LIMITS OF ALGEBRAIC

FUNCTIONS
 Objectives:

 Define and interpret the limit of a function

using graphs
 Solve the limit of a function using analytical
solution and limit theorems
 Solve the limit of a quotient using factoring,
expansion and rationalization
 Solve the limit of a function using one sided
limits
 Show vertical and horizontal asymptotes
using limit at infinity
The concept of limit
is the cornerstone
of both differential
and integral
calculus.
 What do you
mean by LIMIT?
 A limit means getting as
close to something as you
can without actually
getting there.
A limit is the intended
height of a function.
Limit notation:

lim f  x   L
x c

“The limit of f of x as x
approaches c is L.”

“As x gets close to a number c, y, f(x),

gets close to a number L. .”
One – Sided Limits
Ex. Evaluate lim ( x  3)
x 2

Study the behavior of the linear function

𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 + 3 as 𝑥 takes on values
closer and closer to 2 from both sides.
 values less than 2
 values greater than 2

x → 2
- x → 2+

x -2 -1 0 1.99 1.999 2 2.001 2.01 3

y=f(x) 1 2 3 4.99 4.999 5 5.001 5.01 6

lim ( x  3)  5
x 2
lim ( x  3)  5
x 2
 𝒙𝟐 +𝒙−𝟐
Evaluate lim
𝒙→𝟏 𝒙−𝟏
Recall: this function is That is 𝑓(𝑥) at
not defined at x=1. 𝑥 = 1 does not
exist.

𝒙𝟐 +𝒙 − 𝟐
lim =𝟑
𝒙→𝟏 𝒙−𝟏

However, this function does

have a limit as x →1.
𝒇 (𝒄) ≠ 𝑳
Three functions for
which lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝐿 :
𝑥→𝑐

𝒇 𝒄 =𝑳

lim f ( x)  L
x c
 Three functions for
which lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝐿 :
𝑥→𝑐

f(c) f (c) ≠ L

lim f ( x) = L
xc
Three functions for
which lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝐿 :
𝑥→𝑐

f (c) ≠ L
f(c) is undefined

lim f ( x) = L
xc
The limit of a function refers to the value
that the function approaches, not the
actual value (if any).

lim f  x   2
x 2

f(2) = 1
f(3) = 2

lim f(x)  2
x3

Functions for which lim 𝑓 𝑥 does
𝑥→𝑐
not exist:
Functions for which lim 𝑓 𝑥 does
𝑥→𝑐
not exist:

lim 𝑓 𝑥
𝑥→2

lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝐷𝑁𝐸
𝑥→2
or
lim 𝑓 𝑥 = +∞
𝑥→2
PROPERTIES OF
LIMITS
 PROPERTIES OF LIMITS
Limit of a Constant
If 𝑓 is the constant function 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑘,
then for any value 𝑐,
 PROPERTIES OF LIMITS

Evaluate: lim 2  2
x 3

lim 3  3
x  1 / 2

lim   𝜋
x 0

lim(8)  −8
x 1
 PROPERTIES OF LIMITS
Identity Function
If 𝑓 is the identity function 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝑥,
then for any value 𝑐,
 PROPERTIES OF LIMITS
Evaluate: lim x  5
x 5

lim x  0
x 0

lim x  -2
x  2

lim x  2ൗ
x 2 / 3
3
ALGEBRAIC PROPERTIES OF LIMITS

The Sum Rule

The limit of the sum of two functions is
the sum of their limits.
ALGEBRAIC PROPERTIES OF LIMITS

The Difference Rule

The limit of the difference of two
functions is the difference of their limits.
ALGEBRAIC PROPERTIES OF LIMITS

The Constant Multiple Rule

The limit of a constant times a function is
the constant times the limit of the function.
Examples:

Evaluate the following:

1.) lim (3𝑥 + 5)

𝑥→2
2.) lim (2 − 8𝑥)
𝑥→−1
ALGEBRAIC PROPERTIES OF LIMITS

The Product Rule

The limit of the product of two functions
is the product of their limits.
ALGEBRAIC PROPERTIES OF LIMITS

The Quotient Rule

The limit of the quotient of two functions
is the quotient of their limits, provided the
limit of the denominator is not zero.
ALGEBRAIC PROPERTIES OF LIMITS
The Power Rule
The limit of a function to a rational number
power is the power of the limit of the function,
provided the latter is a real number.

𝒍𝒊𝒎[𝒇 𝒙 ]𝒑 = [𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇(𝒙)]𝒑

𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄
if [𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇(𝒙)] exists.
𝒑
𝒙→𝒄
Examples:

Evaluate the following:

3.) lim { 𝑥 + 5 𝑥 − 2 }
𝑥→1
𝑥+3
4.) lim
𝑥→−2 2−𝑥
5.) lim (4𝑥 3 2
− 𝑥 − 8𝑥)
𝑥→−1
 LIMITS of POLYNOMIALS AND
RATIONAL FUNCTIONS

If 𝑝(𝑥) and 𝑞(𝑥) are polynomials, then

lim 𝑝 𝑥 = 𝑝(𝑐) and

𝑥→𝑐
𝑝(𝑥) 𝑝(𝑐)
lim = if 𝑞(𝑐) ≠ 0.
𝑥→𝑐 𝑞(𝑥) 𝑞(𝑐)
Evaluating Limits:
1. Substitute. Plug the value of c into
the function. If the answer is a real
number, that is the limit.
2. If we plug c and we get the
𝟎
indeterminate form, , we need to
𝟎
simplify the function by:
a. Factoring
b. Conjugate method
c. Creating a table of values
3. Evaluate continuity. All polynomial
expressions are continuous.
Evaluating Limits:

Find lim (2𝑥 3 − 5𝑥 + 2).

𝑥→−1

= 2( lim 𝑥)3 − 5( lim 𝑥) + lim 2

𝑥→−1 𝑥→−1 𝑥→−1

= 3
2(−1) −5 −1 + 2

=5
Evaluate :

1 2 1
lim x  x  x  x
3
x 3 2 3

1 2 1 41
lim 3  3  3  3 
3
x 3 2 3 2
Evaluate:

4x  7
3 Since the limit of the
denominator ≠ 0 as
lim 𝑥 → 1, you can use
x 1 x2 the quotient rule.
Evaluating Rational Functions

1. If the denominator consists of single

term and approaches 0, simplification of
the expression should be done first
before evaluating the limit.

(x  a )  a
Evaluate: lim
x 0 x
1
REVIEW:SPECIAL PRODUCT

( x+ y) (x – y) = x2 - y2

( x+ y)2 = x2 + 2xy + y2

( x - y)2 = x2 - 2xy + y2

( x + y)3 = x3 + 3x2y + 3xy2 + y3

( x - y)3 = x3 - 3x2y + 3xy2 - y3

REVIEW: FACTORING

x2 - y2 = ( x+ y) (x – y)

x2 + 2xy + y2 = ( x+ y)2

x2 - 2xy + y2 = ( x - y)2

x3 - y3 = ( x – y) ( x2 + xy + y2)

x3 + y3 = ( x + y) ( x2 - xy + y2)
Evaluate:

( x  2)  4
2
lim
x 0 x
 ( x  2) 2  4
y  f (x) 
x

( x  2)  4 2
lim  4
x 0 x
Evaluate:

( x  h)  x
3 3
lim
h 0 h
Evaluating Rational Functions

2. If the denominator consists of two

or more terms and approaches 0,
simplify the expression thru
factoring.
 x x2
2
lim
x 1 x 1

( x  2)( x  1)
lim
x 1 x 1

lim ( x  2)  3
x 1
 Evaluate:

( x  1)
2
lim
x 1 x  1

( x  1)( x  1)
lim
x 1 x 1

lim ( x  1)  2
x 1
Evaluate:

x  27
3
lim
x  3 x  3
 3
x  27
lim  27
x  3 x  3
Evaluate:

x 1
2
lim 2  2
x 1 x  3 x  2
Evaluating Rational Functions

Limits that have sums or differences involving

square roots can be simplified by conjugation.

Recall:

Conjugate Product

a + b a - b a2 - b2

x y x y x- y

x 3 4 x 3 4 x - 13

x 3  x 5 x 3  x 5 8
Evaluating Rational Functions

Evaluate:

x2 2
lim
x 0 x
 x2 2 x2 2
lim 
x 0 x x2 2
x2  2   2 2


x22

x x2  2  
x x2 2 
1 1
 lim 
 
=0.35355
x 0 x2 2 2 2
Evaluate:

x2 2
lim
x 0 x

 0.354
Evaluate:

4( x  4)
lim
x 4 x 2
 4( x  4) x 2
lim 
x 4 x 2 x 2


4 x  4 x  2   4x  4 x 2 
 x 2
2 2 x  4

   
 lim 4 x  2   4 4  2   16
x 4    
Evaluate:

4( x  4)
lim
x 4 x 2

= 16
Evaluating Rational Functions

3. Functions involving two or more fractional

terms and the denominator approaching
zero, can be evaluated by simplifying the
function.
Evaluate:

2
x 1
lim 
x 1 x  1 x 1
 2
x 1
lim 
x 1 x  1 x 1


x 1
2

x  1x  1
x 1 x 1

lim x  1 = 2
x 1
Evaluate:
2
x 1
lim 
x 1 x  1 x 1

=2
Evaluate:
 1 4 1 4
lim  2  
x  2 x  2 ( x  4) x  2 ( x  2)( x  2)

1( x  2)  4 x2
 
( x  2)( x  2) ( x  2)( x  2)

1 1 1
 lim    0.25
x 2 ( x  2) (2  2) 4
Evaluate the given limit, if it exists.

1. 5.

2. 6.

3. 7.

4.