MATH 1170 Section 2.

3 Worksheet

NAME

Important Note: The ideas that we will be discussing on this worksheet are very complex. It will take
reading through sentences multiple times in order for their meaning to register. I suggest you do this. The
proofs have breaks after each sentence for you to absorb their content (as well as for you to make notes
that help you better understand).

Recall our more precise definition of the limit of a function:

Let f be a function defined on some open interval that contains the number a, except possibly
at a itself at a itself.
Then we say that the limit of f (x) as x approaches a is L, and we write

lim f (x) = L
x→a

if every number  > 0 there is a corresponding number δ > 0

such that if 0 < |x − a| < δ then |f (x) − L| < .

We have already seen that estimating limits using graphs and tables can be problematic. Hence, it would
help if we were able to derive some tools to help us compute limits when they appear to be more complicated.

Limit Laws
As responsible investigators, we will attempt to establish each of these limit laws. But, don’t worry, we
are going to walk through the proofs of a few of the Laws of Limits together.

Sum Law
The first Law of Limits is the Sum Law. The Sum Law basically states that the limit of the sum of two
functions is the sum of the limits.

The Sum Law

If limx→a f (x) = L and limx→a g(x) = M both exist then

lim [f (x) + g(x)] = L + M.

x→a

However, before we can walk through the proof of this law, let’s establish what is called the Triangle
Inequality.

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 The Triangle Inequality

If a and b are any real numbers, then

|a + b| ≤ |a| + |b|.

proof of the Triangle Inequality: Assume that a and b are real numbers.
What can be said about the relationship between |a + b| and |a| + |b| if a and b are both positive?

Similarly, what can be said about the relationship between |a + b| and |a| + |b| if both a and b are both
negative?

Notice that since either a = |a| or a = −|a|, −|a| ≤ a ≤ |a|.

Similarly, since either b = |b| or b = −|b|, −|b| ≤ b ≤ |b|.
What do you get when you add these inequalities?

Apply the fact that |x| ≤ c if and only if −c ≤ x ≤ c to your result.

What have we established?

Now we are ready to start discussing the proof of the Sum Law.
But before we dive right into the proof, we want to make some preliminary notes.

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Preliminary Notes:
In order to prove this law, what we want to establish:

given that lim f (x) = L and lim g(x) = M both exist,

x→a x→a
we want to be able to show lim [f (x) + g(x)] = L + M.
x→a

According to our precise definition of a limit, getting lim [f (x) + g(x)] = L + M means that for any  > 0,
x→a

we must find a δ > 0 such that if 0 < |x − a| < δ then < .

Using the Triangle Inequality, we can write (*)

  


f (x) + g(x) − (L + M ) =  f (x) − L + g(x) − M  ≤

     
This means, if we can make f (x) − L + g(x) − M  less than , f (x) + g(x) − (L + M ) < .
 
We will make f (x) + g(x) − (L + M ) less than  by making each of the terms |f (x) − L| and |g(x) − M |
less than /2.
Now we are ready for the proof...

proof of The Sum Law:

Let  > 0.
Assume and both exist.

Since /2 > 0 and lim f (x) = L, (by the definition of a limit)
x→a

there exists a number δ1 > 0 such that if 0 < |x − a| < δ1 then |f (x) − L| < .

Similarly, since lim g(x) = M ,

x→a

there exists a number δ2 > 0 such that if 0 < |x − a| < δ2 then |g(x) − M | < .

Define δ = min{δ1 , δ2 }, the smaller of the two numbers δ1 and δ2 .

Notice that if 0 < |x − a| < δ then 0 < |x − a| < and 0 < |x − a| <

and so |f (x) − L| < and |g(x) − M | < .

Therefore, by (∗) (that we worked out before),

 
f (x) + g(x) − (L + M ) ≤ < /2 + /2 = .

Ta-da! We did it!

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Why did that prove the Sum Law?

From the Sum Law, we directly get the Difference Law.

The Difference Law

If limx→a f (x) = L and limx→a g(x) = M both exist then

lim [f (x) − g(x)] = L − M.

x→a

Why does this result directly follow from the Sum Law?

It seems to me that you have only learned something if you can turn around and apply it, so now, it’s your
turn!

The Product Law

The Product Law basically states that if you are taking the limit of the product of two functions then it
is equal to the product of the limits of those two functions.

The Product Law

If limx→a f (x) = L and limx→a g(x) = M both exist then

lim [f (x) · g(x)] = L · M.

x→a

The proof of this law is very similar to that of the Sum Law, but things get a little bit messier.
Fill in the following blanks appropriately.

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Preliminary Notes:
In order to prove this law, what we want to establish:

given that lim f (x) = L and lim g(x) = M both exist,

x→a x→a

According to our precise definition of a limit, getting lim [f (x) · g(x)] = L · M means that
x→a

We can write (*)

 
f (x) · g(x) − (L · M )

   
≤ |g(x)| · f (x) − L + |L| · g(x) − M .

   
This means, if we can make |g(x)| · f (x) − L + |L| · g(x) − M  less than , then we will have

< .
   
We will make |g(x)| · f (x) − L + |L| · g(x) − M  less than  by making:

   
|g(x)| · f (x) − L less than and |L| · g(x) − M  less than .
 
This means we will make, f (x) − L less than

2(1 + |M |)
 
and g(x) − M  less than

.
2(1 + |L|)

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proof of The Product Law:
Let  > 0.
Assume lim f (x) = L and lim g(x) = M both exist.
x→a x→a


Since 2(1+|M |) > 0 and lim f (x) = L, (by the definition of a limit)
x→a

there exists a number δ1 > 0 such that if 0 < |x − a| < δ1 then

|f (x) − L| < .


Similarly, since 2(1+|L|) > 0 and lim g(x) = M ,
x→a

there exists a number δ2 > 0 such that if 0 < |x − a| < δ2 then

|g(x) − M | < .

Also, let |g(x) − M | < 1 when 0 < |x − a| < δ3

Define δ = .
Notice that if 0 < |x − a| < δ then 0 < |x − a| < ,

0 < |x − a| < and 0 < |x − a| <

and so |f (x) − L| < and

|g(x) − M | < .

Therefore, by (∗) (that we worked out before),

 
f (x) · g(x) − (L · M )

≤ ≤ .

You did it! You have now prove the Product Law for Limits.

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We noticed previously that from the Sum Law, it is easy to establish the difference law.

We now encounter a similar phenomena with the Product Law and the following laws:

If limx→a f (x) = L and limx→a g(x) = M both exist then

• The Constant Multiple Law

lim [cg(x)] = cM.

x→a

• The Quotient Law

f (x) L
lim = .
x→a g(x) M
• The Power Law (where n is a positive integer)

lim [f (x)]n = Ln .
x→a

Explain how to use the Product Law to prove the Constant Multiple Law.

Explain how to use the Product Law to prove the Quotient Law.

Explain how to use the Product Law to prove the Power Law.

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Practice Exercises
Given that

lim f (x) = 5 lim g(x) = −3 lim h(x) = 13.5 lim k(x) = 0

x→−1 x→−1 x→−1 x→−1

find the limit that exists. If the limit does not exist, explain why.

a. lim [f (x) + 3g(x)] b. lim [g(x)]3

x→−1 x→−1

3g(x) f (x)g(x)
c. lim d. lim
x→−1 k(x) x→−1 h(x)

p
e. lim [h(x) − 2f (x)] f. lim [f (x) 3 g(x)]
x→−1 x→−1