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Basic Limit Lawsgas A
Basic Limit Lawsgas A
Basic Limit Lawsgas A
Lesson 2.1
The Basic Limit Laws
Contents
Introduction 1
Learning Objectives 2
Warm Up 2
Key Points 15
Key Formulas 16
Challenge Yourself 18
Photo Credits 18
Bibliography 19
Lesson 2.1
Introduction
Have you ever seen the sign shown in the picture? This sign means that vehicles weighing
beyond two tons are not allowed to cross the bridge. Why do bridges have weight limits?
Where do these limits depend? Weight limits depend on the construction of the bridge itself,
its age, the materials used to build it, and some other factors.
In the first unit, you were able to determine the limit of a function using a table of values or
its graph. Suppose you are asked to find the limit of the product of two functions. Getting
the product of two functions, and constructing a table of values or graphing the function can
sometimes be time-consuming. Is there a more effective and efficient way of evaluating the
limits of functions?
In this lesson, we are going to discuss the different laws of limits that we can apply to easily
and efficiently find the limit of a function.
Warm Up
A Short Way to Limits 15 minutes
This activity will enable the students to discover intuitively a method in finding the limit of a
function given a table of values.
Materials
● calculator
● paper
● pen
Procedure
1. This activity will be done by groups of three students.
2. Complete the table of values of the following functions to find their limits.
a. lim 3
𝑥→2
Data Table
Table 2.1.1. Table of values for lim 3
𝑥→2
𝑥 𝑓(𝑥) 𝑥 𝑓(𝑥)
1.5 2.5
1.8 2.1
1.9 2.003
1.995 2.0002
1.9999 2.000001
b. lim 2𝑥
𝑥→2
Data Table
Table 2.1.2. Table of values for lim 2𝑥
𝑥→2
c. lim (2𝑥 + 3)
𝑥→2
Guide Questions
1. What is the limit of the function in (a), (b), and (c)?
2. What is the function value of each function at 𝑥 = 2?
3. What can you conclude about evaluating function at 𝑥 = 𝑐 and finding the limit of a
function as 𝑥 approaches 𝑐?
For each of the statements, let 𝑐 be a constant, 𝑓 and 𝑔 be functions which may or may not
have 𝑐 in their domains, and the limits of 𝑓 and 𝑔 both exist where lim 𝑓 (𝑥) = 𝐿 and
𝑥→𝑐
lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 𝑀.
𝑥→𝑐
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒌 = 𝒌.
𝒙→𝒄
Examples:
1. lim 2 = 2
𝑥→5
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒙 = 𝒄
𝒙→𝒄
Examples:
1. lim 𝑥 = 1.5
𝑥→1.5
2. lim 𝑥 = −92
𝑥→−92
3. lim 𝑥 = 10 000
𝑥→10 000
Product Law
The limit of the product of two functions is equal to the product of the limits of the two
functions.
Remember
The sum or difference and product laws can also be used if there are
more than two functions involved.
For example:
1. lim [𝑓(𝑥) ± 𝑔(𝑥) ± ⋯ ± ℎ(𝑥)] = lim 𝑓(𝑥) ± lim 𝑔(𝑥) ± ⋯ ± lim ℎ(𝑥)
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
2. lim [𝑓(𝑥) ∙ 𝑔(𝑥) ∙ … ∙ ℎ (𝑥)] = lim 𝑓 (𝑥) ∙ lim 𝑔(𝑥) ∙ … ∙ lim ℎ(𝑥)
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
Quotient Law
The limit of the quotient of two functions is equal to the quotient of the limits of the two
functions, provided that the limit of the divisor is not equal to zero, i.e. lim 𝑔(𝑥) ≠ 0.
𝑥→𝑐
provided that 𝑀 ≠ 0
For example, if lim 𝑓(𝑥) = −25 and lim 𝑔(𝑥) = −10, then
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
lim 𝑓(𝑥) −25 5
𝑓(𝑥) 𝑥→𝑐
lim = = =
𝑥→𝑐 𝑔(𝑥) lim 𝑔(𝑥) −10 2
𝑥→𝑐
Power Law
The limit of the integral power of a function is equal to the integral power of the limit of the
function, provided that the limit of the function is not equal to zero when the exponent is
negative, i.e. lim 𝑓(𝑥) ≠ 0 when 𝑛 < 0.
𝑥→𝑐
𝒏
𝐥𝐢𝐦[𝒇(𝒙)]𝒏 = [𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙)] = 𝑳𝒏
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄
Root Law
The limit of the 𝑛th root of a function is equal to the 𝑛th root of the limit of the function, where
𝑛 is a positive integer, and the limit of the function is positive when 𝑛 is even. In symbols:
𝒏
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒏√𝒇(𝒙) = 𝒏√𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒇(𝒙) = √𝑳
𝒙→𝒄 𝒙→𝒄
Let’s Practice!
Example 1
If lim 𝑓 (𝑥) = −3 and lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 12, find lim [2𝑓(𝑥) + 3𝑔(𝑥)].
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
Solution
1 Try It!
Given the same values in Example 1, find lim [7𝑓(𝑥) − 2𝑔(𝑥)].
𝑥→𝑎
Example 2
Find the value of lim (2𝑥 + 3).
𝑥→−4
Solution
2 Try It!
Find the value of lim (5 − 4𝑥).
𝑥→−2
Tip
The limit of 2𝑥 + 3 as 𝑥 approaches −4 could be determined by
directly substituting the constant that 𝑥 approaches to the given
function. For example:
Example 3
Given lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 0.25 and lim 𝑔(𝑥) = −2.34, evaluate lim 10𝑓 (𝑥)[𝑔(𝑥)]2 .
𝑥→𝑏 𝑥→𝑏 𝑥→𝑏
Solution
= 10[0.25(−2.34)2 ]
= 10(1.3689)
= 13.689
3 Try It!
Using the same values in Example 3, evaluate lim −4[𝑓(𝑥)]3 𝑔(𝑥).
𝑥→𝑏
Example 4
Compute lim √5𝑥 + 1.
𝑥→3
Solution
= √ lim 5𝑥 + lim 1
𝑥→3 𝑥→3
Sum Law
= √15 + 1
= √16
=4
4 Try It!
Compute lim √3 − 12𝑥 .
3
𝑥→−2
Example 5
1 −2𝑓(𝑥)+𝑔(𝑥)ℎ(𝑥)
Assume that lim 𝑓 (𝑥) = 2, lim 𝑔(𝑥) = 16, and lim ℎ(𝑥) = −4, compute lim [𝑓(𝑥)+𝑔(𝑥)]2
.
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
Solution
lim [−2𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥)ℎ(𝑥)] = lim −2𝑓 (𝑥) + lim 𝑔(𝑥)ℎ(𝑥) Sum Law
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
= −2 lim 𝑓(𝑥) + lim 𝑔(𝑥) ∙ lim ℎ(𝑥) Constant Multiple and Product Law
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
1
= −2 ( ) + 16(−4) Substitution
2
= −1 − 64
= −65
2
lim [𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥)]2 = [lim 𝑓 (𝑥) + lim 𝑔(𝑥)] Power Law
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
1 2 Substitution
= [ + 16]
2
33 2
=( )
2
1 089
=
4
−2𝑓(𝑥)+𝑔(𝑥)ℎ(𝑥) 𝟐𝟔𝟎
Thus, lim [𝑓(𝑥)+𝑔(𝑥)]2
= − 𝟏 𝟎𝟖𝟗.
𝑥→𝑐
5 Try It!
𝑓(𝑥)𝑔(𝑥)+[ℎ(𝑥)]2
Assuming the same values in Example 5, compute lim .
𝑥→𝑐 −2𝑓(𝑥)+4𝑔(𝑥)
Example 6
[𝑓(𝑥)]2+𝑔(𝑥)
If 𝑓 (𝑥) = 𝑥 and 𝑔(𝑥) = 2𝑥, calculate lim 𝑓(𝑥)𝑔(𝑥)
.
𝑥→−5
Solution
[𝑓(𝑥)]2 + 𝑔(𝑥) 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥
lim = lim Substitution: 𝑓 (𝑥) = 𝑥 and 𝑔(𝑥) = 2𝑥
𝑥→−5 𝑓 (𝑥)𝑔(𝑥) 𝑥→−5 𝑥 (2𝑥)
lim (𝑥 2 + 2𝑥)
𝑥→−5
= Quotient Law
lim 2𝑥 2
𝑥→−5
lim 𝑥 2 + 2 lim 𝑥
= 𝑥→−5 𝑥→−5
Sum Law, Constant Multiple Law
2 lim 𝑥2
𝑥→−5
2
( lim 𝑥) + 2 lim 𝑥
𝑥→−5 𝑥→−5
= 2 Power Law
2 ( lim 𝑥)
𝑥→−5
[𝑓(𝑥)]2+𝑔(𝑥) 𝟑
Thus, lim 𝑓(𝑥)𝑔(𝑥)
= 𝟏𝟎.
𝑥→−5
6 Try It!
𝑓(𝑥)−[𝑔(𝑥)]2
Using the same functions in Example 6, find lim .
𝑥→−2 √𝑓 (𝑥)𝑔(𝑥)
Key Points
___________________________________________________________________________________________
The basic limit laws used in determining the limit of a function without using a table of
values or graph of the function are the following:
● Limit of a Constant Function
● Limit of an Identity Function
● Constant Multiple Law
● Sum or Difference Law
● Product Law
● Quotient Law
● Power Law
● Root Law
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Key Formulas
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Sum or Difference Law lim [𝑓 (𝑥) ± 𝑔(𝑥)] = lim 𝑓(𝑥) ± lim 𝑔(𝑥)
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
𝑛
Power Law lim [𝑓(𝑥)]𝑛 = [lim 𝑓(𝑥)] ,
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
provided that lim 𝑓(𝑥) ≠ 0 if 𝑛 < 0
𝑥→𝑐
___________________________________________________________________________________________
1. lim (2𝑥 + 1)
𝑥→2
2. lim1(2𝑥 2 − 7)
𝑥→
4
3. lim (𝑥 − 7)2
𝑥→−5
4. lim √7𝑥 + 8
𝑥→4
𝑥−5
5. lim
𝑥→8 2𝑥+1
B. Given lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 5, lim 𝑔(𝑥) = −3, and lim ℎ(𝑥) = −2, compute the
𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎 𝑥→𝑎
following limits.
3𝑓(𝑥)+𝑔(𝑥)
1. lim ℎ(𝑥)
𝑥→𝑎
2𝑓(𝑥)𝑔(𝑥)+4
2. lim
𝑥→𝑎 𝑓(𝑥)+ℎ(𝑥)
√−3𝑓 (𝑥)𝑔(𝑥)
5. lim ℎ(𝑥)
𝑥→𝑎
[𝑓(𝑥)]2 [𝑔(𝑥)]2
6. lim
𝑥→𝑎 ℎ(𝑥)
𝑓(𝑥)
If the limits of 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑔(𝑥) both exist, does lim [𝑔(𝑥)] always exist? Why or why not?
𝑥→𝑎
Challenge Yourself
A. Using the limit laws, prove the following equations given that
𝑓 (𝑥) = 𝑔(𝑥), 𝑐 is a real number, and the limits lim 𝑓 (𝑥) and lim 𝑔(𝑥) both
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
exist.
B. Suppose that the limits of 𝑓(𝑥) and 𝑔(𝑥) both exist, and 𝑐 and 𝑘 are both
real numbers. Determine when the limit of the following functions does
not exist.
Photo Credits
Weight Limit-Bridge by Greg Habermann is licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Flickr
Bibliography
Edwards, C.H., and David E. Penney. Calculus: Early Transcendentals. 7th ed. Upper Saddle
River, New Jersey: Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2008.
Larson, Ron H., and Bruce H. Edwards. Essential Calculus: Early Transcendental Functions.
Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2008.
Leithold, Louis. The Calculus 7. New York: HarperCollins College Publ., 1997.
Smith, Robert T., and Roland B. Milton. Calculus. New York: McGraw Hill, 2012.
Tan, Soo T. Applied Calculus for the Managerial, Life, and Social Sciences: A Brief Approach.
Australia: Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning, 2012.