EXTENSION MATERIAL

7 An algebraic look at limits

Try this worksheet after you have completed section 7.1

Section 7.1 examined the concept of the limit of a function graphically and by using
tables of values. This worksheet looks at finding some limits algebraically, using limit
properties.
We know that lim
x →c
f ( x ) does not depend on the value of f at x = c. However, for some
well-behaved functions lim f ( x ) = f (c ) . In this case the limit may be found by direct
x →c

substitution, that is by evaluating f at c.

Basic limit properties

Let b and c be real numbers and let n be a positive integer.
1 lim
x →c
b =b The limit of the constant function f (x) = b as x approaches c is b.
2 lim x = c The limit of the identify function f (x) = x as x approaches c is c.
x →c

3 lim
x →c
x =c
n n
The limit of f (x) = x n where n is a positive integer, as x approaches c
can be found by using direct substitution.

EXAMPLE 1
Find each limit.
a lim 2 b lim x c lim x2
x →4 x →−3 x →3

Answers
a lim
x →4
2=2 by Property 1
b lim
x →−3
x = −3 by Property 2
c lim
x →3
x 2 = 32 = 9 by Property 3

More limit properties

Let b and c be real numbers and let n be a positive integer. Let lim
x →c
f ( x ) = L and
lim
x →c
g(x ) = M .

4 lim ⎡⎣bf ( x )⎤⎦ = bL The limit of a constant times a function is the

x →c
constant times the limit of the function.
5 lim ⎡⎣ f ( x ) ± g ( x )⎤⎦ = L ± M The limit of a sum (or difference) is the sum
x →c
(or difference) of the limits.
6 lim ⎡⎣ f ( x ) g ( x ) ⎤⎦ = LM The limit of a product is the product of the limits.
x →c

⎡ f (x ) ⎤ L
7 lim ⎢ ⎥ = , if M ≠ 0 The limit of a quotient is the quotient of the limits, if
x →c
⎣ g(x ) ⎦ M
the denominator does not equal 0.

© Oxford University Press 2012: this may be reproduced for class use solely for the purchaser’s institute Extension worksheet 1
 EXTENSION MATERIAL

EXAMPLE 2
Find each limit.
2x
a lim ( 3x 2 − 2 ) b lim
x →2 x →−1 x +3

Answers
a lim
x →2
(3x 2 − 2) = lim
x →2
3x 2 − lim
x →2
2 (by Property 5)
= 3 lim
x →2
x − lim
x →2
2
2 (by Property 4)
= 3(2 ) − 2 2
(by Properties 3 and 1)
= 10 (simplify)

2x lim 2 x
b lim = x →−1 (by Property 7)
x →−1 x + 3 lim( x + 3)
x →−1

2 lim x (by Property 4)

= x →−1
lim x + lim 3 (by Property 5)
x →−1 x →−1

2 ( −1) (by Property 2)

=
−1 + 3 (by Properties 2 and 1)
= −1 (simplify)

These examples show that you can use direct substitution to find limits of polynomials
and limits of rational functions that do not lead to zero.
For example:

lim (3x 2 − 2 ) = 3( 22 ) − 2 = 10 and lim

2x
= 2(−1) = −1.
x →2 x →−1 x + 3 −1 + 3
Sometimes when direct substitution leads to a zero in the denominator of a rational
function, you can factorize and then rewrite the function. You can then use direct
substitution.

EXAMPLE 3
x −2
Find lim
x →2 x2 − 4

Answer
x −2
lim Direct substitution leads to 0 in the
x →2 x2 − 4
denominator
x −2 x −2 1 1 1
lim = lim = lim = = Factorize the denominator, simplify and
x →2 x2 − 4 x →2 ( x − 2)( x + 2) x →2 x +2 2+2 4
then substitute

Exercise
Find each limit. Show how the properties verify that direct substitution leads to the limit.
x +2
1 lim x 2 lim 3 lim ( 2 x 2 + x − 1) Simplify first where necessary.
x →−4 x →1 x −5 x →2

x − 4x + 4
2
4 lim 5 lim 5 6 lim 3x
x →2 x −2 x →6 x →−2

x −3 x −x −6
2
⎡ ( x 2 − 3)( x + 4 ) ⎤⎦
7 lim 8 lim 9 lim
x →3 ⎣
x →3 x + 3 x →−2 x 2 + 6x + 8

© Oxford University Press 2012: this may be reproduced for class use solely for the purchaser’s institute Extension worksheet 2
 EXTENSION MATERIAL

Chapter 7 extension worked solutions

Exercise
1 lim
x →−4
x = −4 ( by Property 2)

x +2 lim( x + 2)
2 lim = x →1
(by Property 7)
x →1 x −5 lim( x − 5)
x →1

lim x + lim 2
x →1 x →1
= (by Property 5)
lim x − lim 5
x →1 x →1

=1+ 2 (by Propertiees 2 and 1)

1−5

= −3 (simplify)
4

3 lim
x →2
( 2x 2 + x − 1) = lim
x →2
2 x 2 + lim x − lim
x →2
1 (by Property 5)
x →2

= 2 lxim
→2
x 2 + lim
x →2
x − lim
x →2
1 (by Property 4)
= 2(22 ) + 2 − 1 (by Propeerties 3, 2 and 1)
=9 (simplify)

x 2 − 4x + 4 ( x − 2) 2
4 lim = lim (direct substitution leads to 0 in denominator; factor)
x →2 x −2 x →2 x −2
= lim
x →2
( x − 2) (simplify)
= lim
x →2
x − lim
x →2
2 (by Property 5)
=2−2 (by Properties 2 and 1)
=0 (simplify)

5 lim
x →6
5 = 5 (by Property 1)

6 lim
x →−2
3x = 3 lim
x →−2
x (by Property 4)
= 3(−2) (by Property 2)
= −6 (simplify)

x −3 lim( x − 3)
7 lim = x →3
(by Property 7)
x →3 x +3 lim( x + 3)
x →3

lim x − lim 3
= x →3 x →3
(by Property 5)
lim x + lim 3
x →3 x →3

3−3
= (by Propertiees 2 and 1
3+3
=0 (simplify)
2
x x 6 ( x  3)( x  2) (direct substitution leads to 0 in denominator; factor)
8 lim 2
lim
x o2 x  6x  8 x o2 ( x  4)( x  2)

x −3
= lim (simplify)
x →−2 x+4
lim( x − 3)
= x →−2 (by Property 7)
lim( x + 4 )
x →−2

lim x − lim 3
= x →−2 x →−2 (by Property 5)
lim x + lim 4
x →−2 x →−2

−2 − 3
= (by Properties 2 and 1)
−2 + 4
5 (simplify)
=
2

9 lim ⎡( x 2 − 3)( x + 4 )⎤⎦ = lim( x 2 − 3)lim( x + 4 ) (by Property 6)

x →3 ⎣ x →3 x →3

= ⎡⎣ lim
x →3
x 2 − lim
x →3
3⎤⎦ ⎡⎣ lim
x →3
x + lim
x →3
4 ⎤⎦ (by Property 5)
= ⎡⎣3 − 3⎤⎦ ⎡⎣3 + 4 ⎤⎦
2
(by Properties 3,1, 2 and 1)
= 42 (simplify)

© Oxford University Press 2012: this may be reproduced for class use solely for the purchaser’s institute Extension worksheet 3