The Basic Limit Laws

Basic Calculus
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
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Content Standards

The learners demonstrate an understanding of the basic

concepts of limit and continuity of function.
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Performance Standards

The learner shall be able to formulate and solve accurately

real-life problems involving continuity of functions.
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Essential Performance Elements

• Describe and explain the new abilities they have developed as the result of
self-initiated learning experiences and projects.
 Learning Competency
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to do the following:

• Illustrate the limit laws (STEM-BC11LC-IIIa-3).

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How can we determine the limit
of a function without graphing
the function or using table of
values?

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 Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to do the following:

 Determine the limit of a function without using

table of values or using its graph.

 Apply the different limit laws in evaluating limit of

a function.

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 The Basic Limit Laws

For each of the statements, let be a constant, and be

functions which may or may not have in their domains,
and the limits of and both exist where and .

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 Limit of a Constant Function

The limit of a constant function is the constant itself. Let

be any constant, then:

Example:
1. 2
2.
−1.25

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 Limit of an Identity Function

The limit of the identity function as approaches is equal

to

Example:
1. 1.5
2.
−92

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 Constant Multiple Law

The limit of a constant multiplied by a function is equal to

multiplied by the limit of the function.

Example:
1. 3 ∙ lim (3 𝑥 − 1 )¿ 3 ( 5 ) =15
2. 𝑥 →2

− 2 ∙ lim (3 𝑥 − 1 )¿ −2 ( 5 ) =−10
𝑥 →2

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 Sum or Difference Law

The limit of the sum or difference of two functions is equal

to the sum or difference of the limits of the two functions.

Example:
If and , then

¿ −3+ 4=1
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 Sum or Difference Law

The limit of the sum or difference of two functions is equal

to the sum or difference of the limits of the two functions.

Example:
If and , then

¿ −3 − 4=− 7
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 Product Law

The limit of the product of two functions is equal to the

product of the limits of the two functions.

For example, if and , then

¿ 6 ( − 8 )= − 48

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 Quotient Law

The limit of the quotient of two functions is equal to the

quotient of the limits of the two functions, provided that
the limit of the divisor is not equal to zero,
i.e. .

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 Quotient Law

For example, if and , then

− 25 5
¿ =
− 10 2

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 Power Law

The limit of the integral power of a function is equal to the

integral power of the limit of the function, provided that
the limit of the function is not equal to zero when the
exponent is negative, i.e. when .

 
provided that when

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 Power Law

For example, if , then:

3
¿(− 4) =−64

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 Root Law

The limit of the th root of a function is equal to the th root of

the limit of the function, where is a positive integer, and
the limit of the function is positive when is even. In
symbols:

 
and when is even

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 Root Law

For example, if , then

¿ √ 32=5
5

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 Let’s Practice!

Find the value of .

lim (2 𝑥 + 3 )=− 𝟓
𝑥 → −4
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 Let’s Practice!

Given and , evaluate .

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lim 10 𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) [ 𝑔( 𝑥 ) ] =𝟏𝟑 . 𝟔𝟖𝟗
𝑥→𝑏

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 Let’s Practice!

If and , calculate .

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[ 𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) ] + 𝑔 (𝑥 ) 𝟑
lim =
𝑥 → −5 𝑓 ( 𝑥 ) 𝑔( 𝑥) 𝟏𝟎
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 Check Your Understanding

Given , , and , compute the following limits.

1.
2.
3.

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 Check Your Understanding

Use the limit laws to evaluate the following limits.

1.
2.
3.

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 Let’s Sum It Up!

Basic Limit Laws

• Limit of a Constant Function

• Limit of an Identity Function
• Constant Multiple Law
• Sum or Difference Law
• Product Law
• Quotient Law
• Power Law
• Root Law 
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Key Formulas

Limit Laws Formula

Limit of a Constant Function

Limit of an Identity Function

Constant Multiple Law

Sum or Difference Law

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Key Formulas

Limit Laws Formula

Product Law

Quotient Law

Power Law

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Key Formulas

Limit Laws Formula

Root Law

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 Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to do the following:

 Determine the limit of a function without using

table of values or using its graph.

 Apply the different limit laws in evaluating limit of

a function.

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 Learn about It!

Essential Performance Elements

• Describe and explain the new abilities they have developed as the result of
self-initiated learning experiences and projects.
Bibliography

Edwards, C.H., and David E. Penney. Calculus: Early Transcendentals. 7th ed. Upper Saddle River, New
Jersey: Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2008.
 
Larson, Ron H., and Bruce H. Edwards. Essential Calculus: Early Transcendental Functions. Boston:
Houghton Mifflin, 2008.
 
Leithold, Louis. The Calculus 7. New York: HarperCollins College Publ., 1997.
 
Smith, Robert T., and Roland B. Milton. Calculus. New York: McGraw Hill, 2012.

Tan, Soo T. Applied Calculus for the Managerial, Life, and Social Sciences: A Brief Approach. Australia:
Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning, 2012.

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