1.3-Theorems On Limits

MAT 060/051
Calculus I /
The Calculus with Analytic Geometry 1
Mathematics Department
Mindanao State University Main Campus
Marawi City
October 14, 2020

Limit Theorems
- It would be a difficult task to solve each problem on limits using the

Definition 1.7. This section introduces theorems which may be used(as
shortcuts) to simplify the process of evaluating limits.
- Theorem 1.13 (Uniqueness of a Limit)
If lim f (x) = L1 and lim f (x) = L2 , then L1 = L2 .
x→a x→a
Theorems 1.13 states that if a function has two limits then it must be of
equal value
- Theorem 1.14 (Limit of a Constant Function)
If k is a constant, then for any real number a,
lim k = k.
x→a
Illustration:
1. lim (−4) = −4.
x→2
2. lim (ln 2) = ln 2.
x→0
- Theorem 1.15 (Limit of Identity Function)
If k is a constant, then for any real number a,
lim x = a.
x→a
Illustration:
1. lim (x) = −4.
x→−4
2. lim x = π.
x→π
- Corollary 1.15 If k is a constant and lim f (x) = L, then
x→a
lim kf (x) = k lim f (x) = kL.

x→a x→a
Illustration:
1. lim −2x = −2 lim x = −2(3) = −6.
x→3 x→3
3 3 3
2. lim x = lim x = π · π = 3.
x→π π π x→π
- Theorem 1.16 (Limit of a Linear Function)
If m, b are constants, then
lim (mx + b) = ma + b.
x→a
- Proof: Consider the following cases:
Case 1: Suppose m = 0. Then mx + b = b and by Theorem 1.14,
lim b = b.
x→a
Case 2: Suppose m 6= 0. If we let f (x) = mx + b and L = ma + b, then
by Definition 1.7, we must show that for every > 0 there exists a
number δ > 0 such that if 0 < |x − a| < δ , then
|(mx + b) − (ma + b)| < .

Take δ = . Then
|m|
|(mx + b) − (ma + b)| = |mx − ma| = |m(x − a)|

= |m||(x − a)| < |m|δ = |m| · = .
|m|

This implies that given > 0, if 0 < |x − a| < δ , where δ = , then
|m|
|(mx + b) − (ma + b)| < .
Hence,
lim (mx + b) = ma + b.
x→a
Illustration: lim (2y − 8) = 2(−1) − 8 = −2 − 8 = −10.

y→−1
- Theorem 1.18 (Limit of a Sum)
If lim f (x) = L and lim g(x) = M , then
x→a x→a
lim [f (x) + g(x)] = L + M.

x→a
That is,
lim [f (x) + g(x)] = lim f (x) + lim g(x)
x→a x→a x→a
(Limit of a sum is the sum of the limits.)

Illustration:
lim [(2x − 7) + (4 − 3x)] = lim (2x − 7) + lim (4 − 3x)

x→1 x→1 x→1
= [2(1) − 7] + [4 − 3(1)] = −5 + 1 = −4.
- Theorem 1.19 (Limit of a Product)
If lim f (x) = L and lim g(x) = M , then
x→a x→a
lim [f (x) · g(x)] = L · M.

x→a
That is,
lim [f (x) · g(x)] = lim f (x) · lim g(x).
x→a x→a x→a
(Limit of a product is the product of the limits.)

Illustration:

lim [(2x − 7)(−5x + 1)] = lim (2x − 7) lim (−5x + 1)
x→0 x→0 x→0
= [2(0) − 7][−5(0) + 1] = (−7)(1) = −7.
- Theorem 1.20 (Limit of a Quotient)
If lim f (x) = L and lim g(x) = M , M 6= 0, then
x→a x→a
f (x) L
lim = .
x→a g(x) M
That is,
f (x) lim f (x)

lim = x→a
x→a g(x) lim g(x)
x→a
(Limit of a quotient is the quotient of the limits.)

x−2 lim (x − 2) 3−2
Illustration: lim = x→3 = = 91 .
x→3 2x + 3 lim (2x + 3) 2(3) + 3
x→3
The following theorems give us the extended Theorem 1.18 and extended
Theorem 1.19 respectively:
- Theorem 1.21 If lim f1 (x) = L1 , lim f2 (x) = L2 ,... and lim fn (x) = Ln ,
x→a x→a x→a
then
lim [f1 (x) + f2 (x) + ... + fn (x)] = L1 + L2 + ... + Ln .

x→a
- Theorem 1.22 If lim f1 (x) = L1 , lim f2 (x) = L2 ,... and lim fn (x) = Ln ,
x→a x→a x→a
then
lim [f1 (x)f2 (x)...fn (x)] = L1 L2 ...Ln .

x→a
Other Limit Theorems
- Theorem 1.23 If lim f (x) = L and n is any positive integer, then we have
x→a
lim [f (x)]n = [lim f (x)]n = Ln .

x→a x→a
Illustration:
h i5
lim (2x−12)5 = lim (2x − 12) = [2(5)−12]5 = [10−12]5 = (−2)5 = −32.
x→5 x→5
- Corollary 1.24 lim xn = an .

x→a
Proof: This follows from Theorem 1.23, if we let f (x) = x.
- Theorem 1.25 If f is a polynomial function, then
lim f (x) = f (a)

x→a
for every real number a.

Proof: Let f (x) = bn xn + bn−1 xn−1 + ... + b3 x3 + b3 x2 + b1 x + b0 , where
bi ’s are real numbers. Then applying Theorem 1.18, Theorem 1.23 and
Corollary 1.15,
lim f (x) = lim bn xn + bn−1 xn−1 + ... + b3 x3 + b3 x2 + b1 x + b0

x→a x→a
= bn an + bn−1 an−1 + ... + b3 a3 + b3 a2 + b1 a + b0 = f (a).

- Theorem 1.26 If lim f (x) = L, then
x→a
p
n
q √
n
lim f (x) = n lim f (x) = L,
x→a x→a
√
n
provided L ∈ R.
Illustration:
√ q p √
lim 3 −8 + 21x = 3 lim (−8 + 21x) = 3 −8 + 21(0) = 3 −8 = −2.
x→0 x→0
- Corollary 1.27 If q is a rational function and a is in the domain of q , then
lim q(x) = q(a).

x→a
- Theorem 1.28 If F and G are two functions such that F (x) = G(x) for
all x 6= a, and if lim G(x) exists, then lim F (x) exists. Moreover,
x→a x→a
lim F (x) = lim G(x).

x→a x→a
x2 −x x(x−1)
Illustration: lim = lim = lim x = 1,
x→1 x−1 x→1 x−1 x→1
x2 −x
where x−1 = x for all x 6= 1.
- Note that all the illustrations that we have can be done by direct
substitution. So, the first thing to do to evaluate limit of a function is
direct substitution. If the result is a real number, then that real number
is the limit of the function. However, if the result is 00 , we may simplify
the expression by factoring or rationalizing, whichever is applicable.
x2 + 2x
- Illustration: lim
x→−2 x + 2
By direct substitution,
x2 + 2x (−2)2 + 2(−2) 0
lim = = .
x→−2 x + 2 −2 + 2 0
Thus,
x2 + 2x x(x + 2)
lim = lim = lim x = −2.
x→−2 x + 2 x→−2 x + 2 x→−2
√ √
x−3 9−3 3−3 0
Illustration: lim = = = .
x→9 9 − x 9−9 9−9 0
Now, rationalizing the numerator yields
√ √ √
x−3 x−3 x+3
lim = lim ·√
x→9 9 − x x→9 9 − x x+3
x−9 −1 −1
= lim √ = lim √ = .
x→9 (9 − x)( x + 3) x→9 x+3 6
Use the previous Theorems on Limits to evaluate the following limits.
√
1. lim 102
x→0
2. lim
√ x
x→ 2
3. lim (3z + 3)
z→0
p
4. lim 5 (2x − 9)3
x→4
5x2 − 2x + 1
5. lim
x→3 6x − 7
√
3
x
6. lim
x→8 x − 7
2 √
x3 + 3 x
7. lim
x→8 4 − 16
x
2
y + 4y + 4
8. lim
y→−2 y3 + 8
√
3
h+3
9. lim
h→−27 h + 27

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MAT 060/051

October 14, 2020

- It would be a difficult task to solve each problem on limits using the

lim kf (x) = k lim f (x) = kL.

|(mx + b) − (ma + b)| < .

Illustration: lim (2y − 8) = 2(−1) − 8 = −2 − 8 = −10.

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

(Limit of a sum is the sum of the limits.)

lim [(2x − 7) + (4 − 3x)] = lim (2x − 7) + lim (4 − 3x)

lim [f (x) · g(x)] = L · M.

(Limit of a product is the product of the limits.)

f (x) lim f (x)

(Limit of a quotient is the quotient of the limits.)

lim [f1 (x) + f2 (x) + ... + fn (x)] = L1 + L2 + ... + Ln .

lim [f1 (x)f2 (x)...fn (x)] = L1 L2 ...Ln .

lim [f (x)]n = [lim f (x)]n = Ln .

- Corollary 1.24 lim xn = an .

lim f (x) = f (a)

for every real number a.

lim f (x) = lim bn xn + bn−1 xn−1 + ... + b3 x3 + b3 x2 + b1 x + b0

= bn an + bn−1 an−1 + ... + b3 a3 + b3 a2 + b1 a + b0 = f (a).

- Corollary 1.27 If q is a rational function and a is in the domain of q , then

lim q(x) = q(a).

lim F (x) = lim G(x).

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|(mx + b) − (ma + b)| < .