Limit of A Function

Limit of a
function
Dr. Hina Dutt

SEECS-NUST
[email protected]
Objectives
In this section we will learn about

 the main idea of limit of a function
 Laws for calculating limits
Thomas’ • Chapter: 2
Calculus (11th • Sections: 2.1, 2.2
Edition)
Calculus and • Chapter: 1

Analytical
Geometry • Sections: 1.1, 1.2
(9th Edition)
Limit of a Function
Let f be a function and let a and L be real numbers. L is the limit

of f(x) as x approaches a, written
lim f ( x)  L,
x a
if the following conditions are met.

1. As x assumes values closer and closer (but not equal ) to a on
both sides of a, the corresponding values of f(x) get closer and
closer (and are perhaps equal) to L.
2. The value of f(x) can be made as close to L as desired by
taking values of x arbitrarily close to a.
Limit of a Function
Limit of a Function
Example 1 (Behavior of a Function near a
point)
How does the function
𝑥2 − 1
𝑓 𝑥 =
𝑥−1
behave near 𝑥 = 1?
The given formula defines 𝑓 for all real numbers 𝑥 except 𝑥 = 1. (we
cannot divide by zero). For any 𝑥 ≠ 1 we can simplify the formula by
factoring the numerator and canceling common factors:
(𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 + 1)
𝑓 𝑥 = = 𝑥 + 1, 𝑥≠1
𝑥−1
point)
The graph of 𝑓 is thus the line with the point (1, 2) removed. This removed point is
shown as a “hole” in Figure 2.4.
The graph of 𝑓 is identical with the line 𝑦 = 𝑥 + 1 except at 𝑥 = 1

point)
Even though 𝑓(1) is not
defined, it is clear that we can
make the value of 𝑓(𝑥) as
close as we want to 2 by
choosing 𝑥 close enough to 1
(Table 2.2).
We say that 𝑓(𝑥)
approaches the limit 2 as 𝑥
approaches 1, and write
lim 𝑓(𝑥) = 2
𝑥→1
Example 2 (The Limit Value does not depend
on how the Function is defined at 𝑥0 )
The function 𝑓 in Figure has limit 2 as even though 𝑓 is not defined at 𝑥 = 1. The
function 𝑔 has limit 2 as even though 2 ≠ 𝑔 1 . The function ℎ is the only one
whose limit as 𝑥 → 1 equals its value at 𝑥 = 1
Example 3 (Finding Limits by calculating f(𝑥0 ))
Sometimes lim 𝑓(𝑥) can be evaluated

𝑥→𝑥0
by calculating 𝑓 𝑥0 . This holds, for
example, whenever 𝑓(𝑥) is an algebraic
combination of polynomials and
trigonometric functions for which 𝑓 𝑥0
is defined.
Example 4 (A Function may fail to have a limit
at a point in its domain)
Example 4 (A Function may fail to have a limit
at a point in its domain)
Conditions under which 𝒍𝒊𝒎 𝒇(𝒙) fails to exist
𝒙→𝒂
1. f(x) approaches a number L as x approaches a from

the left and f(x) approaches a different number M as
x approaches a from the right.
2. f(x) becomes infinitely large in absolute value as x
approaches a from either side.
3. f(x) oscillates infinitely many times between two
fixed values as x approaches a.
Example 5
Find lim ( x 2
 3x  4).
x1
Solution: The behavior of f ( x)  x  3x  4 near x = 1 can

2
be determined from a table of values,
x approaches 1
x .9 .99 .999 1.001 1.01 1.1

f(x) 2.11 2.0101 2.001 1.999 1.9901 1.91
f(x) approaches 2
Example 5
Alternatively from a graph of f(x),

We see that
lim ( x 2  3 x  4)  2.
x1
Example 6
Find lim f ( x) where
x 3
 2 x  1 if x  3
f ( x)   .
4 x  5 if x  3
Solution: Create a graph and table.
Example 6
x approaches 3
x 2.9 2.99 2.999 3.001 3.01 3.1

f(x) 6.8 6.98 6.998 7.004 7.04 7.4
f(x) approaches 7
Therefore lim f ( x)  7.
x3
Laws for calculating Limits
1. Constant rule If k is a constant real number, lim k  k .
x a
2. Limit of x rule lim x  a .
xa
For the following rules, we assume that lim f ( x) and lim g ( x)
x a x a
both exist
3. Sum and difference rules
lim[ f ( x)  g ( x)]  lim f ( x)  lim g ( x).

xa xa xa
4. Product Rule
lim[ f ( x)  g ( x)]  lim f ( x)  lim g ( x).

xa xa xa
5. Quotient Rule f ( x) lim f ( x)

lim  x a .
xa g ( x) lim g ( x)
x a
provided lim g ( x)  0.
xa
6. Polynomial rule If p(x) defines a polynomial function,

then
lim p( x)  p(a).
xa
Example 7
Find lim (3  2 x).
x4
Solution: lim (3  2 x)  lim 3  lim 2 x

x 4 x 4 x 4
 3  lim 2  lim x
x 4 x 4
 3 24
 11
Example 8
Find lim 3 x 2 .
x 5
Solution: lim 3x  lim 3  lim x

2 2
x 5 x 5 x 5
 3  lim x 2
x 5
 3  lim x  lim x
x 5 x 5
 355
 75
7. Rational function rule If f(x) defines a rational

p ( x ) with
function q(a)  0 then
q( x)
lim f ( x)  f (a).
xa
8. Equal functions rule If f(x) = g(x) for all x  a , then
lim f ( x)  lim g ( x).

xa xa
9. Power rule For any real number k,

k
lim[ f ( x)]  lim f ( x) 
k
x a  x a 
provided this limit exists.

10. Exponent rule For any real number b > 0,

lim f ( x )
lim b f ( x)
b x a
.
x a
11. Logarithm rule For any real number b > 0 with b  1
lim  log b f ( x)   log b lim f ( x) 

x a  xa 
provided that lim f ( x)  0.
xa
Example 9
x  2x  3
2
Find lim 2 .
x1 x  3 x  2
Solution: Rule 7 cannot be applied directly

since the denominator is 0. First factor the
numerator and denominator
x 2  2 x  3 ( x  3)( x  1) x  3
 
x  3x  2 ( x  2)( x  1) x  2
2
Example 9
Solution: Now apply Rule 8 with

x 2  2 x  3 and x3
f ( x)  2 g ( x) 
x  3x  2 x2
so that f(x) = g(x) for all x  1 .

Questions
Evaluate the following limits
𝑥 3 +4𝑥 2 −3
1. lim
𝑥→−1 𝑥 2 +5
𝑥 2 +𝑥−2
2. lim 2
𝑥→1 𝑥 −𝑥
𝑥 2 +100−10
3. lim
𝑥2
𝑥→0
Practice Questions
• Chapter: 2
Thomas’ • Exercise: 2.1
Calculus (11th • Questions: 1-10
Edition) • Exercise: 2.2
• Questions: 1-48

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Limit of a

Dr. Hina Dutt

In this section we will learn about

Calculus and • Chapter: 1

Let f be a function and let a and L be real numbers. L is the limit

if the following conditions are met.

The graph of 𝑓 is identical with the line 𝑦 = 𝑥 + 1 except at 𝑥 = 1

Sometimes lim 𝑓(𝑥) can be evaluated

1. f(x) approaches a number L as x approaches a from

Solution: The behavior of f ( x)  x  3x  4 near x = 1 can

be determined from a table of values,

x .9 .99 .999 1.001 1.01 1.1

Alternatively from a graph of f(x),

x 2.9 2.99 2.999 3.001 3.01 3.1

lim[ f ( x)  g ( x)]  lim f ( x)  lim g ( x).

lim[ f ( x)  g ( x)]  lim f ( x)  lim g ( x).

5. Quotient Rule f ( x) lim f ( x)

6. Polynomial rule If p(x) defines a polynomial function,

Solution: lim (3  2 x)  lim 3  lim 2 x

Solution: lim 3x  lim 3  lim x

7. Rational function rule If f(x) defines a rational

8. Equal functions rule If f(x) = g(x) for all x  a , then

lim f ( x)  lim g ( x).

9. Power rule For any real number k,

provided this limit exists.

10. Exponent rule For any real number b > 0,

11. Logarithm rule For any real number b > 0 with b  1

lim  log b f ( x)   log b lim f ( x) 

Solution: Rule 7 cannot be applied directly

Solution: Now apply Rule 8 with

so that f(x) = g(x) for all x  1 .

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