𝟐
 
𝒙 − 𝟑 𝒙 +𝟐
𝒇 ( 𝒙 )=
𝒙−𝟐

 
 lim 𝒇 ( 𝒙 ) =𝟏
 

𝑥 →2

Because…
f(x) can be made as close as we
want to 1 by making x as close as
we want to 2.
 
𝒙−𝟏
𝒇 ( 𝒙 )=  
𝒇 ( 𝒙 ) =𝟏 𝒙 ≠ 𝟏
𝒙−𝟏

 
𝟏 −𝟏 𝟎
𝒇 (𝟏) = =
𝟏 −𝟏 𝟎 undefined
 3

-2 -1 1 2 3 4 5 6
-1

-2
 𝟐
 
𝒙 −𝟗
𝒇 ( 𝒙 )=
𝒙 −𝟑

𝟐
 
𝒙 − 𝟐 𝒙 +𝟏
𝒇 ( 𝒙 )=
𝒙−𝟏
  𝟒 𝟐
𝒇 ( 𝒙 )=
√ 𝒙 +𝒙
𝒙
Limits Theorem
Theorem 1 Limit of a constant
If c is any constant, then for any number a

lim 𝑐 =𝑐
 

𝑥→ 𝑎
 

5
Theorem 2 Limit of a Linear Function
If m and b are any constants
lim (𝑐𝑥 +𝑏)= 𝑐𝑎+𝑏
 

𝑥→ 𝑎
 lim (2 𝑥+3)=2 lim 𝑥+ lim 3
 

𝑥 →2 𝑥 →2 𝑥→ 2

¿ 2 ( 2 ) +3
 

¿ 4+ 3
 

¿7
 
Theorem 3 Limit of the Identity Function
If c is any constant, then for any number a
lim 𝑥 =𝑎
 

𝑥→ 𝑎
 

1
Theorem 4 Limit of the Sum or Difference
of Two Functions
 
𝑖𝑓 lim 𝑓 ( 𝑥 )= 𝐿 𝑎𝑛𝑑 lim 𝑔 ( 𝑥 ) = 𝑀 ,𝑡h𝑒𝑛
𝑥 →𝑎 𝑥 →𝑎

 
lim [ 𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) ± 𝑔 ( 𝑥 )]= lim 𝑓 ( 𝑥) ± lim 𝑔( 𝑥 )
𝑥→ 𝑎 𝑥 →𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
 
lim [ 8 𝑥+5 𝑥]=8 lim 𝑥 ± 5 lim 𝑥
𝑥→ 4 𝑥 →4 𝑥→ 4

¿ 8 ( 4 )+ 5 ( 4 )
 

¿ 32+ 20
 

¿ 52
 
Theorem 5 Limit of the Product of Two
Functions
 
𝑖𝑓 lim 𝑓 ( 𝑥 )= 𝐿 𝑎𝑛𝑑 lim 𝑔 ( 𝑥 ) = 𝑀 ,𝑡h𝑒𝑛
𝑥 →𝑎 𝑥 →𝑎

 
lim [ 𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) ∙ 𝑔 ( 𝑥 )]= lim 𝑓 ( 𝑥) ∙ lim 𝑔( 𝑥)
𝑥→ 𝑎 𝑥 →𝑎 𝑥 →𝑎
  
lim [(5 𝑥+ 4)(3 𝑥+12)]
𝑥→ 4

(5 lim 𝑥 +lim 4) ∙(3 lim 𝑥 +lim 12)

 

𝑥→4 𝑥→ 4 𝑥→4 𝑥→4

¿ [ 5 ( 4 ) + 4 ] [ 3 ( 4 ) +12 ]
 

¿ [ 20 +4 ] [12 +12 ]
 

¿ [ 24 ] [24] ¿ 576
   
Theorem 6 Limit of the Quotient of Two
Functions
 
𝑖𝑓 lim 𝑓 ( 𝑥 )= 𝐿 𝑎𝑛𝑑 lim 𝑔 ( 𝑥 ) = 𝑀 ,𝑡h𝑒𝑛
𝑥 →𝑎 𝑥 →𝑎
 
lim 𝑓 (𝑥 )
𝑓 ( 𝑥) 𝑥→ 𝑎
lim =
𝑥→ 𝑎 𝑔( 𝑥 ) lim 𝑔 ( 𝑥 )
𝑥 →𝑎
 
8 lim 𝑥 +8
8 𝑥 +8 𝑥 →2
lim =
𝑥 →2 2 𝑥 + 4 2 lim 𝑥
𝑥→ 2
 
8 lim 𝑥 + 8
8 𝑥 +8 𝑥→2
lim =
𝑥 →2 2 𝑥 + 4 2 lim 𝑥 + 4
𝑥 →2

8 ( 2 )+ 8 16+ 8
   

24
 

¿ 3
 
¿ ¿ ¿
2 ( 2) + 4 4+ 4 8
 
3 𝑥 +15  

3(𝑥+5)
lim 2
𝑥 → −5 𝑥 −25 ¿
(𝑥+5)(𝑥−5)
 
3
 
lim 3
¿ ¿
𝑥 →− 5
𝑥 −5 lim 𝑥− lim 5
3 𝑥 →−5 𝑥→ −5
 

¿  
3
− 5− 5 ¿ − 10
 EVALUATE THE FOLLOWING
 
1. lim [ ( 8 𝑥 +5 ) + ( 7 𝑥 −2 ) −(10 𝑥 +3¿)] ¿
𝑥→8
 
3 𝑥+2
2. lim 2
𝑥 → 0 𝑥 −2 𝑥+ 4
2
2 𝑥 +7 𝑥 − 4
 

3. lim
𝑥→
1 4 𝑥 − 2
2
 3 2
𝑥 − 𝑥 +𝑥− 6
 

4. lim
𝑥 →2 𝑥 −2
  3
𝑥 +1
𝑥→4
(
5. lim [ ( 8 𝑥 +5 ) + ( 7 𝑥 −2 )¿ ] ( 2 𝑥+ 4 ) lim
𝑥 →− 1 𝑥+1
) ¿
 Theorem 7 Limit of the nth Root of a Function

 
𝑛=𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑔𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) ≥ 0 𝑖𝑓 𝑛 𝑖𝑠 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛

 
𝑛 𝑛
lim √ 𝑓 ( 𝑥 )=√ lim 𝑓 ( 𝑥)
𝑥→ 𝑎 𝑥 →𝑎
 lim √ 3 𝑥 3 lim 𝑥
 

𝑥→3
√ 𝑥→3
=
𝑥 √ 𝑥+1 lim 𝑥 √ lim 𝑥+ lim 1
𝑥 →3 𝑥 →3 𝑥→3
     
= = =  

=
 

=
 

=
Theorem 8 Limit of the nth power of a Function

𝑛
lim [ 𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) ]
 
=¿ ¿
𝑥→ 𝑎
 2
lim ( 𝑥 +3 𝑥+ 4)
 

𝑥 →2

2
lim 𝑥 +3 lim 𝑥 +lim 4 ¿ ¿
 

𝑥 →2 𝑥→ 2 𝑥 →2

2
2 + 3 ( 2 )+ 4
 

4 +6 +4
 

14
 
Theorem 9
 
1
lim =0
𝑥→∞ 𝑥

1 1 1 1
 

lim 3 = lim
𝑥→∞ 𝑥 𝑥→∞
∙ ∙
𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 ( )
 
1 1 1
¿ lim ∙ lim ∙ lim
𝑥→∞ 𝑥 𝑥→ ∞ 𝑥 𝑥→∞ 𝑥

¿ 0 ∙0 ∙ 0
 

¿0
 
 1 1 1
 
 
4
lim 2 =¿4 lim 2 =4 lim
𝑥→∞ 𝑥 𝑥 →∞ 𝑥 𝑥 →∞
(∙
𝑥 𝑥 )
1 1
 

¿ 4 lim ∙ lim ∙
𝑥 →∞ 𝑥 𝑥 → ∞ 𝑥

¿4∙0∙0
 

¿0
 
 𝑁 ( 𝑥)
 
Theorem 10
𝑓 ( 𝑥 )=
𝐷(𝑥 )

note  
1
lim =0
𝑥→∞ 𝑥
 3 2
4 𝑥 +3 𝑥 − 6
 
Example:
lim 3
𝑥→∞ 2 𝑥 + 5 𝑥 +3
3 2
4𝑥 3𝑥 6
 

3
+ 3
− 3
𝑥 𝑥 𝑥
lim 3
𝑥→∞ 2𝑥 5𝑥 3
3
+ 3
+ 3
𝑥 𝑥 𝑥
  
3 6
4+ −
𝑥 𝑥
3
lim
𝑥 → ∞ 5 3
2+ 2
+ 3
𝑥 𝑥
 
1 1 1 1
lim 4+3 lim
𝑥→∞ 𝑥→∞
( )
𝑥
− 6 lim(
𝑥→ ∞
∙ ∙
𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 )
1 1 1 1 1
lim 2+5 lim
𝑥 →∞ 𝑥 →∞
( ∙
𝑥 𝑥 )
+3 lim
𝑥 →∞
(
∙ ∙
𝑥 𝑥 𝑥 )
  
1 1 1 1
lim 4+3 lim −6 lim ∙ lim ∙ lim
𝑥→∞ 𝑥→∞ 𝑥 𝑥→ ∞ 𝑥 𝑥 →∞ 𝑥 𝑥→ ∞ 𝑥
1 1 1 1 1
lim 2+5 lim ∙ lim +3 lim ∙ lim lim
𝑥 →∞ 𝑥 →∞ 𝑥 𝑥→ ∞ 𝑥 𝑥→ ∞ 𝑥 𝑥 →∞ 𝑥 𝑥→ ∞ 𝑥

4 +3 ( 0 ) − 6 ( 0 ) (0 )(0)4  

¿
2)
2+5 ( 0 ) ( 0 ) +3 ( 0 ) (0)(0
 
¿2
 3 2
6 𝑥 +4 𝑥 +5
 

1. lim 3
𝑥 →∞ 8 𝑥 +7 𝑥 − 3

2
3 𝑥 + 𝑥 +2
 

2 . lim 3
𝑥→ ∞ 𝑥 +8 𝑥+1
 Determine the continuity of a function
 

at the number a if and only if the

following three conditions are satisfied:
 1. 𝑓 ( 𝑎 ) 𝑖𝑠 𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑
 

2. lim 𝑓 ( 𝑥 )𝑒𝑥𝑖𝑠𝑡
 

𝑥 →𝑎
a . lim 𝑓 ( 𝑥 )= lim
 
¿
−
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥 → 𝑎+ ¿ 𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) ¿

3 . lim 𝑓 ( 𝑥 )=𝑓 (𝑎 )
 

𝑥 →𝑎
  
√ 𝑥 +2 𝑥 <2
𝑓 = 𝑥 2 − 2 2 ≤ 𝑥<3
2 𝑥+5 𝑥 ≥ 3

2
1. 𝑓 ( 2 ) = 𝑥 −2
 

2
𝑓 ( 2 ) =2 − 2= 2
 
 2. lim 𝑓 ( 𝑥 )= lim
 
¿
−
𝑥 →𝑎 𝑥 → 𝑎 +¿ 𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) ¿

a . lim 𝑓 ( 𝑥 )= √ 2 +2= 2
 

−
𝑥→2
 
b. lim ¿
+¿ 2
𝑥 →2 𝑓 ( 𝑥 )= 2 − 2= 2 ¿
 3 . lim 𝑓 ( 𝑥 )=𝑓 (𝑎 )
 

𝑥 →𝑎

lim 𝑓 (2)=𝑓 (2)

 

𝑥 →2

3 . lim 𝑓 (2 )= 𝑓 (2 )
 

𝑥 →2
 ∴the f ( x ) is continous at 2
 
 
√ 𝑥 +2 𝑥 <2
𝑓 = 𝑥 2 − 2 2 ≤ 𝑥<3
2 𝑥+5 𝑥 ≥ 3

1. 𝑓 ( 3 ) =2 𝑥 + 5
 

𝑓 ( 3 ) =2 ( 3 ) +5= 11
 
 2. lim 𝑓 ( 𝑥 )= lim
 
¿
−
𝑥 →𝑎 𝑥 → 𝑎 +¿ 𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) ¿

2
 
a . lim 𝑓 ( 𝑥 )=3 − 2 =7
−
𝑥 →3
 
b. lim ¿
+¿
𝑥 →3 𝑓 ( 𝑥) = 2 ( 𝑥 ) + 5= 11 ¿

∴ lim 𝑓 ( 𝑥)=𝑑𝑜𝑒𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑒𝑥𝑖𝑠𝑡

 

𝑥→3
 3 . lim 𝑓 ( 𝑥 )=𝑓 (𝑎 )
 

𝑥 →𝑎

lim 𝑓 (3 )=𝑓 (11)

 

𝑥→ 3

3 . lim 𝑓 (3 )= 𝑓 (11)
 

𝑥 →3
 ∴the f ( x ) is discontinuity
 

𝑗 𝑢𝑚𝑝 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑜𝑢𝑠
 
Theorem 1 A polynomial function is
continuous at every number
 

If , then f is a polynomial function and

by Theorem1 it is continuous at every
number. In particular, because f is
continuous at 1, we have
  4 2
lim ( 5 𝑥 − 3 𝑥 + 2 𝑥 − 9 )
𝑥 →1
  4 2
5 (1 ) − 3 ( 1 ) +2 (1 ) − 9
5 − 3 +2 − 9
 

7 − 12
 

𝑓 ( 1 ) =− 5
 
Theorem 2 A rational function is
continuous at every number
in its domain
 
The domain the function
  

Theorem 3 If n is a positive integer and

Then, (i) if n is odd, f is

continuous at every number
(ii) if n is even, f is
continuous at every
nonnegative number
 

f is continuous at every
number
 

f is continuous at every
nonnegative number
 Determine the discontinuity of a function
 
3 𝑥+12 𝑥 2
− 8 𝑥+
 

15
2
𝑥 − 8 𝑥+15 ( 𝑥 − 5 ) ( 𝑥 − 3 )= 0
 

𝑥 −5=0 ; 𝑥 −3=0
 

𝑥=5 ; 𝑥=3
 
  
3 𝑥+12
∴ 𝑓 ( 𝑥 )=¿ 2
 

𝑥 − 8 𝑥+15

is discontinuity at 𝑥=5 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥=3

   
 
6 𝑥 2
𝑥 −9
 
2
𝑥 −9
( 𝑥+3 ) ( 𝑥 − 3 )= 0
 

𝑥+3=0 ; 𝑥 −3=0
 

𝑥 =± 3
 
 
1  
𝑥
2 −8
𝑥
2 −8  
𝑥
2 − 8 =0
𝑥
2 =8
 

𝑥 3
2 =2
 

𝑥 =3