LIMITS

LIMITS OF FUNCTION
Limit of a Function
Let f be a function and let a and L be real numbers.
L is the limit of f(x) as x approaches a, written
lim f ( x) L,
xa
if the following conditions are met.
1. As x assumes values closer and closer (but not equal )
to a on both sides of a, the corresponding values of f(x)
get closer and closer (and are perhaps equal) to L.
2. The value of f(x) can be made as close to L as desired
by taking values of x arbitrarily close to a.
EXAMPLE: FINDING THE LIMIT OF A POLYNOMIAL FUNCTION

Find lim ( x 2 3x 4)
x 1

Solution:
x approaches 1
Left side Right side

x .9 .99 .999 1.001 1.01 1.1
f(x) 2.11 2.0101 2.001 1.999 1.9901 1.91

f(x) approaches 2
The values of f(x) get closer and closer to 1 as x gets
closer and closer to 2.

Hence
lim ( x 2 3x 4) 2
x 1
EXAMPLE:
Use numerical evidence to make a conjecture about the value of f(x) as x approach to 2
x2 4
f ( x)
x2
Solution:
Use numerical method
Left side Right side
2
x 1.9 1.99 1.999 2.001 2.01 2.1
f(x) 3.9 3.99 3.999 4.001 4.01 4.1

The values of f(x) get closer and closer to 4 as x gets closer and
closer to 2.

We say that

is not defined at x = 2, so its x2 4

the limit of as x approaches 2 equals 4
graph has a hole at x = 2. x2

and write x2 4
lim 4.
x 2 x 2
Example : Find lim f ( x) where
x 3

2 x 1 if x 3
f ( x) .
4 x 5 if x 3

x 2.9 2.99 2.999 3.001 3.01 3.1

f(x) 6.8 6.98 6.998 7.004 7.04 7.4

The values of f(x) get closer and closer to 7 as x gets

closer and closer to 3.

Hence lim f ( x) 7
x 3
One-sided limits
Only look for limit at one side of the point.

Right-handed
Left-handed
f ( x)
lim f ( x) L
lim f ( x) L x a
x a L

a
x approaches a from x approaches a from
left hand side. right hand side.
Two-sided limits

-Requires value of limits from both sides.

-The limit of function f(x) exist at a if and only if the value of

f(x) must approach to same real number L as x approaches a
from the left or right

lim f ( x) lim f ( x) L
x a x a
Then,
lim f ( x) L
x a
EXAMPLE:
Sketch f(x) and find xlim
f ( x) , lim f ( x) and lim f ( x) where
2 x 2 x2

x 6 if x 2
5 if x 2
f ( x)
1 x 2 if x 2
2
Solution

1
f ( x) use the formula f ( x) x
2
Since x > 2 in xlim
2
2
In the limit lim f ( x)
x 2
, where x < 2, use f(x) = x + 6.

x 2 2
1 2 1 2
lim f ( x) lim
x2 x 2 2 2

lim f ( x) lim ( x 6) 2 6 8
x 2 x2

lim f ( x) does not exist

x2
Rules for Limits
1. Constant rule If k is a constant real number, lim k k .
x a

2. Limit of x rule lim x a .

xa
For the following rules, we assume that lim f ( x) and lim g ( x) both exist
x a x a
3. Sum and difference rules

lim[ f ( x) g ( x)] lim f ( x) lim g ( x).

xa xa xa

4. Product rule
lim[ f ( x) g ( x)] lim f ( x) lim g ( x).
xa xa xa

5. Quotient rule
f ( x) lim f ( x)
lim x a
. provided lim g ( x) 0
x a g ( x) lim g ( x) x a
x a
Rules for Limits
6. Polynomial rule If p(x) defines a polynomial function, then
lim p( x) p(a).
xa

7. Rational function rule

p ( x)
If f ( x) defines as a rational function with q( x) 0, then
q ( x)
lim f ( x) f (a)
x a

8. Power rule For any real number k

k
lim[ f ( x)] lim f ( x)
k
x a x a
EXAMPLE
Find lim (3 2 x)
x 4

Solution
lim (3 2 x) lim 3 lim 2 x Constant rule and sum rule
x 4 x 4 x 4

3 lim 2 lim x Product rule

x 4 x 4

3 2 4

11
EXAMPLE
5x 3
Find lim 2
x 2 x 2

Solution

5 x 3 lim 5x 3
lim 2 x 2 2 Quotient rule
x 2 x 2 lim x 2
x 2

5 lim x lim 3 Difference rule

x 2 x 2
lim x. lim x lim 2 Product rule
x 2 x 2 x 2 Constant rule

7

2
TECHNIQUES OF COMPUTING LIMITS
Polynomial functions

Limits at a point Limits at infinity

Let f (x) is polynomial function Let f (x) is polynomial function
f ( x) c0 c1 x c2 x 2 ... cn x n f ( x) c0 c1 x c2 x 2 ... cn x n

Then, Then,
lim f ( x) f (a) lim f ( x) depends on the highest
x a x
degree term.
EXAMPLE:
Find (a) lim 2 x 9 x (b) lim x 3x
5 3 6
x 2 x
 Rational functions
Limits at a point
Let f (x) is rational function
n( x) , with d(x) and n(x) polynomial function
f ( x)
d ( x)
Then,
n(a) ,with d (a) . 0 lim f ( x) f (a)
lim f ( x) x a
x a d (a)

But how if d (a) 0 ???

1 Case n(a) 0 lim f ( x) does not exist.
x a
0 , factor d(x) and n(x) then
2 Case n( a ) 0 lim f ( x)
x a 0
cancel out.
Rational functions
Limits at a point

Example
x 9 x3
lim
x 1 4x

3u 2 u
lim
u 2 2 u

x2 2x 3
lim 2
x 1 x 3 x 2
 Rational functions
Limits at infinity

Let f (x) is rational function

n( x )
f ( x)
d ( x)
Then,
lim f ( x) Step 1 Factor out the highest degree of d(x)
x
Step 2 Cancel it out
Step 3 Substitute to find the answer
Rational functions
Limits at a infinity

Example

2 x2 1
lim 5
x 4 x 5 x 4 x 3 2 x 2

x2
lim
x 3 x 13
Radical functions, (function involve n )
Limits at a point
Let f (x) is radical function
m( x )
f ( x) , with e(x) and m(x) radical function
e( x )
Rationalize??
m( a ) For a b
lim f ( x) ,with e(a.) 0 then rationalize it
x a e( a ) ( a b)( a b)
But how if e(a) 0 ??? a b2

1 Case m(a) 0 lim f ( x) does not exist.

x a
0
2 Case m(a) 0 lim f ( x) , rationalize e (x) or m (x)
x a 0
Radical functions
Limits at a point

Example

3t 1
lim
t 3 1 t

x 1
lim
x 1 x 1

4 x
lim
x 4 2 x
Limits at infinity
Let f (x) is radical function
m( x )
f ( x)
e( x )

Case 1 Case 3
f (x) can be rationalize f (x) cant be rationalize
Rationalize m (x) or e (x) Step 1 Factor out the highest degree of e(x)

Step 2 Cancel it out

Case 2
f (x) with e (x) = 1 Step 3 Substitute x to find the answer
Rationalize m (x)
Radical functions
Limits at a point

Example

2 x 8
lim
x 2 x

lim x 6 6 x 3 x 3
x