Evaluating Limits

Analytically
Limit Theorems and One-Sided Limits
 Basic Limit Theorems
• Previously, it was mentioned Basic Limit Theorems
that lim 𝑓 𝑥 does not depend on
𝑥→𝑐
the value of 𝑓 at 𝑥 = 𝑐
• It may happen, however, that
the limit is precisely 𝑓 𝑐 . In such
cases, the limit can evaluated by
direct substitution, i.e. lim 𝑓 𝑥 =
𝑥→𝑐
𝑓 𝑐
• Such “well-behaved” functions
are continuous at 𝑐 (to be
explained further in future
lessons)
 Basic Limit Theorems
Limits of Polynomial and Rational
Functions Limits of Trigonometric Functions
• If 𝑝 is a polynomial function and • Let 𝑐 be a real number in the
𝑐 ∈ ℝ, then lim 𝑝 𝑥 = 𝑝 𝑐 domain of the given trigonometric
𝑥→𝑐
• If 𝑟 is a rational function given by functions
𝑟 𝑥 =
𝑝 𝑥
and 𝑐 ∈ ℝ such that ➢lim sin 𝑥 = sin 𝑐
𝑞 𝑥 𝑥→𝑐
𝑝 𝑐 ➢lim cos 𝑥 = cos 𝑐
𝑞 𝑐 ≠ 0, then lim 𝑟 𝑥 = 𝑟 𝑐 = 𝑥→𝑐
𝑥→𝑐 𝑞 𝑐
➢lim tan 𝑥 = tan 𝑐
𝑥→𝑐
➢lim csc 𝑥 = csc 𝑐
Limit of a Radical Function 𝑥→𝑐
➢lim sec 𝑥 = sec 𝑐
• Let 𝑛 ∈ ℤ+ . The following limit is 𝑥→𝑐
valid for all 𝑐 if 𝑛 is odd, and is ➢lim cot 𝑥 = cot 𝑐
𝑥→𝑐
valid for 𝑐 > 0 if 𝑛 is even: lim 𝑛 𝑥 =
𝑥→𝑐
𝑛
𝑐
 Basic Limit Theorems
Evaluate the following limits: 3 𝑥
9. lim 7𝑥+1
1. lim 3 𝑥→4
𝑥→2
10. lim tan 𝑥
2. lim 𝑥 𝑥→0
𝑥→−4
11. lim 𝑥 cos 𝑥
3. lim 𝑥2 𝑥→𝜋
𝑥→2
1 12. lim sin2 𝑥
4. lim 5𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 2 − 𝑥 𝑥→0
𝑥→−2 2
5. lim 𝑥 2𝑥 + 1
𝑥→4
6. lim 5𝑥 + 7 2
𝑥→−2
𝑥
7. lim
𝑥→4 −7𝑥+1
𝑥 2 +𝑥+2
8. lim
𝑥→1 𝑥+1
 Special Cases Where The Limit Theorems
Do Not Apply
Case 1: Limits Involving Rational Case 2: Limits Involving Radicals
Functions • Rationalize either the numerator
• Simplify the rational expression or the denominator
first, if possible e.g. Evaluate the following limits
e.g. Evaluate the following limits 𝑥−1
𝑥 2 −9
1. lim 𝑥−1
𝑥→1
1. lim
𝑥→3 𝑥−3 𝑥+2− 2
2𝑥+8 2. lim 𝑥
2. lim 2 𝑥→0
𝑥→−4 𝑥 +𝑥−12 𝑥+5−3
𝑥 3 −1 3. lim 𝑥−4
3. lim 𝑥→4
𝑥→1 𝑥−1 𝑥+1−2
𝑥 2 +𝑥−6 4. lim 𝑥−3
4. lim 𝑥→3
𝑥→−3 𝑥+3
 The Squeeze Theorem and Special
Trigonometric Limits
The Squeeze Theorem Evaluate the following limits:
• If ℎ 𝑥 ≤ 𝑓 𝑥 ≤ 𝑔 𝑥 for all 𝑥 in 1. lim
tan 𝑥

an open interval containing 𝑐, 𝑥→0 𝑥

sin 4𝑥
except possibly at 𝑐 itself, and if 2. lim
𝑥→0 𝑥
lim ℎ 𝑥 = 𝐿 = lim 𝑔 𝑥 then sin 𝑥
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
lim 𝑓 𝑥 exists and is equal to 𝐿 3. lim
𝑥→0 5𝑥
𝑥→𝑐
sin 𝑥 1−cos 𝑥
4. lim
𝑥2
𝑥→0
Two Special Trigonometric Limits 1−cos 𝑥 2
sin 𝑥
5. lim
𝑥
𝑥→0
• lim = 1
𝑥→0 𝑥
1−cos 𝑥
• lim =0
𝑥→0 𝑥
 One-Sided Limits
Definition: Right-Hand Limit that if 0 < 𝑎 − 𝑥 < 𝛿 then
• Let 𝑓 be a function defined by 𝑓 𝑥 −𝐿 <𝜀
an open interval 𝐼, then
lim+ 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝐿 if there exists for all Theorem: Existence of a Limit
𝑥→𝑎
𝜀 > 0, there exists a 𝛿 > 0 such • The lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝐿 exists iff
that if 0 < 𝑥 − 𝑎 < 𝛿 then 𝑥→𝑐
𝑓 𝑥 −𝐿 <𝜀 lim+ 𝑓 𝑥 exists, lim− 𝑓 𝑥 exists,
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
and lim+ 𝑓 𝑥 = lim− 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝐿
𝑥→𝑐 𝑥→𝑐
Definition: Left-Hand Limit
• Let 𝑓 be a function defined by
an open interval 𝐼, then
lim− 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝐿 if there exists for all
𝑥→𝑎
𝜀 > 0, there exists a 𝛿 > 0 such
 One-Sided Limits
Given the following functions, evaluate its (a) right-hand and (b) left-
hand limit, if it exists, at the given 𝑐, and then (c) determine the limit
of the function at 𝑐, if it exists.
1. lim 3 + 𝑥 − 3
𝑥→3
2. lim 𝑥
𝑥→0
𝑥
3. lim
𝑥→0 𝑥
3𝑥 − 2, 𝑥 ≤ 2
4. lim 𝑓 𝑥 if 𝑓 𝑥 = ቊ
𝑥→2 𝑥 − 1, 𝑥 > 2
𝑥 2 + 1, 𝑥 ≠ 1
5. lim 𝑔 𝑥 if 𝑔 𝑥 = ቊ
𝑥→1 −2, 𝑥 = 1
 Homework#2: 1 whole sheet of paper
I. Evaluate the following limits, if it 9. lim
tan2 𝑥
exists. Express your answer in 𝑥→0 𝑥
simplest and rationalized forms. 10. lim 𝑥 sec 𝑥
𝑥→𝜋
2𝑥 2 −𝑥−3
1. lim II. Given the following functions,
𝑥→−1 𝑥 3 +2𝑥 2 +6𝑥+5
𝑥 3 −𝑥 2 −𝑥+10 evaluate its (a) right-hand and (b)
2. lim
𝑥→−2 𝑥 2 +3𝑥+2
left-hand limit, if it exists, at the
3 𝑥−5
given 𝑐, and then (c) determine the
3. lim limit of the function at 𝑐, if it exists.
𝑥→4 𝑥 2 +5𝑥−9
5𝑥 2 +9𝑥−2 1. lim 𝑓 𝑥 where 𝑓 𝑥 =
4. lim 𝑥→2
𝑥→−2 𝑥 2 +𝑥−2 𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 6, 𝑥 < 2
9−𝑥−3 ቊ 2
5. lim −𝑥 + 4𝑥 − 2, 𝑥 ≥ 2
𝑥→0 𝑥
𝑥+5− 5 2. lim 𝑓 𝑥 where 𝑓 𝑥 =
6. lim 𝑥→1
𝑥→0 𝑥 𝑥3 + 1, 𝑥 < 1
3 1−cos 𝑥 ቊ
7. lim
𝑥
𝑥 + 1, 𝑥 ≥ 1
𝑥→0
cos 𝑥 tan 𝑥
8. lim
𝑥
𝑥→0