LIMITS

OF
FUNCTIONS
 LIMITS
The most basic use of limits is to describe how a function
behaves as the independent variable approaches a given value.
For example let us examine the behavior of the function

f ( x ) x 2  x  1

for x-values closer and closer to 2.

It is evident from the graph and the table in the next slide that the
values of f(x) get closer and closer to 3 as the values of x are selected
closer and closer to 2 on either the left or right side of 2.

We describe this by saying that

2
the “limit of f ( x )  x  x  1 is 3 as x approaches 2 from

either side,” we write  2

lim x  x  1 3
x 2

 y

f(x)
y x 2  x  1

f(x)

x
O
2

x 1.9 1.95 1.99 1.995 1.999 2 2.001 2.005 2.01 2.05 2.1
F(x) 2.71 2.852 2.97 2.985 2.997 3.003 3.015 3.031 3.152 3.31

left side right side

INTUITIVE DEFINITION OF A LIMIT
EXAMPLE

Use numerical evidence to make a conjecture about the value of

x 1
lim
x 1 x  1
x 1
f(x)
x1

x 1
lim 2
x 1 x1
 x .99 .999 .9999 .99999 1 1.00001 1.0001 1.001 1.01
F(x) 1.9949 1.9995 1.99995 1.999995 2.000005 2.00005 2.0005 2.004915
 LAWS OF LIMITS

Our strategy for finding limits algebraically has two parts:

•First we will obtain the limits of some simpler function

•Then we will develop a list of laws that will enable us to use the
limits of simple functions as building blocks for finding limits of more
complicated functions.
We start with the following basic theorems:

Theorem : Let a and k be real numbers.

a lim
x a
k k b  xlim
a
x a
Example 1.

If f x  k is a constant function,then the values of f(x)

remain fixed at k as x varies, which explains why
f(x)  k as x  a for all values of a.
For example,
lim 3 3 lim 3 3 lim 3 3
x  -25 x 0 x 

Example 2.

If f x  x, then x  a it must also be true that f x   a .

For example,
lim x 0 lim x  2 lim x 
x 0 x  -2 x 
The following properties of limits, called the Limit Laws will be our basic
tool to calculate limits algebraically.
These five laws can be stated informally as follows :

a) The limit of a sum is the sum of the limits.

b) The limit of a difference is the difference of the limits.
c)The limits of a product is the product of the limits.
d)The limits of a quotient is the quotient of the limits,
provided the limit of the denominator is not zero.
e) The limit of the nth root is the nth root of the limit.
EXAMPLE : Evaluate the following limits.

1. lim2 x  5  lim 2 x  lim 5 2. lim6 x  12 lim 6 x  lim12 

x 3 x 3 x 3
x 4 x 4 x 4

2 lim x  lim 5 6 ( 3 )  12
x 4 x 4
18 - 12
2( 4 )  5
6
8  5
13
3. lim4  x ( 5 x  2 )lim4  x  lim5 x  2 
  
x 3 x 3 x 3

 lim 4  lim x lim 5 x  lim 2

lim 4  lim x 5 lim x  lim 2 
x 3 x 3 x 3 x 3

x 3 x 3 x 3 x 3

4  3 5( 3 )  2 
113 
13
 2x 8x 1
4. lim
x 5 5 x  4 6. lim
x 1 x 3
lim 2 x 2 lim x
 x 5
 x 5
8x 1
lim5 x  lim4  5 limx  lim4   lim
x 5 x 5 x 5 x 5 x 1 x  3
25  10
  9 3
25  4 21  
4 2

x 3
3

5. lim3 x  6   lim3 x  6  3
x 3


 lim 3 x  lim 6
x 3

x 3
3

3 lim x  lim 6 

3
x 3 x 3

3 3  6  15 
3 3

3375
OR

When evaluating the limit of a function at a given value, simply

replace the variable by the indicated limit then solve for the value
of the function:

x 3
 2

lim 3 x  4 x  1 3 3   4 3   1
2

27  12  1
38
EXAMPLE: Evaluate the following limits.

x3  8
1. lim
x  2 x  2

Solution:
x 3  8  2   8  8  8 0
3
lim    (indeterminate)
x  2 x  2  22 0 0
Equivalent function:
x  2 x 2  2 x  4 
 lim
x  2 x2

 lim x 2  2 x  4
x  2

 2   2 2  4
2

4  4  4 12
x3  8
 lim 12
x  2 x  2
Note:
0
In evaluating a limit of a quotient which reduces to 0
,
simplify the fraction by removing the common factor in the
0
numerator and denominator which makes the quotient 0
.

To do this use factoring or rationalizing the numerator or

denominator.
 x2  2
2. lim
x 0 x
Solution:
x2  2 02  2 0
lim   (indeterminate)
x 0 x 0 0

Rationalizing the numerator:

x2  2 x2  2 x2 2
lim  lim
x 0 x 
x  2  2 x 0 x x  2  2 
x 1 1 1 2
lim lim   
x 0 x  x2  2 x 0 x2  2 2 2 2 2 4

x2  2 2
 lim 
x 0 x 4
 8 x 3  27
3. lim
x
3 4 x2  9
2
Solution: 3
3
8    27
8 x 3  27  2 27  27 0
lim3 2
 2
  (indeterminate)
x 2 4x  9 3 9 9 0
4   9
 2
By Factoring: 2
 3  3
4    6   9
lim
2 x  34 x  6 x  9  lim 4 x  6 x  9   2   2 
2 2

x
3
2
2 x  3 2 x  3  x
3
2
2 x  3   3 
 2   3 
  2 
9 9 9 27 9 3 3 2
    
33 6 2 2 2

8 x 3  27 3 2
 lim 2

x
3 4x  9 2
2
 x3  2x  3
4. lim
x 2 x2  5
Solution:
2   2 2   3
3 3
x  2x  3
lim 
2   5
2 2
x 2 x 5

843

45
15

9
15

3
x3  2 x  3 15
 lim 2

x 2 x 5 3
One-Sided Limits
  1, x x 0
Consider the function f ( x )  
x  1, x 0

1 

 -1
In symbols ,
x x
lim 1 and lim  1
x o x x o x

This leads to the general idea of a one-sided limit.

Definition of ONE-SIDED LIMITS
The two sided limit exist if and only if the left hand limit is equal to
the right hand limit.
EXAMPLE:
x
1. Find if the two sided limits exist given f ( x ) 
x
SOLUTION
x x
lim 1 and lim  1
x o x x o x

1  x x
sin ce the lim  lim
x o x x o x

then the two sided lim it does not exist

 -1
x
or lim does not exist.
x o x
EXAMPLE:
2. Find if the two-sided limit exists and sketch the graph of
6+x if x < -2 
g( x ) =  2 
 x if x  -2 
SOLUTION
a . lim g ( x )  lim 6  x  b. lim g ( x )  lim x 2
x  2 x  2 x  2 x  2

- 2 
2
6  2
4 4
since the lim g(x)  lim g(x)
x   2 x   2

then the two sided limit exist and is equal to 4

or lim
x  2
g(x) 4
 y

x
-6 -2 4
EXAMPLE:
3. Find if the two-sided limit exists and sketch the graph
3 + x 2 if x < -2 
 
of f (x) =  0 if x = -2 
11 - x 2 if x > -2 
 
SOLUTION
a . lim f ( x )  lim 3  x 2  b. lim f ( x )  lim 11  x 2 
x  2 x  2 x  2 x  2

3   2  11  - 2 
2 2

7 7
sin ce the lim f ( x )  lim f ( x )
x  2 x  2

then the two sided lim it exist and is equal to 7

or lim f ( x ) 7
x  2
 LIMITS AT INFINITY
If the values of the variable x increase without bound, we write
x  
and if the values of x decrease without bound, then write
x  

The behavior of a function f ( x ) as x increases or decreases without

bound is sometimes called the end behavior of the function.

For example ,

1 1
lim 0 and lim 0
x   x x   x
 x

1 1
lim 0 lim 0
x   x x   x
Definition of LIMITS AT INFINITY
The figure below illustrates the end behavior of the function f when
lim f ( x )  L or lim f ( x )  L
x   x  
EXAMPLE x
 1
The figure below illustrates the graph of y  1   . As
 x
suggested by the graph,

x
 1
lim  1   e and
x  
 x

x
 1
lim  1   e
x  
 x
EXAMPLE

3x  5
1. lim
x   6x  8

4x 2  x
5. lim
x  
 x 5  x 
6 3

2. lim 3
x   2x  5

5x 3  2x 2  1
3. lim
x   1  3x
x2  2
4. lim
x   3x  6