MODULE 3

BASIC CALCULUS

Module Content

In this lesson, we will illustrate how to use these limit theorems to evaluate the limits of polynomial,
rational and radical functions. We start with evaluating the limits of polynomial functions.

Example 1: Determine lim (5 x +1)

x →1

Solution: Applying the given theorems,

lim (5 x +1)=lim 5 x +lim 1 Addition

x →1 x→ 1 x→ 1

¿ 5 lim x +1 Constant Multiple

x→ 1

¿ 5 ( 1 ) +1 lim x=c
x →c

¿6

Therefore,

lim (5 x +1)=6
x →1

x
Example 2: Evaluate lim
x →2 x−3

lim x
x x →2 2
Solution: lim = = =−2 Division
x →2 x−3 lim x−3 −1
x →2

Therefore,

x
lim =−2
x →2 x−3
3 2
Example 3: Determine lim (4 x −3 x +1)
x→−1

Solution: Applying the given theorems,

3 2 3 2
lim (4 x −3 x +1)= lim 4 x − lim 3 x + lim 1 Addition
x→−1 x →−1 x →−1 x→−1

3 2
¿ 4 lim x −3 lim x + 1 Constant Multiple
x →−1 x→−1

3 2
¿ 4 (−1) −3 (−1 ) +1 Power

¿−6

Therefore,
3 2
lim (4 x −3 x +1)=−6
x→−1

3 x −1
Example 4: Evaluate lim 2
x→−1 9 x +5 x−2

lim (3 x−1)
3 x −1 x →−1
Solution: lim 2
= 2
x→−1 9 x +5 x−2 lim (9 x +5 x−2)
x →−1
 lim ( 3 x ) − lim 1
x →−1 x →−1
¿ Addition
lim (9 x ¿¿ 2)+ lim (5 x )− lim 2¿
x →−1 x →−1 x →−1

3 lim x− lim 1
x→−1 x→−1
¿ 2
¿ Constant Multiple
9 lim x +5 lim x − lim 2 ¿
x →−1 x →−1 x →−1

3 lim x− lim 1
x →−1 x →−1
¿ 2
¿ Power
9( lim x) +5 lim x− lim 2¿
x→−1 x →−1 x →−1

3 (−1 )−1 −4
¿ = =−2
9(−1) + 5 (−1 )−2 2
2

Therefore,

3 x −1
lim 2
=−2.
x→−1 9 x +5 x−2

Example 5: Evaluate lim √ x +16

x →0

Solution:
x →0
√
lim √ x +16= lim √ x +16
x→0
Radical/ Root rule

√
¿ lim x +16
x→ 0

¿ √ 0+16=√ 16=4

Therefore,

lim √ x +16=4
x →0

Example 6: Evaluate
lim
1
√ 9+4 x 2
x→−
2

Solution:
lim
x→−
1
2
√ √ 1
9+4 x 2= lim ¿ ¿
x→−
2
Radical/ Root Rule

√
2
¿ lim 9+4 lim x
1 1
x →− x→−
2 2

√ ( )
2
¿ lim 9+4 lim x
1 1
x →− x→−
2 2

√ ( )
2
−1
¿ 9+ 4
2

¿ √ 10

Therefore,
lim
1
√ 9+4 x 2= √10
x→−
2