Limits

We can find the value of the

function defined by f  x    4
2
x
x2
when x  1 by substitution :
12  4
f 1  3
1 2
x approaches 1 from the left x approaches 1 from the right

x 0.8 0.9 0.99 0.9999 1 1.0001 1.001 1.01 1.05

f(x) 2.8 2.9 2.99 2.9999 3 3.0001 3.001 3.01 3.05
At x = 2, the situation is
different f(2) is not defined
 But we can still ask what happens
when x is a number very close to 2
(but not exactly equal to) 2?
x approaches 2 from the left x approaches 2 from the right

x 1.8 1.9 1.99 1.9999 2 2.0001 2.001 2.01 2.05

f(x) 3.8 3.9 3.99 3.9999 4 4.0001 4.001 4.01 4.05
 We can say “the limit of f(x) as x
approaches 2 is 4” which is written
as
lim f ( x)  4
x 2

 In the first example

lim f ( x)  3
x 1
 The phrase “x approaches 1 
from the left” is written x  1

 Similarly,“x approaches 1 from


the right” is written x  1
 This expressions are used to
write one-sided limits
The limit from the left (as x
approaches 1 from the negative
direction) is written
lim f ( x)  3
x 1
 Thelimit from the right (as x
approaches 1 from the positive
direction) is written
lim f ( x)  3
x 1
A two-sided limit, such as
lim f ( x)  3
x 1

 Existsonly if both one-side

limits exist and are the
same
Properties of Limits
1. L im cf  x   c L im f  x 
x a x a
2. L im f  x   g  x    L im f  x   L im g  x 
x a x a x a
3. L im f  x  g  x   L im f  x  L im g  x 
x a x a x a

f x L im f  x 
x a
4. L im 
x a g x L im g  x 
x a
provided L im g  x  exists
x a
P
5. L im f  x    L im f  x  
p
x a  x a 


6. L im logb f  x   logb L im f  x 
x a x a

Given the following limits, use
the properties to find the
following limits
lim f ( x)  3 and lim g ( x)  4
x2 x 2


 Find lim f ( x)  5g ( x)
x 2

Find the limit using the
properties

x  x 1
2
lim
x 3 x 1
Find the limit

x  x6
2
lim
x 2 x2
Find the limit

x  2x 1
2
lim
 x  1
x 2 3
Evaluate the limit, if it exists
x2  6x  5
1. lim
x 5 x 5
x 2  3x
2. lim 2
x 3 x  x  12

x2  5x  6
3. lim
x 5 x 5
x 2  3x
4. lim 2
x  4 x  x  12

2 x 2  3x  1
5. lim 2
x 1 x  2 x  3

x2  9
6. lim 2
x 3 2 x  7 x  3
Short QUIZ ½ CW
Show complete solution
No shortcuts, Box Final Answer
Evaluate the following limits
x4
1. lim 2
x 4 x  16

 x  1
2

2. lim
x 1 x 1
2

 2  x 4
2

3. lim
x 0 x
x 4
2
4. lim 2
x2 3x  6 x
Rationalizing
x2  9
lim
x 3 x 3

x 4 x 3
lim lim
x 16 x  16
x 3 x  22  5

x  2 3 x 1  2
lim lim
x 3 x7 x 5 x 5
Seatwork by THREE

x4 9  x  80
lim lim
x4 x 5 3 x 1 x 1
x 4 3 x  9x  8
2

lim lim
x 13 x  13 x 8 x  12  2
QUIZ ½ CW
Show complete solution
No shortcuts, Box Final Answer
Evaluate the following limits
x 1 x 1
1. lim 3. lim
x 1 x5 2 x 1 5x 1  2

x  3x  4 3  6 x  21
2. lim 4. lim
x4 4 x x 2 x2