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Limits

Update: We now have much more

interactive ways for you to learn about the

foundational concept of Limits, making

heavy use of Desmos graphing calculators

so you can work with these ideas for

yourself, and develop your problem

solving skills step-by-step. Please visit our

Limits Chapter to really get this material

down.

It’s all free, and waiting for you! (Why? Just

because we’re educators who believe you

deserve the chance to develop a better

understanding of Calculus for yourself,

and so we’re aiming to provide that. We

hope you’ll take advantage!)

You probably already understand the basics of

what a limit is, and how to Jnd one by looking

at the graph of a function. So we're going to

jump right into where most students initially

have some trouble: how to actually compute a

limit in homework and exam problems. We'll

illustrate the six tactics you must know, and

then let you practice each.

1. Substitution

2. Factoring

3. Conjugates

4. Use Algebra

5. Trig Functions

If you get these down, you'll be able to easily

solve almost any problem you're given.

(Problems where x → ∞ deserve their own

topic: Limits at InJnity

InJnity.)

Limits Tactic #1Y Substitution

This is the Jrst thing you should always

try: just plug the value of x into f(x). If you
obtain a number (and in particular, if you
0
don't get ), you have your answer and
0
are Jnished. In that case, these problems
are completely straightforward.

Example
Example.
Find lim (x3 − 5x + 7).
x→2

Solution.

lim (x3 − 5x + 7) = (2)3 − 5(2) + 7

x→2
= 8 − 10 + 7 = 5 ✓

Practice this (simple!) tactic in the next

few problems. The solutions are
immediately available using the
Show/Hide Solution toggle. #5
illustrates an important point.

Limits: Substitution Practice —

#1

Find lim (x3 + 4).

x→−2

(A) − 4 (B) 12 (C) − 12 (D)

✓
A B C D E

Reset question

 Show/Hide Solution

lim (x3 + 4) = (−2)3 + 4

x→−2

= −8 + 4
= −4 ⟹ (A) ✓

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[hide solution]

Limits: Substitution Practice —

#2

Find lim √9 + √4x.

x→4

(A) √13 (B) √11 (C) 5 (D) D

✓
A B C D E

Reset question

 Show/Hide Solution

lim √9 + √4x = √9 + √4(4)

x→4

= √9 + √16 = √9 +

= √13 ⟹ (A) ✓

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Limits: Substitution Practice —

#3

Find lim √
3 x−7
.
x→−1 x + 28
 Show/Hide Solution

=√
(−1) − 7
lim √
3 x−7 3

x→−1 x + 28 (−1) + 28

=√
3 −8
27
−2
= ✓
3

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Limits: Substitution Practice —

#4

ln x
Find lim .
x→1 x

(A) 1 (B) e (C) 0 (D) DNE

✓
A B C D E

Reset question

 Show/Hide Solution

ln x ln(1)
lim =
x→1 x 1

0
=
1

=0 ⟹ (C) ✓

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Limits: Substitution Practice —

#5

3
Find lim .
x→1 x − 1
 Show/Hide Solution

Answer: This limit does not exist.

3 3 3
lim = =
x→1 x−1 1−1 0

Because this limit is in the form

a non-zero number 3
, speciJcally ,
0 0
the function “blows up,” as the graph
shows:

40

1(2)=2,
20

-20

-40

As x → 1− from the left, the curve

heads down toward −∞. And as
x → 1+ from the right, the curve
heads up toward ∞. Hence this limit
does not exist. ✓

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TIP

As the preceding problem

illustrates, when you substitute the

limit-value into the function, if you obtain

a non-zero number , then you know
0
immediately that the limit does not exist

(DNE):

a non-zero number
If lim f(x) = ,
x→a 0
then the limit does not exist (DNE).

Limits: Substitution Practice —

#6

Find lim cos x.

x→π/2

1
(A) 1 (B) 0 (C) (D) DNE
√2
✓
A B C D E

Reset question

 Show/Hide Solution

π
Recall that cos ( ) = 0. Hence
2
π
lim cos x = cos ( )
x→π/2 2

=0 ⟹ (B) ✓

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Limits: Substitution Practice —

#7

Find lim sin x.

x→π/4

 Show/Hide Solution

1 √2
Answer: or . The answers
√2 2
are equivalent and both are correct.

π 1
Recall that sin ( )= . Hence
2 √2
π
lim sin x = sin ( )
x→π/4 2

1
= ✓
√2

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Limits: Substitution Practice —

#8

Find lim tan x.

x→−π/4

 Show/Hide Solution

Answer: −1

π
Recall that tan (− ) = −1. Hence
4
π
lim tan x = tan (− )
x→−π/4 4

= −1

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Limits Tactic #2Y Factoring

Frequently (on homework and exams,

anyway) when you try Substitution, you
0
obtain the fraction . When this
0
happens, if you can factor the numerator
and/or the denominator, do so. A
common term will cancel, removing the
problematic 0 in the denominator.
x2 − 4
Example. Find lim
Guaranteed. Example .
x→2 x − 2
Solution. We Jrst try substitution:

x2 − 4 22 − 4 0
lim = =
x→2 x − 2 2−2 0
0
Because this limit is in the form of , it
0
is "indeterminate"—we don't yet know
what it is. So let's factor the numerator:

x2 − 4 22 − 4 0
lim = =
x→2 x − 2 2−2 0
0
Because this limit is in the form of , it
0
is "indeterminate"—we don't yet know
what it is. So let's factor the numerator:

x2 − 4 (x + 2
lim = lim
x→2 x − 2 x→2 x

Ah, now we can cancel the problematic t

(x + 2
= lim
x→2 x

= lim (x + 2)
x→2

And now easy Substitution to f inish:

=2+2=4

Practice the tactic of factoring to Jnd the

limit in the next few problems. These are
straightforward once you learn to
recognize what to do. Note: Every
Calculus exam on limits that we've ever
seen has at least one problem that
requires this tactic.

Limits: Factoring Practice — #1

x−3
lim
x→3 x2 − 9
 Show/Hide Solution

1
Answer:
6

We always Jrst try Substitution:

x−3 3−3 0
lim = =
x→3 x2 − 9 9−9 0
0
Because this limit is in the form of ,
0
it is “indeterminate”—we don’t know
what it actually equals. So we have
more work to do.

The Jrst thing you should always try

when hitting such an indeterminate
limit is to factor the numerator or
denominator, and see if common term
cancels. In this case we can factor the
denominator:

x−3 (x − 3)
lim = lim
x→3 x2 − 9 x→3 (x − 3)(x + 3)

(x − 3)
= lim
x→3 (x − 3) (x + 3)

1
= lim
x→3 x+3

1 1
= = ✓
3+3 6

This function thus has the same graph

1
as y = , except that there is a
x+3
hole at x = 3 where our function is
undeJned. See the graph.
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Limits: Factoring Practice — #2

x−5
Find lim .
x→5 2
x − 25
1 1
(A) 10 (B) −(C) − (D
10 10
✓
A B C D E

Reset question

 Show/Hide Solution

We Jrst try substitution:

x−5 ? 5−5 0
lim = 2 =
x→5 x2 − 25 5 − 25 0
0
Because this limit is in the form of ,
0
it is indeterminate—we don’t yet know
what it is. So let’s factor the
denominator:

x−5 x−5
lim = lim
x→5 x2 − 25 x→5 (x + 5)(x − 5)

x−5
= lim
x→5 (x + 5) (x − 5)
1
= lim
x→5 x+5
1 1
= = ⟹ (
5+5 10

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Limits: Factoring Practice — #3

x2 − 9
Find lim .
x→−3 x + 3

(A) 6 (B) − 3 (C) − 6 (D) 3

✓
A B C D E

Reset question

 Show/Hide Solution

We Jrst try substitution:

2
x2 − 9 ? (−3) –9 0
lim = =
x→−3 x + 3 (−3) + 3 0
0
Because this limit is in the form of ,
0
it is indeterminate—we don’t yet know
what it is. So let’s factor the
numerator:

x2 − 9 (x + 3)(x − 3)
lim = lim
x→−3 x + 3 x→−3 (x + 3)

(x + 3) (x − 3)
= lim
x→−3 (x + 3)

= lim (x − 3)
x→−3

= (−3) − 3 = −6 (C)

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Buy us a coffee

Limits: Factoring Practice — #4

x2 − 16
Find lim .
x→−4 x − 4

 Show/Hide Solution

Answer: 0

This is a little bit of a “trick question”

since it’s listed as “Factoring Practice,”
but in fact we don’t have to factor to
Jnd the answer. Instead, simple
Substitution sufJces:

x2 − 16 (−4)2 − 16 16–16
i
lm = =
x→−4 x − 4 (−4) − 4 −8

That’s it; that’s the answer: 0.

The problem looks like it requires
factoring, and factoring the
numerator, canceling, and then
substituting also leads to the correct
answer of 0 . . . but we think it’s best to
avoid taking extra steps when you
don’t need to, since you risk making a
simple algebra mistake that leads to a
wrong answer when you do so. So
remember: always try Substitution
Jrst!

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Limits: Factoring Practice — #5

x2 + 4x − 5
Find lim .
x→1 x2 − 1
(A) 6 (B) 3 (C) − 3 (D) − 6
✓
A B C D E

Reset question

 Show/Hide Solution

We Jrst try substitution:

x2 + 4x − 5 ? 1 + 4(1)–5 0
lim = =
x→1 x2–1 1−1 0
0
Because this limit is in the form of ,
0
it is indeterminate—we don’t yet know
what it is. So let’s factor the numerator
and the denominator:

x2 + 4x − 5 (x + 5)(x − 1)
lim = lim
x→1 x2–1 x→1 (x − 1)(x + 1)

(x + 5) (x − 1
= lim
x→1 (x − 1) (x + 1

x+5
= lim
x→1 x+1
1+5 6
= =
1+1 2
=3 ⟹ (B) ✓

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Limits: Factoring Practice — #6

3x3 − 4x
Find lim .
x→0 7x3 + 5x

4 1 3
(A ) − (B) − (C) (D
5 12 7
✓
A B C D E

Reset question

 Show/Hide Solution

We Jrst try substitution:

3x3 − 4x ? 0–0 0
lim = =
x→0 7x3 + 5x 0+0 0
0
Because this limit is in the form of ,
0
it is indeterminate—we don’t yet know
what it is. We notice that every term
has an x in it, so let’s factor that out:

3x3 − 4x x(3x2 − 4)
lim = lim
x→0 7x3 + 5x x→0 x(7x2 + 5)

x (3x2 − 4)
= lim
x→0 x (7x2 + 5)

(3x2 − 4)
= lim
x→0 (7x2 + 5)

(0 − 4)
=
(0 + 5 )

4
=− ⟹ (A) ✓
5

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Limits: Factoring Practice — #7

3x − 1
Find lim .
x→1/3 1 − 9x2

1 1 1
(A) − (B) (C) − (D
3 2 2
✓
A B C D E

Reset question

 Show/Hide Solution

We Jrst try substitution:

1
3( ) − 1
3x–1 ? 3 1−1
lim = =
1–9x2 1 2 1−1
1–9( )
x→1/3

0
Because this limit is in the form , it is
0
indeterminiate—we don’t yet know
what it is. So let’s factor the
denominator:

3x–1 3x–1
lim = lim
x→1/3 1–9x2 x→1/3 (1 − 3x)(1 + 3x)

−(1 − 3x)
= lim
x→1/3 (1 − 3x)(1 + 3x

− (1 − 3x)
= lim
x→1/3 (1 − 3x) (1 + 3x

−1
= lim
x→1/3 1 + 3x

−1 −1
= =
1 1+1
1 + 3( )
3

1
=− ⟹ (C) ✓
2

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Limits: Factoring Practice — #8

x2 − 2x + 5
Find lim .
x→3 x− 3
 Show/Hide Solution

Limits: Factoring Practice — #9

x−2
Find lim 3 .
x→2 x − 8

Hint: Factor a cubic

1 1 1 1
(A) (B) (C) (D)
16 8 4 12
✓
A B C D E

Reset question

 Show/Hide Solution

We Jrst try substitution:

x−2 ? 2−2 0
lim 3 = 3 =
x→2 x –8 2 −8 0
0
Because this limit is in the form of ,
0
it is indeterminate—we don’t yet know
what it is. So we factor the
denominator:

x−2 x−2
lim = li m
x→2 x3–8 x→2 (x − 2)(x2 + 2x + 4)

x−2
= lim
x→2 (x − 2) (x2 + 2x + 4

1
= lim
x→2 (x2 + 2x + 4)

1 1
= =
2 2 + 2 (2 ) + 4 4+4+

1
= ⟹ (D) ✓
12

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Limits: Factoring Practice — #10

[Challenging] For what value of k does

x2 − 2x + k
lim exist?
x→3 x−3

Open for hint.

 Show/Hide Solution

Answer: k = −3

We see immediately that Substition

x = 3 will yield 0 in the denominator.
And we know that if Substitition yields
a nonzero number
, then the limit
0
does not exist, contrary to the
requirements here.

Hence the numerator must equal zero

when we substitute x = 3, such that
Substition yields the indeterminate
0
result . We thus know that
0
lim [x2–2x + k] = 0
x→3

32 − 2(3) + k = 0

9−6+k=0

3+k=0

k = −3 ✓

Let’s double-check our answer by

treating this as a new problem that
asks us to Jnd the limit with k = −3.
That is, imagine we have a new
problem that asks us to Jnd
x2 − 2x − 3
lim . As usual to proceed
x→3 x− 3
we factor the numerator:

x2 − 2x − 3 (x − 3)(x + 1)
lim = lim
x→3 x−3 x→3 x−3

(x − 3) (x + 1
= lim
x→3 x−3

= lim (x + 1) = 4
x→3

The exact limit there doesn’t matter;

the key point is that with k = −3, the
limit exists because the x − 3 in the
denominator canceled. And that’s
what the problem demanded. ✓

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Limits Tactic #3Y Conjugates

If you try Substitution and obtain the

0
fraction and the expression has a
0
square root in it, then rationalize the
expression just like you practiced in
Algebra. That is, multiply the numerator
and the denominator by the conjugate of
the part that has the square root. The
following example illustrates.

√x + 5 − √5
Example
Example. Find lim .
x→0 x

Solution. As always, we Jrst try

Substitution:

√x + 5 − √5 √5 − √5 0
lim = =
x→0 x 0 0
0
Since this limit is in the form of , it is
0
indeterminate—we don't yet know what it
is. We have more work to do.

So let's try to rationalize the expression.

The square-root part is √x + 5 − √5, so
we multiply both the numerator and the
denominator by the conjugate
√x + 5 + √5
= 1:
√x + 5 + √5

√x + 5 − √5 √x + 5 + √5
= lim ⋅
x→0 x √x + 5 + √5

√ x + 5 √ x + 5 + √ x + 5 √ 5 − √ 5√
= lim
x→0 x [√ x + 5 + √ 5 ]

√ x + 5√ x + 5 + √ x + 5√ 5 − √
= lim
x→0 x[√x + 5 + √5]

(x + 5) − 5
= lim
x→0 x[√x + 5 + √5]
x
= lim
x→0 x[√x + 5 + √5]

x
= lim
x→0 x [√ x + 5 + √ 5 ]

1
= lim
x→0 √x + 5 + √5
1 1
= = ✓
√0 + 5 + √5 2√5

Notice that when we multiplied by

the conjugate, we multiplied out all
of the terms in the numerator, because
that's how we get rid of the square root.
But we didn't multiply the terms in the
denominator; instead we kept writing it as
x (√x + 5 + √5). That's because a few
steps later the x canceled. Something
similar will always happen, so in that early
step don't multiply out the part that you
didn't set out to rationalize. Instead just
carry those terms along for a while, until
you can cancel something.

Limits: Conjugates Practice — #1

x−9
Find lim .
x→9 √x − 3
 Show/Hide Solution

Answer: 6

We Jrst try substitution:

x−9 9−9 0
lim = =
x→9 √x − 3 3−3 0

0
Since this limit is in the form , it is
0
indeterminate and tells us only that we
have more work to do.

So let’s rationalize the denominator by

using the usual approach of
multiplying by its conjugate
√x + 3
=1:
√x + 3

x−9 x−9 √x +
lim = lim ( )(
x→9 √x − 3 x→9 √x − 3 √x +

(x − 9)(√x + 3)
= lim
x→9 (x–9)

(x − 9) (√x + 3)
= lim
x→9 (x–9)

= lim √x + 3
x→9

= √9 + 3 = 6 ✓

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[hide solution]

Limits: Conjugates Practice — #2

√x − 1
Find lim .
x→1 x−1
 Show/Hide Solution

1
Answer:
2

We Jrst try Substitution:

√x − 1 √1 − 1 0
lim = =
x→1 x−1 1−1 0
0
Since this limit is in the form of it
0
is indeterminate—we don’t yet know
what it is. So let’s try rationalizing the
expression:

√x − 1 √x − 1 √x + 1
lim = lim ⋅
x→1 x − 1 x→1 x − 1 √x + 1

x−1
= lim
x→1 (x − 1) (√x + 1)

x−1
= lim
x→1 (x − 1) (√x + 1)

1
= lim
x→1 (√x + 1)

1
=
(√ 1 + 1)

1
= ✓
2

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[hide solution]

Limits: Conjugates Practice —#3

√25 + h − 5
Find lim .
h→0 h
1 1
(A) (B) (C) 5 (D) DNE
5 10
✓
A B C D E

Reset question

 Show/Hide Solution

We Jrst try Substitution:

√25 + h − 5 ? √25–5 0
lim = =
h→0 h 0 0
0
Since this limit is in the form of , it
0
is indeterminate—we don’t yet know
what it is. So let’s use our conjugate
tactic:

√25 + h − 5 √25 + h − 5
lim = lim
h→0 h h→0 h

√25 + h√25
= lim
h→0

(25 + h) −
= lim
h→0 h (√25 + h +

h
= lim
h→0
h (√25 + h +

h
= lim
h→0
h (√25 + h

1
= lim
h→0 √25 + h + 5
1
=
√25 + 5
1 1
= = ⟹
5+5 10

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[hide solution]

Limits: Conjugates Practice —#4

x
Find lim .
x→0 √x + 7 − √7
1
(A) 2√7 (B) − 2√7 (C)
√7
✓
A B C D E

Reset question

 Show/Hide Solution

We Jrst try substitution:

x ? 0 0
lim = =
x→0 √x + 7–√7 √7–√7 0

0
Since this limit is in the form , it is
0
indeterminate—we don’t yet know
what it is. So let’s multiply the
numerator and denominator by the
conjugate of the square-root term
√x + 7 + √7
divided by itself, =1:
√x + 7 + √7

x x
lim = lim ⋅
x→0 √ x + 7 –√ 7 x→0 √ x + 7 –√ 7

= lim
x→0 √ x + 7√ x + 7

x (√ x + 7 + √
= lim
x→0 (x + 7)–7

x (√ x + 7 + √
= lim
x→0 x

x (√ x + 7 +
= lim
x→0 x

= lim (√x + 7 + √7
x→0

= √7 + √7

= 2√ 7 ⟹ (A)

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[hide solution]

Limits: Conjugates Practice —#5

1 1
Find lim ( − ).
x→0 x√ 1 + x x

Open for hint.

1 1
(A) 1 (B) (C) − (D) DN
2 2
✓
A B C D E

Reset question

 Show/Hide Solution

We Jrst try Substitution:

1
1 ? 1 1
lim ( )= – – ??
x→0 x√ 1 + x x 0 0

This is another form of an

indeterminite limit: we don’t know
1 1
what – equals, so we have more
0 0
work to do. Let’s try our usual
approach, and Jrst put the two terms
over a common denominator, and then
use the conjugate:

1 − √1 + x
m
0 x√ 1 + x

1 − √1 + x 1 + √1 + x
m ⋅
0 x√ 1 + x 1 + √1 + x

1 + √ 1 + x –√ 1 + x –√ 1 + x √ 1 + x
m
0
x√ 1 + x (1 + √ 1 + x )

1 − (1 + x)
m
0
x√ 1 + x (1 + √ 1 + x )

−x
m
0
x√ 1 + x (1 + √ 1 + x )

−x
m
0
x √ 1 + x (1 + √ 1 + x )

−1
m
0
√ 1 + x (1 + √ 1 + x )

−1
1 + 0 (1 + √1 + 0)

−1
1 + 1)

1
⟹ (C) ✓

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[hide solution]

Limits: Conjugates Practice —#6

√ x2 + 7 − 4
Find lim .
x→3 x2 − 9

(D) undef ined (E) None of these

✓
A B C D E

Reset question

 Show/Hide Solution

We Jrst try Substitution:

√ x2 + 7 − 4 ? √ 9 + 7 − 4 √
lim = =
x→3 x2 − 9 9−9
0
Because this limit is in the form of ,
0
it is indeterminate—we don’t yet know
what it is. So let’s again use the
conjugate divided by itself:

√ x2 + 7 − 4 √ x2 + 7 − 4
lim = lim
x→3 x2 − 9 x→3 x2 − 9

√ x2 + 7 √ x2 +
+ lim
x→3

(x2 + 7)
= lim
x→3
(x2 − 9) (√x

x2 −
= lim
x→3
(x2 − 9) (√x

x2 −
= lim
x→3
(x2 − 9) (√

1
= lim
x→3 √ x2 + 7 + 4
1
=
√9 + 7 + 4

11
= =
√16 + 4 4+4

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[hide solution]

Limits: Conjugates Practice —#7

√x + 1 − 2
Find lim .
x→3 3−x

(D) nonexistent (E) None of these

✓
A B C D E

Reset question

 Show/Hide Solution

We Jrst try substitution:

√x + 1 − 2 ? √3 + 1 − 2 √4
lim = =
x→3 3−x 3−3 3
0
Since this limit is in the form , it is
0
indeterminate—we don’t yet know
what it is. So we again use the
conjugate:

√x + 1 − 2 √x + 1 − 2
lim = lim ⋅
x→3 3−x x→3 3−x

√ x + 1√ x + 1
= lim
x→3 (3 −

(x + 1) −
= lim
x→3 (3 − x)(√x +

x−3
= lim
x→3 (3 − x)(√x +

−(3 − x)
= lim
x→3 (3 − x)(√x +

− (3 − x
= lim
x→3 (3 − x) (√x +

−1
= lim
x→3 √x + 1 + 2

−1
=
√3 + 1 + 2

−1 −1
= =
√4 + 2 2+2

−1
= ⟹ (E)
4

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[hide solution]

Limits Tactic #4Y Use Algebra

(polynomial expansion, common
denominator, ...)

For some problems, when you try

0
Substitution and obtain , you just use
0
your algebraic skills to transform the
expression into something where
Substitution will work. For instance, if
there's a quadratic, expand it. Or if you
have some fractions in the numerator, put
them over a common denominator.

The following problems illustrate.

Limits: Use Algebra Practice — #1

(h − 5)2 − 25
Find lim .
h→0 h
(A) 10 (B) − 10 (C) 5 (D) −
✓
A B C D E
  Show/Hide Solution

(A)

(A) 1
As always, we Jrst try Substitution:

lim
h→0

Find lim
x→4

h→0

1
5

lim
x→0
(h − 5)2–25 ? (0 − 5)2 − 25

A
lim
h

limit. To help:

x→0

lim
x→0
A
B

 Show/Hide Solution
=

x−1–4−1
x→4 x − 4
=
0

Since the limit is in the form

indeterminate—we don’t yet know

Limits Tactic #5Y Trig Functions

1. Remember your fundamental trig

identities. For instance:

tan x =

csc x =
sin x
cos x

sin2(x)
1
sin x

sin2(x) + cos2(x) = 1

Identities could be useful.

sin (x)

Open for hint.

(B) 0
✗
B

 Show/Hide Solution

sin2(x)

Yet again we obtain

Limits: Trig Practice #2

Find lim

(A)
x→0

x→0

5
3

A
sin(5x)
x
 Show/Hide Solution

sin 5x

(B)

 Show/Hide Solution
.
.

Limits: Trig Practice #3

Find lim
sin 3x

Limits: Trig Practice #4

Find .

 Show/Hide Solution

Buy us a coffee
3
5
=
C
=
2

what is it. So we have to do some work

to turn the expression into a different
form that’s more helpful. Let’s try the
simple move of expanding the
quadratic in the numerator, and then
see what happens:

lim
h→0
(h − 5)2–25
h
= lim
h→0
(h2 − 10h + 25
h

= lim
h→0

= lim

When your problem has a trig function in

it (sin, cos, tan, ...), often you need to do
some manipulation in order to Jnd the

Our Handy Table of Trig Formulas and

2. Early in the semester, there are two

"Special Limits" you just have to
memorize:

facts.
I. lim
x→0

II. lim
x→0
sin(x)

Limits: Trig Practice #1

Find lim
1 − cos(x)
2
x

x
=1

1 − cos(x)
=0

The following problems illustrate how

you'll frequently have to make use of these

(C)

As always, we Jrst try Substitution:

1 − cos(x) ?

indeterminate result: we don’t yet

know what the limit is. We have more
work to do.

Seeing the sin2(x) there in the

denominator makes us think about the
trig identity in the hint,
sin2(x) + cos2(x) = 1, which we can
rewrite as

Hence
sin2(x) = 1– cos2(x)

1 − cos(x)
= lim

= lim

= lim

= lim

=
1
1+1

C
1
2

1 − cos(x)
x→0 1– cos2(x)

Problems where deserve their own topic:

Limits at InJnity
InJnity.

We'd love to hear:

1
2

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x→0

x→0

x→0

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(C)

What questions do you have about the

solutions above?

Which ones are giving you the most

trouble?

What other Limits problems are you

trying to work through for your class?

1
D

D
⎜⎟
Reset question

h2–10h

h→0

= lim
h→0
h
h(h–10)

= lim (h–10)

Notice that the problematic h in the

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Limits: Use Algebra Practice #2

x−1 − 4−1
x − 4
.

 Show/Hide Solution

Answer: −
1
16
h→0

= 0 –10

= −10 ⟹

denominator cancelled out, just as we

were hoping would happen. We can
then use simple Substitution to Jnish.

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It’s hard to see what’s going on with

the negative exponents, so we’ll start
by writing the terms in the numerator
as fractions:

sin2(0)

0
0
, that

1
15

D
h

Now let’s put the terms in the numerator

over a common denominator, 4x:

the beneJts of logging in.

=

= lim

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x→4 ⎝

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Limits: Use Algebra Practice #3

Find lim
(5 + h)−1 − 5−1
h

(B) −
.

1
5
(C)
lim (
x→4

We can cancel some terms if we factor a

0
0

h (h − 10)
h

−1 out of the 4 − x:

lim (
x→4

4x
, it is

−(x − 4)
4x

⎛ − (x − 4 ) ⎞ ⎛

−1
4(4)

E
lim
x→4

lim
x→4

4−x
4x

)(

(D) Does n

Reset question

1 − cos(0)
E

1 − cos(x
(1– cos(x))(1 +

1 + cos(x)

1 + cos(0)
1

1 − cos(

(1– cos(x)) (1 +

1
(B)

[hide solution]

)(

1
x−4

lim
x→4

−1
16

[hide solution]

1
25
(D)

1−1
0

[hide solution]

(D) Do

E
x−4

x−4

1
x−4

⎞
⎠ ⎝ (x − 4) ⎠
)
1 1
–
x 4

4−x
4x

−1
4x

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