LIMITS

backbone of calculus
lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝐿
𝑥→𝐶
Limit notation function limit
 lim 𝑓 𝑥 = 𝐿
𝑥→𝐶
Limit notation function limit

The limit of f(x) as x approaches to c is L.

lim 3𝑥
𝑥→2
 x f(x)
1 3
1.4 4.2
1.7 5.1
1.9 5.7
1.95 5.85
1.997 5.991
1.99999 5.99997
1.9999999 5.9999997
 x f(x)
3 9
2.5 7.5
2.2 6.6
2.1 6.3
2.03 6.09
2.009 6.027
2.0005 6.0015
2.0000001 6.0000003
Example 1.
Investigate
2
lim 𝑥 + 1
𝑥→−1
From the left to the limit

x f(x)
-1.5 3.25
-1.2 2.44
-1.01 2.0201
-1.0001 2.00020001
From the left to the limit

x f(x)
-0.5 1.25
-0.8 1.64
-0.99 1.9801
-0.9999 1.99980001
In symbols,
2
lim 𝑥 + 1 = 2
𝑥→−1
Example 2.
Investigate
lim 𝑥
𝑥→0
In symbols,
lim 𝑥 = 0
𝑥→0
Example 3.
Investigate using a table of
values
2
𝑥 − 5𝑥 + 4
lim
𝑥→1 𝑥−1
From the left to the limit

x f(x)
1.5 -2.5
1.17 -2.83
1.003 -2.997
1.0001 -2.9999
From the left to the limit

x f(x)
0.5 -3.5
0.88 -3.12
0.996 -3.004
0.9999 -3.0001
In symbols,
2
𝑥 − 5𝑥 + 4
lim = −3
𝑥→1 𝑥−1
Example 4.
Investigate using a table of values
lim 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥→4
If
𝑥+1 i𝑓𝑥 < 4
𝑓 𝑥 =ቊ 2
𝑥−4 +3 i𝑓𝑥 ≥ 4
From the left to the limit

x f(x)
3.7 4.7
3.85 4.85
3.995 4.995
3.99999 4.99999
From the left to the limit

x f(x)
4.3 3.09
4.1 3.01
4.001 3.000001
4.00001 3.000000001
In symbols,
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝐷𝑁𝐸
𝑥→1
lim 3𝑥
𝑥→2
 𝟐
𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒙 + 𝟏
𝒙→−𝟏
𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝒙
𝒙→𝟎
 𝟐
𝒙 − 𝟓𝒙 + 𝟒
𝒍𝒊𝒎
𝒙→𝟏 𝒙−𝟏
 lim 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥→4
If
𝒙+𝟏 𝐢𝒇𝒙 < 𝟒
𝒇 𝒙 =൝ 𝟐
𝒙−𝟒 +𝟑 𝐢𝒇𝒙 ≥ 𝟒
seatwork
𝒍𝒊𝒎𝒇(𝒙)
𝒙→𝟏

𝒍𝒊𝒎𝒇(𝒙)
𝒙→𝟎

𝒍𝒊𝒎𝒇(𝒙)
𝒙→𝟑
Topic 1.2: The Limit
of a Function at c
versus the Value of
the Function at c
 𝒇(𝒄)

𝒍𝒊𝒎𝒇(𝒙)
𝒙→𝒄
lim 3𝑥 = 6
𝑥→2
𝒇 𝟐 = 𝟑𝒙
𝒇 𝟐 =𝟔
lim 3𝑥
𝑥→2
 𝟐
𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒙 + 𝟏 = 𝟐
𝒙→−𝟏

𝟐
𝒇 −𝟏 = 𝒙 + 𝟏
=𝟐
 𝟐
𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒙 + 𝟏
𝒙→−𝟏
 2
𝑥 − 5𝑥 + 4
lim = −3
𝑥→1 𝑥−1
 2
𝑥 − 5𝑥 + 4
𝒇 𝟏 =
𝑥−1
2
1 − 5(1) + 4
𝒇 𝟏 =
1−1
 2
𝑥 − 5𝑥 + 4
lim = −3
𝑥→1 𝑥−1
𝒇 𝟏 = 𝐷𝑁𝐸
 𝟐
𝒙 − 𝟓𝒙 + 𝟒
𝒍𝒊𝒎
𝒙→𝟏 𝒙−𝟏
 𝒍𝒊𝒎𝒇(𝒙)
𝒙→𝟒
If

𝒙+𝟏 𝐢𝒇𝒙 < 𝟒

𝒇 𝒙 =൝ 𝟐
𝒙−𝟒 +𝟑 𝐢𝒇𝒙 ≥ 𝟒

𝒍𝒊𝒎𝒇(𝒙) = 𝑫𝑵𝑬
𝒙→𝟏
 𝒍𝒊𝒎𝒇 𝒙 = 𝑫𝑵𝑬
𝒙→𝟒

𝟐
𝒇 𝟒 = 𝒙−𝟒 +𝟑
𝒇 𝟒 =𝟑
 lim 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑥→4
If
𝒙+𝟏 𝐢𝒇𝒙 < 𝟒
𝒇 𝒙 =൝ 𝟐
𝒙−𝟒 +𝟑 𝐢𝒇𝒙 ≥ 𝟒