Limits

1. An Introduction To Limits
2. Techniques for Calculating Limits
3. One-Sided Limits; Limits Involving Infinity

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Slide 12.1-1

 Techniques For Calculating Limits
Limit Theorems
1. Limit of a Constant: If k is a constant real number,
then lim k  k .
xa
2. Limit of an Identity Function: lim x  a .
x a

For the following rules, we assume that lim

x a
f ( x) and
lim g ( x) both exist
x a
3. Limit of Sum and difference

lim[ f ( x)  g ( x)]  lim f ( x)  lim g ( x).

x a x a x a

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Slide 12.1-2

 Techniques For Calculating Limits

Rules for Limits

4. Product Rule

lim[ f ( x)  g ( x)]  lim f ( x)  lim g ( x).

x a x a x a

5. Quotient Rule
f ( x) lim f ( x)
lim  xa .
x a g ( x) lim g ( x)
xa

provided lim g ( x)  0.
x a

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Slide 12.1-3

 Finding a Limit of a Polynomial Function
with One Term

For any polynomial function in the form f ( x)  kx n ,

lim f ( x)  k  a n  f (a ).
x a

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Slide 12.1-4

 Finding a Limit of a Linear Function

Example Find lim (3  2 x).

x 4

Solution lim (3  2 x)  lim 3  lim 2 x

x 4 x 4 x 4

 3  lim 2  lim x Rules 1 and 4

x 4 x 4

 3 24 Rules 1 and 2

 11

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Slide 12.1-5

 Finding a Limit of a Polynomial Function
with One Term
2
Example Find lim 3 x .
x5

Solution lim 3 x  lim 3  lim x

2 2
Rule 4
x 5 x 5 x 5

 3  lim x 2
Rule 1
x 5

 3  lim x  lim x Rule 4

x 5 x 5

 355 Rule 2
 75

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Slide 12.1-6

 Finding a Limit of a Polynomial Function

Example Find lim (4 x3  6 x  1) .

x 2

Solution lim (4 x3  6 x  1)  lim 4 x 3  lim 6 x  lim 1

x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2

Rule 3

 4  23  6  2  1

 21

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Slide 12.1-7

 Techniques For Calculating Limits

Rules for Limits (Continued)

For the following rules, we assume that lim f ( x) and
x a
lim g ( x) both exist.
x a

6. Polynomial rule If p(x) defines a polynomial function,

then
lim p( x)  p(a).
x a

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Slide 12.1-8

 Techniques For Calculating Limits

Rules for Limits (Continued)

7. Rational function rule If f(x) defines a rational
p( x)
function with q (a )  0 then
q( x)
lim f ( x)  f (a).
x a

8. Equal functions rule If f(x) = g(x) for all x  a, then

lim f ( x)  lim g ( x).

x a x a

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Slide 12.1-9

 Techniques For Calculating Limits

Rules for Limits (Continued)

9. Power rule For any real number k,
k
lim[ f ( x)]  lim f ( x) 
k
x a  x a 

provided this limit exists.

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Slide 12.1-10

 Finding a Limit of a Rational Function
x2  2x  3
Example Find lim
x1 x  3 x  2
2
.

Solution Rule 7 cannot be applied directly

since the denominator is 0. First factor the
numerator and denominator

x 2  2 x  3 ( x  3)( x  1) x  3
 
x  3 x  2 ( x  2)( x  1) x  2
2

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Slide 12.1-11

 Finding a Limit of a Rational Function

Solution Now apply Rule 8 with

x2  2x  3 x3
f ( x)  2 and g ( x) 
x  3x  2 x2

so that f(x) = g(x) for all x  1 .

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Slide 12.1-12

 Finding a Limit of a Rational Function

x  2x  3 x3
2

Solution lim  lim Rule 8

x 1 x  3 x  2
2 x 1 x  2

1 3
 Rule 6
1 2

 4

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Slide 12.1-13