Limit Theorems

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Theorem # 1: Theorem # 2:
The limit of a constant is The limit of x as x
itself. If k is any constant, approaches c is equal to c.
then This may be thought of as
the substitution law
lim k = k because x is simply
xc substituted by c

lim x = c
k = any constant
xc
c = any real number
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Theorem # 3: Constant Multiple Theorem

lim k f(x) = k lim f(x)

xc xc

This says that the limit of a

multiple of a function is simply
that multiple of the limit of the
function.

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 Theorem # 4: Addition/Subtraction Theorem

lim [f(x) + g(x)] = lim f(x) + lim g(x)

xc xc xc
limit of a sum of functions is the sum of the
limits of the individual functions.

lim [f(x) - g(x)] = lim f(x) - lim g(x)

xc xc xc
limit of the difference of functions is the difference of
the limits of the individual functions.

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 Theorem # 5: Multiplication Theorem

lim [f(x) • g(x)] = lim f(x) • lim g(x)

xc xc xc

the limit of a product of functions is

equal to the product of their limits.

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 Theorem # 6: Division Theorem

This says that the limit of a quotient of

functions is equal to the quotient of the
limits of the individual functions, provided
the denominator limit is not equal to 0.

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 Theorem # 7: Radical / Root Theorem

lim =
xc xc

This theorem states that if n is a positive integer, the limit of

the nth root of a function is just the nth root of the limit of the
function, provided the nth root of the limit is a real number.
Thus, it is important to keep in mind that if n is even, the limit
of the function must be positive.

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Theorem # 8: Power Theorem

lim [f(x)]p = [lim f(x)]p

xc xc

This theorem states that the limit of an

integer power p of a function is just that
power of the limit of the function.

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From the examples, we see that the limit is the
same value that we’d get by just evaluating the
function at the point in question. This seems to
violate the main concept about limit that we’ve
learned to this point.

In our previous topic, we made a big deal about the

fact that limits do not care about what is happening
at the point in question. They only care about what
is happening around the point.

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In this case, the function that we’ve solved is simply “nice
enough” so what is happening around the point is exactly
the same as what is happening at the point.

The functions in our examples were POLYNOMIALS. It

turns out that polynomials are nice enough so what is
happening around the point is exactly the same as what is
happening at the point.

lim f(x) = f(c)

xc
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What is a Polynomial?
- A mathematical expression of one or more
algebraic terms each of which consists of a
constant multiplied by one or more variables
raised to a non-negative power.

ax2 + bx + c

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FACT: if f(x) is a polynomial then,

lim f(x) = f(c)

xc

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