BASIC CALCULUS 1

LIMITS
AND
CONTINUITY
LESSON 2:
• The Limit Theorems
• Limits of Polynomial, Rational and Radical
Functions
OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the lesson you are expected to be able
to:
• Illustrate the limit theorems
• Apply the limit theorems in evaluating the limit of
algebraic functions (polynomial. Rational, and radical)
 Let f(x) =

Evaluate :

=3
b.
=3
c.
=3
d.
=3
THE LIMIT THEOREMS:
Also called as Limit Laws, and used to evaluate the
limit of a function at a real number c.

Suppose that c is a real number and that and both exist.

Theorem 1: Identity Rule
The limit of x as it approaches
to c is equal to c.
Examples:
Evaluate:
Examples:
Evaluate:
2.
Seatwork 1.
Theorem 2: Constant Rule
The limit of constant k as x
approaches to c is equal to the
constant itself.
Examples:
Evaluate:
Examples:
Evaluate:

2.
Seatwork 2.
Seatwork 3.
Theorem 3: Sum Rule
The limit of the sum of two
functions is the sum of their limits.
Example:
Evaluate:

= 3 +7
= 10
Seatwork 4.
=
=4 + 3
=7
Theorem 4: Difference Rule
The limit of the difference of two
functions is the difference of their
limits.
Examples:
Evaluate:

= 0.1 -
= -1.3142
Seatwork 5.
Theorem 5: Product of a constant
and a function
The constant k can be factored
outside of a limit.
Examples:
Evaluate:

=6 4
= 24
Seatwork 6.
Theorem 6: Product Rule
The limit of the product of two
functions is the product of their
limits.
Examples:
Evaluate:

=
=(-1) (-1-11)
= 12
Seatwork 7.
Theorem 7: Quotient Rule
The limit of a quotient of two functions
is the quotient of their limits, except
when the limit of the denominator is
zero.

,if the
Examples:
Evaluate:

=
= =
Seatwork 8.
Theorem 8: Power Rule

, where n is a positive integer.

Examples:
Evaluate:
Examples:
Evaluate:
2.
Seatwork 9.
Theorem 9: Power Function Rule
The limit of an nth power of a
function is the nth power of the
limit of the function, where n is a
positive integer.
, where n is a positive integer.
Examples:
Evaluate:

=[
=
=
=
= 46 656
Seatwork 10.
Theorem 10: Radical Rule

, where n is a positive integer, and

c>0 if n is even
Examples:
Evaluate:

2.

Seatwork 10.
Theorem 11: Radical Function Rule

, where n is a positive integer, and c>0 if n

is even
Example:
Evaluate:
1.
=
=
=
Seatwork 11.
Theorem 12: Direct Substitution Rule
If f(x) is a polynomial or a rational function and c is in the
domain of f(x), then
Examples:
Evaluate:

=
=-629

Seatwork 12.
Theorem 13: Rational Power Rule
Let m and n be integers with no common factor and n≠0. If ,
where exists, then
Examples:
Evaluate:

Seatwork 13.
Indeterminate Form
If and , then is called an indeterminate form

If we get , then we found the limit.

If we get the indeterminate form , then we need to rewrite the
numerator and denominator so we can obtain a new form which
is not . Then evaluate the limit by direct substitution.
Example 1. Evaluate Direct Substitution:

Factor
= Cancel
= 8+8 Apply Limit Theorem 12: Direct
Substitution
= 16
Example 2. Evaluate Direct Substitution:
Rationalize
the numerator.
= Multiply numerators
and denominators.
Simplify
Cancel
Seatwork 14. Evaluate

Seatwork 15. Evaluate

Using the appropriate Limit Theorem, evaluate the limits of the
following functions.