2/4/25, 3:02 PM Limit and its relation with differentiation

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Limit and Its Relation to Differentiation

2.1 Limit and Its Relation to Differentiation

Definition of Limit

When x approaches a, where x  a, the limit for f (x) is L can be written as limx→a f (x) = L.
=​ ​

Methods to Determine the Limit

To find the limit value of a function f (x), we substitute x = a directly into the function f (x).

Condition Method

0
f (a) =
 The value of limx→a f (x) can be obtained, that is limx→a f (x) = f (a).
0
​ ​
​ ​

Determine limx→a f (x) by using the following methods:

​

0
f (a) = Factorisation,
0
​

Rationalising the numerator or denominator of the function.

Definition of Tangent

A tangent to a curve at a point is a straight line that touches the curve at only that point.

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2/4/25, 3:02 PM Limit and its relation with differentiation

Gradient of Tangent

Figure

Formula
Based on the graph above, the line AT is a tangent to the curve y = x2 at the point A:
y2 − y1
Gradient of tangent AT = .
​ ​

x2 − x1
​

​ ​

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2/4/25, 3:02 PM Limit and its relation with differentiation

Determining Gradients Using Limit

Figure

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2/4/25, 3:02 PM Limit and its relation with differentiation

Description
Based on the graph above, the gradient of the line BC can be calculated as follows:
Gradient of the line BC
CD
= ​

BD
(y − δy) − y
=
​ ​

(x + δx) − x
​

δy
= . ​

δx

For the curve y = f (x), the gradient function of the tangent at any point can be obtained using the following formula:
Gradient of the curve at B
= Gradient of tangent BT
​ ​

δy
= lim . ​ ​

δx→0 δx

δy dy
limδx→0 is the first derivatives of the function and is written with the symbol
​ ​ . ​

δx dx
dy
The gradient function is known as differentiation using first principles.
​

dx
It can be use to find the gradient of a tangent of a curve y = f (x) at a point (x, f (x)),
dy δy
= lim ​ ​ ​

dx δx→0 δx
​ ​

f (x + δx) − f (x)
= lim ​ . ​

δx→0 δx

Example 1

Question
Determine the limit value for each of the following functions:

3− x
(a) limx→4 ,
​

x+2
​ ​

x2 − 1
(b) limx→1 .
x−1
​ ​

Solution
(a)

Use direct substitution.

3− x 3− 4
lim =
​ ​

x→4 x + 2 4+2
​ ​ ​

3−2
=
4+2
​ ​ ​

1
= .
6
​

(b)

x2 − 1 0
When x = 1, limx→1 is in the indeterminate form, .
x−1 0
​ ​ ​

Thus, we need to factorise and eliminate the common factor before we can use direct substitution.

x2 − 1 (x + 1)(x − 1)
lim = lim
x→1 x − 1 x−1
​ ​ ​ ​

x→1

= lim (x + 1) ​

​
x→1 ​

=1+1
= 2.

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2/4/25, 3:02 PM Limit and its relation with differentiation

Example 2

Question
dy
Find by using first principle for each of the following functions y = f (x).
dx
​

(a) y = 3x,
(b) y = 3x2 .

Solution
(a)

Given y = f (x) = 3x,

δy = f (x + δx) − f (x)
= 3(x + δx) − 3x
= 3x + 3δx − 3x
​ ​

= 3δx
δy
= 3.
δx
​

Hence,

dy δy
= lim​ ​ ​

dx δx→0 δx

= lim 3 ​
​

δx→0

= 3.

(b)

Given y = f (x) = 3x2 ,

δy = f (x + δx) − f (x)
= 3(x + δx)2 − 3x2
= 3[x2 + 2x(δx) + (δx)2 ] − 3x2
​

= 3x2 + 6x(δx) + 3(δx)2 − 3x2 ​

= 6x(δx) + 3(δx)2
δy
= 6x + 3δx.
δx
​

Hence,

dy δy
= lim​ ​ ​

dx δx→0 δx

= lim (6x + 3δx)

​

​ δx→0 ​

= 6x + 3(0)
= 6x.

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