LIMITS

OF
FUNCTIONS
DEFINITION: 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
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 the limit of is 3 as x
approaches 2 from either side, we write
1 x x ) x ( f
2
+ =
1 x x ) x ( f
2
+ =
( ) 3 1 x x lim
2
2 x
= +

2
3
f(x)
f(x)
x
y
1 x x y
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
O
This leads us to the following general idea.
EXAMPLE
Use numerical evidence to make a conjecture about
the value of .

1 x
1 x
lim
1 x

Although the function is undefined at

x=1, this has no bearing on the limit.
The table shows sample x-values approaching 1 from
the left side and from the right side. In both cases the
corresponding values of f(x) appear to get closer and
closer to 2, and hence we conjecture that
and is consistent with the graph of f.
1 x
1 x
) x ( f

=
2
1 x
1 x
lim
1 x
=

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
THEOREMS ON 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 theorems 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,
which are illustrated in Fig 1.2.1
( ) ( ) a x lim b k k lim a
numbers. real be k and a Let Theorem 1 . 2 . 1
a x a x
= =

( )
3 3 lim 3 3 lim 3 3 lim
example, For
a. of values all f or a x as k f (x)
why explains which varies, x as k at f ixed remain
f (x) of values the then f unction, constant a is k x f If
x 0 x -25 x
= = =

=
t
Example 1.
( ) ( )
t
t
= = =
=

x lim 2 x lim 0 x lim
example, For
. a x f that true be also must it a x then x, x f If
x -2 x 0 x
Example 2.
The following theorem will be our basic tool for
finding limits algebraically.
This theorem 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 n
th
root is the n
th
root of the limit.

A constant factor can be moved through a limit symbol.
( ) 5 x 2 lim . 1
4 x
+

( ) 12 x 6 lim . 2
3 x

( ) ) 2 x 5 ( x 4 lim . 3
3 x

EXAMPLE : Evaluate the following limits.

3 1
5 8
5 ) 4 ( 2
5 lim x lim 2
5 lim x 2 lim
4 x 4 x
4 x 4 x
=
+ =
+ =
+ =
+ =


( )
6
12 - 18
12 ) 3 ( 6
12 lim x 6 lim
3 x 3 x
=
=
=
=

( ) ( )
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
( )( )
( )( )
13
13 1
2 ) 3 ( 5 3 4
2 lim x lim 5 x lim 4 lim
2 lim x 5 lim x lim 4 lim
2 x 5 lim x 4 lim
3 x 3 x 3 x 3 x
3 x 3 x 3 x 3 x
3 x 3 x
=
=
=
=
=
- =



4 x 5
x 2
lim . 4
5 x

( )
3
3 x
6 x 3 lim . 5 +

3 x
1 x 8
lim . 6
1 x
+
+

( )
21
10

4 25
5 2
=

=
( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) 4 lim x lim 5
x lim 2
4 lim x 5 lim
x 2 lim
5 x 5 x
5 x
5 x 5 x
5 x

=
( ) ( )
( )
( )
( ) ( ) ( )
3375
15 6 3 3
6 lim x lim 3
6 lim x 3 lim
6 x 3 lim
3 3
3
3 x 3 x
3
3 x 3 x
3
3 x
=
= + =
+ =
+ =
+ =

2
3
4
9
3 x
1 x 8
lim
1 x
= =
+
+
=

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:

( )
( ) ( )



2
2
3
lim 3 4 1 3 3 4 3 1
27 12 1
38
x
x x

+ = +
= +
=

EXAMPLE: Evaluate the following limits.
2 x
8 x
lim . 1
3
2 x
+
+

Solution:
( )
0
0
0
8 8
2 2
8 2
2 x
8 x
lim
3
3
2 x
=
+
=
+
+
=
+
+

Equivalent function:
(indeterminate)
( )( )
2 x
4 x 2 x 2 x
lim
2
2 x
+
+ +
=

( )
( ) ( )
12 4 4 4
4 2 2 2
4 x 2 x lim
2
2
2 x
= + + =
+ =
+ =

12
2 x
8 x
lim
3
2 x
=
+
+

Note: In evaluating a limit of a quotient which
reduces to , simplify the fraction. Just remove
the common factor in the numerator and
denominator which makes the quotient .
To do this use factoring or rationalizing the
numerator or denominator, wherever the radical is.
0
0
0
0
x
2 2 x
lim . 2
0 x
+

Solution:
Rationalizing the numerator:
(indeterminate)
0
0
0
2 2 0
x
2 2 x
lim
0 x
=
+
=
+

( ) 2 2 x x
2 2 x
lim
2 2 x
2 2 x
x
2 2 x
lim
0 x 0 x
+ +
+
=
+ +
+ +
-
+
=

( )
4
2
2 2
1
2 2
1
2 2 x
1
lim
2 2 x x
x
lim
0 x 0 x
= =
+
=
+ +
=
+ +
=

4
2
x
2 2 x
lim
0 x
=
+

9 x 4
27 x 8
lim . 3
2
3
2
3
x

Solution:
By Factoring:
(indeterminate)
3
2
3
3
2 2
3
8 27
8 27 27 27 0 2
lim
4 9 9 9 0
3
4 9
2
x
x
x

| |

|

\ .
= = =

| |

|
\ .
( )( )
( )( ) ( )
|
.
|

\
|
+
|
.
|

\
|
+
|
.
|

\
|
+
|
.
|

\
|
=
+
+ +
=
+
+ +
=

3
2
3
2
9
2
3
6
2
3
4
3 x 2
9 x 6 x 4
lim
3 x 2 3 x 2
9 x 6 x 4 3 x 2
lim
2
2
2
3
x
2
2
3
x
2
2 3
2
3
2
9
6
27
3 3
9 9 9
= = = =
+
+ +
=
2
2 3
9 x 4
27 x 8
lim
2
3
2
3
x
=

5 x
3 x 2 x
lim . 4
2
3
2 x
+
+ +

Solution:
( ) ( )
( )
3
3
2 2
2
2 2 2 3
2 3
lim
5
2 5
8 4 3
4 5
15
9
15
3
x
x x
x

+ +
+ +
=
+
+
+ +
=
+
=
=
3
15
5 x
3 x 2 x
lim
2
3
2 x
=
+
+ +

DEFINITION: One-Sided Limits
The limit of a function is called two-sided limit if
it requires the values of f(x) to get closer and closer
to a number as the values of x are taken from
either side of x=a. However some functions exhibit
different behaviors on the two sides of an x-value a
in which case it is necessary to distinguish whether
the values of x near a are on the left side or on the
right side of a for purposes of investigating limiting
behavior.
Consider the function

<
>
= =
0 x , 1
0 x , 1
x
x
) x ( f

1
-1
As x approaches 0 from the right, the
values of f(x) approach a limit of 1, and
similarly , as x approaches 0 from the
left, the values of f(x) approach a
limit of -1.
1
x
x
lim and 1
x
x
lim
, symbols In
o x o x
= =
+

This leads to the general idea of a one-sided limit
EXAMPLE:
x
x
) x ( f = 1. Find if the two sided limits exist given

1
-1
exist. not does
x
x
lim or
exist not does it lim sided two the then
x
x
lim
x
x
lim the ce sin
1
x
x
lim and 1
x
x
lim
o x
o x o x
o x o x

+
+
=
= =
SOLUTION
EXAMPLE:
2. For the functions in Fig 1.1.13, find the one-sided
limit and the two-sided limits at x=a if they exists.
The functions in all three figures have the same
one-sided limits as , since the functions are
Identical, except at x=a.



a x
1 ) x ( f lim and 3 ) x ( f lim
are its lim These
a x a x
= =
+

In all three cases the two-sided limit does not exist as
because the one sided limits are not equal. a x
SOLUTION
3. Find if the two-sided limit exists and sketch the graph of
2
6+x if x < -2
( ) =
x if x -2
g x

`
>
)
( )
4
2 6
x 6 lim ) x ( g lim . a
2 x 2 x
=
=
+ =


( )
4
2 -
x lim ) x ( g lim . b
2
2
2 x 2 x
=
=
=
+ +

4 ) x ( g lim or
4 to equal is and exist it lim sided two the then
) x ( g lim ) x ( g lim the ce sin
2 x
2 x 2 x
=
=


+
SOLUTION
EXAMPLE:
x
-2 -6 4
y
4

4. Find if the two-sided limit exists and sketch the graph

of
2
2
3 + x if x < -2
( ) = 0 if x = -2
11 - x if x > -2
f x


`

)
SOLUTION
( )
( )
7
2 3
x 3 lim ) x ( f lim . a
2
2
2 x 2 x
=
+ =
+ =


( )
( )
7
2 - 11
x 11 lim ) x ( f lim . b
2
2
2 x 2 x
=
=
=
+ +

7 ) x ( f lim or
7 to equal is and exist it lim sided two the then
) x ( f lim ) x ( f lim the ce sin
2 x
2 x 2 x
=
=


+
EXAMPLE:
graph. the sketch and
, exist f(x) lim if e min er det , 4 x 2 3 ) x ( f If . 5
2 x
+ =
( )
3
4 2 2 3
4 x 2 3 lim ) x ( f lim . a
2 x 2 x
=
+ =
+ =


( )
3
4 2 2 3
4 x 2 3 lim ) x ( f lim . b
2 x 2 x
=
+ =
+ =
+ +

3 ) x ( f lim or
3 to equal is and exist it lim sided two the then
) x ( f lim ) x ( f lim the ce sin
2 x
2 x 2 x
=
=

+
SOLUTION
EXAMPLE:
f(x)
x
(2,3)
2
DEFINITION: LIMITS AT INFINITY
The behavior of a function as x increases or
decreases without bound is sometimes called the
end behavior of the function.
) x ( f
If the values of the variable x increase without
bound, then we write , and if the values of
x decrease without bound, then we write .
+ x
x
For example ,
0
x
1
lim and 0
x
1
lim
x x
= =
+
x
x
0
x
1
lim
x
=

0
x
1
lim
x
=
+
In general, we will use the following notation.
Fig.1.3.2 illustrates the end behavior of the function f when
L ) x ( f lim or L ) x ( f lim
x x
= =
+
EXAMPLE
Fig.1.3.2 illustrates the graph of . As suggested by
this graph,
x
x
1
1 y
|
.
|

\
|
+ =
e
x
1
1 lim
and e
x
1
1 lim
x
x
x
x
=
|
.
|

\
|
+
=
|
.
|

\
|
+

+
EXAMPLE
6 x 3
2 x
lim . 4
x 3 1
1 x 2 x 5
lim . 3
5 x 2
x x 4
lim . 2
8 x 6
5 x 3
lim . 1
2
x
2 3
x
3
2
x
x

+
+
+

+
( )
( )
3 3 6
x
3 6
x
x x 5 x lim . 6
x 5 x lim . 5
+
+
+
+