Calculus 1 - Limits

Worksheet 9 -
Using the Limit Laws

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Calculus 1 - Limits - Worksheet 9 – Using the Limit Laws

1. Evaluate this limit using the Limit Laws. Show each step.

lim (2𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 + 4)
𝑥→5

2. Evaluate this limit using the Limit Laws. Show each step.

𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 2 − 1
lim ( )
𝑥→−2 5 − 3𝑥

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3. Evaluate this limit using the Limit Laws. Show each step.

√3 + ℎ − 2
lim ( )
ℎ→6 ℎ

4. Evaluate this limit using the Limit Laws. Show each step.

𝑥2 − 1
lim ( )
𝑥→1 𝑥 + 1

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5. Evaluate this limit using the Limit Laws. Show each step.

√𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 4 − 3
lim ( )
𝑥→6 𝑥

6. Evaluate this limit using the Limit Laws. Show each step.

lim (5𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 6)
𝑥→4

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7. Evaluate this limit using the Limit Laws. Show each step.

lim (𝑥 4 − 3𝑥)(𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 + 3)
𝑥→−1

8. Evaluate this limit using the Limit Laws. Show each step.

𝑥4 − 4
lim ( )
𝑥→−2 2𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 + 2

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9. Evaluate this limit using the Limit Laws. Show each step.

lim √𝑥 4 − 3𝑥 − 6
𝑥→2

10. Evaluate this limit using the Limit Laws. Show each step.
2
𝑥4 − 2
lim ( )
𝑥→2 𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 + 5

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11. Evaluate this limit using the Limit Laws. Show each step.
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lim (1 + √𝑥) (2 − 9𝑥 2 + 𝑥 3 )
𝑥→8

12. Evaluate this limit using the Limit Laws. Show each step.

2𝑥 2 + 1
lim √
𝑥→2 3𝑥 − 2

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13. Evaluate this limit using the Limit Laws. Show each step. Give an exact answer.

lim (2sin𝑥 + 3cos𝑥 + 4tan𝑥)

𝜋
𝑥→ 3

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Answers - Calculus 1 - Limits - Worksheet 9 – Using the Limit Laws

Notice that the limits on this worksheet can be evaluated using direct
substitution, but the purpose of the problems here is to give you practice at using
the Limit Laws.
1. Evaluate this limit using the Limit Laws. Show each step.
lim (2𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 + 4)
𝑥→5

Solution:
Using the Limit Laws, rewrite the limit.
lim (2𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 + 4) = lim 2𝑥 2 − lim 3𝑥 + lim 4
𝑥→5 𝑥→5 𝑥→5 𝑥→5

= 2lim 𝑥 2 − 3lim 𝑥 + lim 4

𝑥→5 𝑥→5 𝑥→5
2
= 2 (lim 𝑥) − 3lim 𝑥 + lim 4
𝑥→5 𝑥→5 𝑥→5

= 2(5)2 − 3(5) + 4 = 39
Answer: 39

2. Evaluate this limit using the Limit Laws. Show each step.
𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 2 − 1
lim ( )
𝑥→−2 5 − 3𝑥
Solution:
Using the Limit Laws, rewrite the limit.

𝑥 3 + 2𝑥 2 − 1 lim 𝑥 3 + lim 2𝑥 2 − lim 1

𝑥→−2 𝑥→−2 𝑥→−2
lim ( )=
𝑥→−2 5 − 3𝑥 lim 5 − lim 3𝑥
𝑥→−2 𝑥→−2
3 2
( lim 𝑥) + 2 ( lim 𝑥) − lim 1
𝑥→−2 𝑥→−2 𝑥→−2
=
lim 5 − 3 lim 𝑥
𝑥→−2 𝑥→−2

(−2)3 + 2(−2)2 − 1 −8 + 8 − 1 1
= = =−
5 − 3(−2) 5+6 11
1
Answer: − 11

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3. Evaluate this limit using the Limit Laws. Show each step.

√3 + ℎ − 2
lim ( )
ℎ→6 ℎ
Solution:
Using the Limit Laws, rewrite the limit.

√3 + ℎ − 2 lim √3 + ℎ − lim 2
ℎ→6 ℎ→6
lim ( )=
ℎ→6 ℎ lim ℎ
ℎ→6

lim (3 + ℎ) − lim 2
√ℎ→6 lim 3 + lim ℎ − lim 2
√ℎ→6
ℎ→6 ℎ→6 ℎ→6 √3 + 6 − 2 3 − 2 1
= = = =
lim ℎ lim ℎ 6 6 6
ℎ→6 ℎ→6
1
Answer: 6

4. Evaluate this limit using the Limit Laws. Show each step.
𝑥2 − 1
lim ( )
𝑥→1 𝑥 + 1

Solution:
The given limit can be factored and simplified.
𝑥2 − 1 (𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1)
lim ( ) = lim = lim (𝑥 − 1)
𝑥→1 𝑥 + 1 𝑥→1 𝑥+1 𝑥→1

Using the Limit Laws, rewrite the limit.

lim (𝑥 − 1) = lim 𝑥 − lim 1 = 1 − 1 = 0
𝑥→1 𝑥→1 𝑥→1

Without factoring and simplifying, using the Limit Laws, rewrite the limit.
2
𝑥 −1 2 lim 𝑥 2 − lim 1 (lim𝑥 ) − lim 1
12 − 1 0
𝑥→1 𝑥→1 𝑥→1 𝑥→1
lim ( )= = = = =0
𝑥→1 𝑥 + 1 lim 𝑥 + lim 1 lim 𝑥 + lim 1 1+1 2
𝑥→1 𝑥→1 𝑥→1 𝑥→1

Answer: 0

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5. Evaluate this limit using the Limit Laws. Show each step.

√𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 4 − 3
lim ( )
𝑥→6 𝑥

Solution:

The given limit can be factored and simplified.

√𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 4 − 3 √(𝑥 + 2)2 − 3
lim ( ) = lim ( )
𝑥→6 𝑥 𝑥→6 𝑥

𝑥+2−3 𝑥−1
= lim ( ) = lim ( )
𝑥→6 𝑥 𝑥→6 𝑥
Using the Limit Laws, rewrite the limit.

𝑥−1 lim 𝑥 − lim 1 6 − 1 5

𝑥→6 𝑥→6
lim ( )= = =
𝑥→6 𝑥 lim 𝑥 6 6
𝑥→6

Without factoring and simplifying, using the Limit Laws, rewrite the limit.

lim √𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 4 − lim 3 lim 𝑥 2 + lim 4𝑥 + lim 4 − lim 3

√𝑥→6 𝑥→6 𝑥→6 𝑥→6
𝑥→6 𝑥→6
=
lim 𝑥 lim 𝑥
𝑥→6 𝑥→6

2
√(lim 𝑥) + 4lim 𝑥 + lim 4 − lim 3 √62 + 4(6) + 4 − 3
𝑥→6 𝑥→6 𝑥→6 𝑥→6
= =
lim 𝑥 6
𝑥→6

√64 − 3 8 − 3 5
= = =
6 6 6
5
Answer: 6

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6. Evaluate this limit using the Limit Laws. Show each step.

lim (5𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 6)
𝑥→4

Solution:

Using the Limit Laws, rewrite the limit.

lim (5𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 6) = lim 5𝑥 3 − lim 3𝑥 2 + lim 𝑥 − lim 6

𝑥→4 𝑥→4 𝑥→4 𝑥→4 𝑥→4

3 2
= 5 (lim 𝑥) − 3 (lim 𝑥) + lim 𝑥 − lim 6
𝑥→4 𝑥→4 𝑥→4 𝑥→4

= 5(4)3 − 3(4)2 + 4 − 6 = 270

Answer: 270

7. Evaluate this limit using the Limit Laws. Show each step.

lim (𝑥 4 − 3𝑥)(𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 + 3)
𝑥→−1

Solution:

Using the Limit Laws, rewrite the limit.

lim (𝑥 4 − 3𝑥)(𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 + 3)
𝑥→−1

= ( lim 𝑥 4 − lim 3𝑥) ∙ ( lim 𝑥 2 + lim 5𝑥 + lim 3)

𝑥→−1 𝑥→−1 𝑥→−1 𝑥→−1 𝑥→−1

4 2
= [( lim 𝑥) − 3 lim 𝑥] ∙ [( lim 𝑥) + 5 lim 𝑥 + lim 3]
𝑥→−1 𝑥→−1 𝑥→−1 𝑥→−1 𝑥→−1

= [(−1)4 − 3(−1)] ∙ [(−1)2 + 5(−1) + 3]

= [1 + 3] ∙ [1 − 5 + 3] = 4 ∙ (−1) = −4

Answer: −4

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8. Evaluate this limit using the Limit Laws. Show each step.

𝑥4 − 4
lim ( )
𝑥→−2 2𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 + 2

Solution:

Using the Limit Laws, rewrite the limit.

𝑥4 − 4 lim 𝑥 4 − lim 4
𝑥→−2 𝑥→−2
lim ( 2 )= 2
𝑥→−2 2𝑥 − 3𝑥 + 2 lim 2𝑥 − lim 3𝑥 + lim 2
𝑥→−2 𝑥→−2 𝑥→−2

4
( lim 𝑥) − lim 4
𝑥→−2 𝑥→−2
= 2
2 ( lim 𝑥) − 3 lim 𝑥 + lim 2
𝑥→−2 𝑥→−2 𝑥→−2

(−2)4 − 4 16 − 4 12 3
= = = =
2(−2)2 − 3(−2) + 2 8 + 6 + 2 16 4
3
Answer: 4

9. Evaluate this limit using the Limit Laws. Show each step.

lim √𝑥 4 − 3𝑥 − 6
𝑥→2

Solution:
Using the Limit Laws, rewrite the limit.

lim √𝑥 4 − 3𝑥 − 6 = √ lim 𝑥 4 − lim 3𝑥 − lim 6

𝑥→2 𝑥→2 𝑥→2 𝑥→2

4
= √(lim 𝑥) − 3lim 𝑥 − lim 6
𝑥→2 𝑥→2 𝑥→2

= √24 − 3(2) − 6 = √4 = 2

Answer: 2

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10. Evaluate this limit using the Limit Laws. Show each step.
2
𝑥4 − 2
lim ( )
𝑥→2 𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 + 5

Solution:

Using the Limit Laws, rewrite the limit.

2
𝑥4 − 2
2 lim 𝑥 4 − lim 2
𝑥→2 𝑥→2
lim ( 3 ) =( 3
)
𝑥→2 𝑥 − 3𝑥 + 5 lim 𝑥 − lim 3𝑥 + lim 5
𝑥→2 𝑥→2 𝑥→2

4 2
(lim 𝑥) − lim 2 2
𝑥→2 𝑥→2 24 − 2 14 2
=[ 3 ] =[ 3 ] = [ ] = 22 = 4
2 − 3(2) + 5 7
(lim 𝑥) − 3lim 𝑥 + lim 5
𝑥→2 𝑥→2 𝑥→2

Answer: 4

11. Evaluate this limit using the Limit Laws. Show each step.
3
lim (1 + √𝑥) (2 − 9𝑥 2 + 𝑥 3 )
𝑥→8

Solution:
Using the Limit Laws, rewrite the limit.
3 3
lim (1 + √𝑥) (2 − 9𝑥 2 + 𝑥 3 ) = [lim 1 + lim √𝑥] ∙ [lim 2 − lim 9𝑥 2 + lim 𝑥 3 ]
𝑥→8 𝑥→8 𝑥→8 𝑥→8 𝑥→8 𝑥→8

2 3
= [lim 1 + 3√ lim 𝑥] ∙ [lim 2 − 9 (lim 𝑥) + (lim 𝑥) ]
𝑥→8 𝑥→8 𝑥→8 𝑥→8 𝑥→8

3
= [1 + √8] ∙ [2 − 9(8)2 + 83 ]

= (1 + 2)(2 − 576 + 512) = −186

Answer: −186

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12. Evaluate this limit using the Limit Laws. Show each step.

2𝑥 2 + 1
lim √
𝑥→2 3𝑥 − 2

Solution:
Using the Limit Laws, rewrite the limit.

2𝑥 2 + 1 2𝑥 2 + 1
lim √ √
= lim
𝑥→2 3𝑥 − 2 𝑥→2 3𝑥 − 2

2
lim 2𝑥 2 + lim 1 2 (lim 𝑥) + lim 1
2(2)2 + 1 9 3
= √ 𝑥→2 𝑥→2
= √ 𝑥→2 𝑥→2
= √ =√ =
lim 3𝑥 − lim 2 3lim 𝑥 − lim 2 3(2) − 2 4 2
𝑥→2 𝑥→2 𝑥→2 𝑥→2

3
Answer: 2

13. Evaluate this limit using the Limit Laws. Show each step. Give an exact answer.

𝜋
lim (2sin𝑥 + 3cos𝑥 + 4tan𝑥)
𝑥→ 3

Solution:
Using the Limit Laws, rewrite the limit.

lim𝜋(2sin𝑥 + 3cos𝑥 + 4tan𝑥) = 2lim𝜋sin𝑥 + 3lim𝜋cos𝑥 + 4lim𝜋tan𝑥

𝑥→ 𝑥→ 𝑥→ 𝑥→
3 3 3 3

𝜋 𝜋 𝜋
= 2 sin ( ) + 3 cos ( ) + 4 tan ( )
3 3 3

√3 1 3
= 2( ) + 3 ( ) + 4(√3) = 5√3 +
2 2 2
3
Answer: 5√3 + 2

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