Aklan State University

College of Teacher Education

GRADUATE SCHOOL
Banga, Aklan

Discussant: AIRA JOYCE N. CUATERNO PROF. JULES AIVAN D. SOLIS

QUENNIE O LIMBAÑA
MAEd – Math students

LIMITS
I. INTRODUCTION TO THE LIMIT

“Limits describe how a function behaves near a point, instead of at that point.”

Limiting behaviour occurs in a variety of practical situations. For instance, absolute value, the
temperature Tc at which all molecular activity ceases, can be approached but never actually
attained in practice. Similarly, economists who speak of profit under ideal conditions or engineers
profiling the ideal specifications of a new engine are really dealing with limiting behavior.

𝒙𝟐 −𝟒
Example: f(x) = 𝒙 −𝟐
Let’s work it out for x = 2:
22 −4 4−4 0
f(2) = 2 −2
= 2 −2 = 0 (undefined)

x 1.9 1.99 1.999 2.001 2.01 2.1

f(x) 3.9 3.99 3.999 4.001 4.01 4.1

𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟒
𝒙→𝟐

LIMITS If f(x) gets closer and closer to a number L as x gets closer and closer to c from
either side, then L is the limit of f(x) as x approaches c.

lim 𝑓(𝑥 ) = 𝐿
𝑥→𝑐

II. GEOMETRIC INTERPRETATION OF LIMITS

Geometrically, the limit statement lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐿 mean that the height of the graph y = f(x)
𝑥→𝑐
approaches L as x approaches c.

For instance, the graph of the function

𝑥 2 −4
f(x) = 𝑥 −2 is a line with a “hole” at (2,4), and the points
(x,y) on the graph approaches this hole as x approaches
2 from either side.

Example: f(x) = x + 2
Math 106 – Differential Calculus Page 1 of 6
 Let’s work it out for x = 3:
f(3) = 3 + 2 = 5

The limit of f at x = 3 is the value f approaches as we get closer and closer to x = 3.

The limit of f at x = 3 is 5

𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝟓
𝒙→𝟑

𝒙 + 𝟐, 𝒙 ≠𝟑
Example: g(x) = { }
𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅, 𝒙 = 𝟑

𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒈(𝒙) = 𝟓
𝒙→𝟑

For all three functions graphed, the limit of f(x) as x approaches c is equal to L. Yet the functions behave
quite differently at x = c itself.

Two functions for which 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇(𝒙) does not exist.

𝒙→𝒄

III. PROPERTIES OF LIMITS

A. Algebraic Properties of Limits

If lim 𝑓(𝑥) and lim 𝑔(𝑥) exist, then

𝑥 →𝑐 𝑥 →𝑐
 lim [𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥)] = lim 𝑓(𝑥) + lim 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑥 →𝑐 𝑥 →𝑐 𝑥 →𝑐
 lim [𝑓(𝑥) − 𝑔(𝑥)] = lim 𝑓(𝑥) - lim 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑥 →𝑐 𝑥 →𝑐 𝑥 →𝑐
 lim [𝑘𝑓(𝑥)] = 𝑘 lim [𝑓(𝑥)] for any constant k
𝑥 →𝑐 𝑥 →𝑐
 lim [𝑓(𝑥) 𝑔(𝑥)] = [lim 𝑓(𝑥)] [lim 𝑔(𝑥)]
𝑥 →𝑐 𝑥 →𝑐 𝑥 →𝑐
𝑓(𝑥) lim 𝑓(𝑥)
 lim = 𝑥 →𝑐
if lim 𝑔(𝑥) ≠ 0
𝑥 →𝑐 𝑔(𝑥) lim 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑥 →𝑐
𝑥 →𝑐
Math 106 – Differential Calculus Page 2 of 6
  lim [𝑓(𝑥)]𝑝 = [lim 𝑓(𝑥)]𝑝 if [lim 𝑓(𝑥)]𝑝 exists
𝑥 →𝑐 𝑥 →𝑐 𝑥 →𝑐

B. Limits of Two Linear Functions

For any constant k,

𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒌 = 𝒌 and 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒙 = 𝒄
𝒙 →𝒄 𝒙 →𝒄
That is, the limit of a constant is the constant itself, and the limit of f(x) = x as x
approaches c is c.

IV. COMPUTATION OF LIMITS

Example 1. Limit of a polynomial

Find lim (3𝑥 3 − 4𝑥 + 8)
𝑥 →−1

Solution:
Apply the properties of limits to obtain
lim (3𝑥 3 − 4𝑥 + 8) = 3 ( lim 𝑥)3 - 4 ( lim 𝑥) + lim 8
𝑥 →−1 𝑥 →−1 𝑥 →−1 𝑥 →−1
= 3(-1)3 – 4(-1) + 8 = 9

Example 2. Limit of a rational function

3𝑥 3 −8
Find lim
𝑥 →0 𝑥 −2

Solution:
Since lim (𝑥 − 2) ≠ 0, you can use the quotient rule for limits to get:
𝑥 →0
3𝑥 3 −8 lim 3𝑥 3 −8 3 lim 𝑥 3 − lim 8 −8
lim = 𝑥 →0 = 𝑥 →0 𝑥 →0
= =4
𝑥 →0 𝑥 −2 lim 𝑥−2
𝑥 →0
lim 𝑥 − lim 2
𝑥 →0 𝑥 →0
−2

LIMITS OF POLYNOMIALS AND RATIONAL FUNCTIONS

If p(x) and q(x) are polynomials, then
lim 𝑝(𝑥) = 𝑝(𝑐)
𝑥 →𝑐
and
𝑝(𝑥) 𝑝(𝑥)
lim = if 𝑞 (𝑐 ) ≠ 0
𝑥 →𝑐 𝑞(𝑐) 𝑞(𝑐)

Example 3. The denominator approaches 0

𝑥+1
Find lim 𝑥 −2
𝑥 →2

Solution:
The quotient rule does not apply in this case since the limit of
the denominator is lim (𝑥 − 2) = 0
𝑥 →2
Since the limit of the numerator lim (𝑥 + 1) = 3, which is not
𝑥 →2
equal to zero, you can conclude that the limit of the quotient
does not exist.
Example 4. Both denominator and numerator approaches
0
𝑥2 − 1
Find lim 𝑥 2 −3𝑥+ 2
𝑥 →1

Math 106 – Differential Calculus Page 3 of 6

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

Example 5. Both denominator and numerator approaches 0

√𝑥 − 1
Find lim
𝑥 →1 𝑥 −1

Solution:

√𝑥 −1 (√𝑥 −1)(√𝑥 +1) 𝑥 −1 1

𝑥 −1
= (𝑥 −1)(√𝑥 +1)
= (𝑥 −1)( =
√𝑥 +1) √𝑥 +1

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

V. ONE-SIDED LIMITS

Sometimes it is necessary to consider limiting behavior of a function as the independent variable

approaches a number from only one side.

ONE-SIDED LIMITS If f(x) approaches L as x tends toward c from the left (x <c), we write
lim− 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐿. Likewise, if f(x) approaches M as x tends toward c from the right (x >c), then
𝑥 →𝑐
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑀.
𝑥 →𝑐 +

Example 6. One-sided Limit

1 − 𝑥 2 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 < 2
For the function 𝑓(𝑥) = { } evaluate the one-
2𝑥 + 1 𝑖𝑓 𝑥 ≥ 2
sided limits lim− 𝑓(𝑥) and lim+ 𝑓(𝑥).
𝑥 →2 𝑥 →2

Solution:
Since 𝑓(𝑥) = 1 − 𝑥 2 for 𝑥 < 2, we have
lim− 𝑓(𝑥) = lim− 1 − 𝑥 2 = −3
𝑥 →2 𝑥 →2
Similarly, 𝑓(𝑥) = 2𝑥 + 1 for 𝑥 ≥ 2, so
lim+ 𝑓(𝑥) = lim 2𝑥 + 1 = 5
𝑥 →2 𝑥 →+

Math 106 – Differential Calculus Page 4 of 6

 EXISTENCE OF A LIMIT The two-sided limit lim 𝑓(𝑥) exists if and only if the two
𝑥 →2
one-sided limits lim− 𝑓(𝑥) and lim+ 𝑓(𝑥) exist and are equal, and then
𝑥 →2 𝑥 →2

𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝐥𝐢𝐦− 𝒇(𝒙) = 𝐥𝐢𝐦+ 𝒇(𝒙)

𝒙 →𝟐 𝒙 →𝟐 𝒙 →𝟐

VI. EXERCISES

A. Find 𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) if it exists

𝒙→𝒂

1. 2.

B. Find the indicated limit if it exists.

1. lim (3𝑥 3 − 5𝑥 + 2)
𝑥 →2
𝑥+1
2. lim
𝑥 →2 𝑥 + 2
√𝑥+1−2
3. lim
𝑥 →3 𝑥−3

Answer Key:
A. 1. lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑏 2. lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑏
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
B. 1. 4 2. ¾ 3. ¼

VII. PROBLEM SET

1. If $1,000 is invested at 9% compounded n times per year, the balance after 1 year will be
1
1,000(1 + 0.09x)1/x, where x = 𝑛 is the length of the compounding period. For what is called
the continuous compounding of interest, the balance after 1 year is given by the limit
B = lim+ 1,000(1 + 0.09𝑥)1/𝑥
𝑥 →0
Estimate the value of this limit by filling in the second line of the following table:
x 1 0.1 0.01 0.001 0.0001
1/x
1,000(1 + 0.09x)

2. The graph shows how the growth rate R(T) of a bacterial colony changes with temperature
T.*

a. Over what range of values of T does growth rate R(T) double?

b. What can be said about the growth rate for 25 < T < 45?
c. What happens when the temperature reaches roughly 45℃? Does it make sense to
compute lim 𝑅(𝑇)?
𝑇 →50

Math 106 – Differential Calculus Page 5 of 6

 3. The accompanying graph represents a function f(x) that oscillates between 1 and -1 more
and more frequently as x approaches 0 from either the right or the left. Does lim 𝑓(𝑥) exist?
𝑥 →0
If so what is the value?

Answer Key:
1.
2. x 1 0.1 0.01 0.001 0.0001
1,000(1 + 0.09x)1/x 1,090 1,093.73 1,094.13 1,094.17 1,094.17
2. a. [10,15] Answers will vary.
b. The growth rate is constant.
c. The growth rate begins to decrease at T = 45.
lim − 𝑅(𝑇) = 0
𝑇 →50
3. No

VIII. References:

 Hoffman, L. D. (n.d.). CALCULUS 7th Edition.

 Limits. (2011). Retrieved from Person Education, Inc:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://faculty.valenciacollege.edu/p
fernandez/Precalculus/online/Limits.

 Limits (An Introduction). (2017). Retrieved from Math is Fun:

https://www.mathisfun.com/calculus/limits.html

 Limits Intro. (2018). Retrieved from Khan Academy: https://www.khanacademy.org/math/ap-

calculus-ab/ab-limits-continuity/ab-limits-graphically/a/limits-intro

Math 106 – Differential Calculus Page 6 of 6