LIMITS AND CONTINUITY

Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, the students are expected to:

1. Identify and define the different limit theorem;

2. Solve for the limits of the given functions by applying the different Limit Theorems;
3. Identify the different evaluating techniques and apply them in order to evaluate limits of
functions.
4. State the conditions for a function to be considered as continuous at the values of x ; and
5. Realize one’ own strengths, weaknesses and limitations.

Introduction

“Nobody is perfect” as what we always say. We have our strengths, but we also do have our
own weaknesses and limitations. We commit mistakes at times. But as God’s creations, we
continuously strive for perfection. We all strive to act as children of God. We all strive to reach for
the kingdom of God.
The concept of limit is the fundamental foundation of Calculus. This concept actually links the
gap between Algebra and Algebra.

Limit of a function is the intended height of a function. It describes the behavior of the function at a
specific value of x , which is the independent variable.

Take a look at the graph below.

x=b
x=a

The graph is actually a graph of a linear function. Notice on the graph reaches that, at a value of
x = a, the graph reaches a certain point. Also, at x = b, the graph reaches a certain height, which actually
higher than x=a.

This topics contains the different Limit Theorems, the different techniques in evaluating limits of
functions, and the concept of continuity.
 A. Limit of Functions

This section discusses the different limit theorem that can be used in evaluating limits of functions.
This is a longer and more complicated process in evaluating limits of functions.

Lesson Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, the students are expected to:
1. Identify and define the different Limit Theorems;
2. Determine the limits of the given functions by applying the different Limit Theorem;
3. Determine the other techniques of evaluating limits of functions;
4. Enumerate the steps in evaluating limits of functions by factoring and conjugate methods;
5. Identify when to use factoring and conjugate techniques;
6. Determine limits of functions by applying factoring and conjugate methods; and
7. Manifest the value of self-acceptance, self-awareness, and humility.

Main Limit Theorems

In the definition of each theorem, let c be any constant, n as any positive integer, and f and g as
the given functions, which have limits at k.

The limit of a Constant Theorem

Definition, lim
x→ k
¿c
Illustrative Examples:

1. lim
x→ 4
−3=−3
2 2
2. lim1 5 = 5 Remember:
x→
2
The limit of the constant as x approaches to any
3. lim π =π
x →3 constant is always to the given constant.
4. lim 5.25=5.25
x→ 1.2
−1 −1
5. lim1 10 = 10
x→
3

Limit of a function x

Definition, lim
x →k
x ¿k

Illustrative Examples:

1. lim
x →1
x ¿1
−1
2. lim x ¿ Remember:
x→
−1 2
2
The limit of the function x as x approaches to any
3. lim x=3.25
x→ 3.25 constant is always equal to the constant.
4. lim
x→ π
x=π

5. lim
x →r
x =r
 Limit of a constant and a function f(x)

Definition. lim
x →k
lim cf ( x ) ¿ c lim lim ¿ ¿
x→ k

Illustrative Examples

1. lim 3 x=3 lim x

x→−2
Remember:
= 3(-2) = -6
In evaluating the Limit of a Constant and a Function, the
lim −6 x=−6 lim x
2. x→
1 following steps can be followed:
2
1. Express the limit as a product of a constant and the limit
1 of a function x
= -6 ( ) = -3 2. Find the limit of the function x based on the given values
2
for x
3. Simplify the resulting numbers.
lim 5 x=5 lim x
3. x→
1
25

1 1
=5( ) =
25 5

Limit of Sum and Difference of Functions

Definition. lim
x →k
[f ( x ) ± g ( x ) ]=lim f (x )± lim g( x)
x→ k x→ k

Illustrative Examples:

1. lim x +5=¿ lim x + lim 5

x →−2 x→−2 x→−2
= -2 + 5 = 3

lim 4 x−2=¿ 4 lim x - lim 2

2. x→−5 x →−5 x→−5
= 4(-5) – 2 = -22

3. lim −3 x −4=¿ −3 lim x lim 4

x→
1
x→
1 - x→
1
3 3 3

1
= -3( ¿ – 4 = -5
3

Remember:
In evaluating the Limit of Sum /Difference of Functions, the
following steps can be followed:
1. Express the limit as sum or difference of functions
depending on the number of terms.
2. Apply the previously discussed limit theorems in
finding the limit of each term.
 Limit of Product of Functions

Definition. lim
x →k
[f ( x ) . g ( x )]=lim f ( x ) . lim g( x)
x→ k x→ k

Illustrative Examples:

1. lim
x →1
¿ = 3 lim x . lim 5
x→ 1 x→1
= 3(1). 5 = 15

2. lim ¿ = ¿] ( lim x + lim 5)

x→−2 x→−2 x→−2
= [2(-2) +1] (-2 +5) = (-4 + 1) (3) = - 9

3. lim ¿ = ¿] ¿)
x→−3
= (-3 + 1) (- 5) = 10

Remember:
In evaluating the Limit Products of Functions, the following
steps can be followed:
1. Express the limit in expanded from by applying the
limit of Products Theorem.
2. Evaluate the limit of each function by applying the
previous discussed limit theorems.
3. Simplify.

Limit of Quotient of Functions

lim f (x )
f (x) x→ k
Definition. lim = , provided g(x) = 0
x →k g(x ) lim g( x )
x→k

Illustrative Examples:

Remember:

In evaluating the Limit of Quotient of Functions, the following steps

can be followed:

1. Express the limit in expanded form by applying the Limit

of Quotients Theorem.
2. Evaluate the limit of each function by applying the
previously discussed limit theorems.
 lim x lim x
x→ 5
x→ 5 5
1. = =
2 lim 2 2
x →5

lim 3 x 3 lim x
x →−6
x →−6 3(−6)
2. = = = -9
2 lim 2 2
x →−6

lim x +5 lim x + lim 5

x→ 2
x→ 2 x→ 2 2+ 5 7 7
3. = = = =
3 x−2 3 lim x−lim 2 3 (2 )−2 6−2 4
x→ 2 x →2

Limit of Power of Functions

n
Definition. lim [f ( x ) ] = ¿
x →k

Illustrative Examples:

4 4
1. lim x = [lim x ] = 24 = 16
x →2 x→ 2

2. lim x 2+ 2 x +1 = ¿ ¿ + 2 lim x + lim 1

x→−9 x→−9 x →−9

= (−9)2 + 2(-9) + 1 = 81 – 18 + 1 = 64

3. lim 3 x 4 +9 x 2 = 3[ lim x ¿ 4 +9 lim x ¿ ¿ 2 ¿

x→−3 x→−3 x →−9

= 3(−3) 4+ 9(−3)2 = 3(81) + 9(9) = 324

Limit of Root of Functions

Definition. lim
x→ k
√n f (x) = √n lim
x→ k
f ( x) , provided that Lim
f(x) ¿ 0 when n is even

Illustrative Examples:

1. lim √ x =
x →8
√ lim x = √ 8 = √ 4 (2)
x→ 8
= 2 √2

2. lim 3 x √3 x = 3 lim x . √ lim x =

3
81 (3) = 243
x→ 27 x → 27 x →27
2
3. lim √ 3 x −2 x+ 8 = √3¿¿¿
x →2

= √ 3(2)2−2 ( 2 )+ 8 = √ 3 ( 4 )−4 +8 = 4

Substitution Theorem

Definition. If function f is a polynomial function or

a rational function, then

lim f ( x ) = lim f ( k )
x →k x →k

provided that in case of rational functions, the

value of the denominator at k is not equal to zero.
 Illustrative Examples:
4 2
1. Evaluate the lim 3 x −2 x +10 x−1.
x →2
Substituting all values of x by 2, then
lim 3 x 4 −2 x2 +10 x−1 = 3(2)4−2 ( 2 )2 +10 ( 2 )−1
x →2
By simplifying, applying PEMDAS rule, the answer will be 59.

2
2. Find the lim 3 x −2 x +5.
x→ 1/ 3
Substituting all values of x, then
2
lim 3 x2−2 x +5 = 3( 1 ) – 2( 1 ) + 5 =
1−2+15
=
14
x→ 1/ 3 2 3 3 3

2
3. Find the Find thelim 4 x −5 x−10 = - 11
x →1

Remember

In evaluating limit of functions by Substitution Theorem,

the following steps:

1. Substitute all x’s by the given values

2. Simplify by applying the PEMDAS Rule.

Other Techniques in Evaluating Limits of Functions

There are some instances that applying Substitution Theorem is applicable. That is
when the limit becomes undefined upon substituting the given value for x. In this case, other
techniques such as factoring method or conjugate method can be used.

By Factoring
Illustrative Examples:

lim x 2 +3 x−10
1. Evaluate the x →−5 .
x+ 5
Using the Substitution Theorem.

lim x 2 +3 x−10 25−25−10

x →−5 = ¿¿ = = ∝
x+ 5 0

Notice that upon simplifying, the limit of the given function is undefined. It means
that there is no existing limit.
If we going to observe the numerator, notice that it is factorable.
By factoring the numerator

lim x 2 +3 x−10 (x +5)( x−2)

x →−5 will become lim
x+ 5 x→−5 x +5
Cancelling the common factor x + 5, the given limit will now become,
lim ¿ x – 2
x→−5

Applying the Substitution Theorem and simplifying, the limit of the given is -7.

lim x 3 +27
2. Evaluate the x →−3
x +3
Using the Substitution Theorem,

lim x 3 +27 (−3)3 +27 −27+27

x →−3 = = =∝
x +3 −3+3 0

Observe that upon simplifying, the limit of the given function is undefined. It means that there is
no existing limit.

lim x 3 +27 (x +3)(x¿ ¿2−3 x+ 9)

x →−3 lim ¿ =
will become x→−3 ¿
x +3 x +3

Cancelling the common factor x + 3, the given limit will now become,
lim ¿ x 2−3 x+ 9
x→−3
Applying the Substitution Theorem and simplifying, the limit of the given function is 27.
x−3
3. Evaluate the lim 2
x →3 x + 4 x−21
Using the Substitution Theorem,

x−3 3−3 0
lim 2 = 2 = = ∝
x →3 x + 4 x−21 3 + 4 ( 3 )−21 0

Note that upon simplifying, the limit of the given function, the limit is again undefined.
In this case, the denominator of the given function is the one factorable.
By factoring the denominator, which is quadratic trinomial.

x−3 x−3
lim 2 = will become lim
x →3 x + 4 x−21 x →3 (x−3)(x+7)

Cancelling the common factoring factor x – 3, the given limit will now become,

1
lim
x →3 x +7

1
Applying the Substitution Theorem and simplifying, the limit of the given function is
10

Remember:

Factoring Method is used when:

1. The limit of the given rational function is undefined

2. Either the numerator or denominator of the rational functions is factorable.

In evaluating limits of functions using Factoring Method, the following steps can be applied

1. Factor either the numerator or denominator of the given rational function.

2. Cancel the common factor
3. Apply the Substitution Theorem
4. Simplify

By Conjugation
 Conjugation is a process of simplifying rational expressions which contains radical on the
denominator.

4
For instance, we are given the expression below and we are asked to simplify,
5+ √ 3
First, we get the conjugate of the denominator and multiply it to the both the numerator and
the denominator of the fraction. To get the conjugate, just copy the first and second terms on the
denominator and change the sign in between. That is, 5 - √ 3.

So, we have

4 5−√ 3 20−4 √ 3 20−4 √ 3

. = =
5+ √ 3 5−√ 3 25−3 22
The question is, when are we going to applying conjugation in evaluating limits of functions?

Try to examine the following examples:

x−25
1. Find lim .
x→ 25 √ x−5

By substitution, we have
x−25 25−25 0
lim = = = ∝
x→ 25 √ x−5 5−5 0

Notice that the limit is undefined as we used substitution. Because of this, we need to look for
another method wherein the limit will be defined. This time, we are going to use the process of
conjugation.
Before taking the limit, multiply the conjugate of the terms with radical on both the numerator
and denominator of the fraction and simplify. That is,

x−25 √ x +5 ( √ x+ 5)( x −25)

. = = √ x+5
√x 5 √ x +5 x−25
Take the limit of √ x+5 as x approach to 25 by using substitution. So, we have

= √ x+5 = √ 25+5 = 5 + 5 = 10

Therefore, the limit of the function as x approaches to 25 is 10.

11−√ x
2. Find lim .
x→ 121 121−x
Again, if we are going to take a look at the example, its limit is undefined by using substitution.
So, we need to conjugate first, before taking the limit.

11− √ x 11+ √ x 121−x 1

. = =
121−x 11+ √ x (121−x )(11+ √ x) 11+ √ x

1
Then, we take the limit of as x approaches to 121 by substitution. So, we have
11+ √ x
1 1 1
= = =
11+ √ x 11=11 22

1
Therefore, the limit of the function as x approaches to 121 is
22

Remember

Conjugation method is being used when:

1. The limit of the given rational function is undefined and

2. Either the numerator or denominator of the rational function is composed of radicals.

In evaluating limits of functions using Conjugation Method, the following steps can be applied:

1. Get the conjugate of the radical

2. Multiply the conjugate to the numerator and denominator of the given rational
 ∝
LIMIT OF INFINITY. Another indeterminate form is of the type . This occurs when the limit of the
∝
∝
numerator and denominator after direct substitution is evaluate . To determine the limit of this type
∝
divide each term of the function by the higest degree of the ratinal expression. The following examples
describe this rule.

4 x 2+ 2 x +3
1. Evaluate the lim 2
x→ ∝ 9 x + 4 x−2

Dividing each term by x 2 (the highest degree of the variable in the function), we get

2 3
4+ + 2
x x
= lim ; using the limit property of infinity this reduces to
x→ ∝ 4 2
9+ − 2
x x
2 3
4+ +
∝ ∝
= lim = 4/9
x→ ∝ 4 2
9+ −
∝ ∝