Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 2 views

    Evaluating Limits I

    Uploaded by

    Mitko Georgiev
    .

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Evaluating Limits I

    Uploaded by

    Mitko Georgiev
    2 views3 pages
    .

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    .

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    2 views3 pages

    Evaluating Limits I

    Uploaded by

    Mitko Georgiev
    .

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 3

    Math 251, 2.

    3 Evaluating Limits I

    (1) Basics. At this point we will focus on evaluating limits of algebraic functions (polyno-
    mials, rational functions, radical functions). We start with a basic theorem. We will not
    prove it, however, you should ask yourself how it would proved using the  − δ definition
    of the limit.

    Theorem
    Let b and c be real numbers, and let n be a positive integer. Then
    (a) lim b = b
    x→c

    (b) lim x = c
    x→c

    Think of the graph of the function. As we get closer to x = c on the graph f (x) = x, f
    get’s closer to c along the y-axis.

    (2) Example A: lim 3 = 3, and lim x = −4.


    x→2 x→−4

    (3) More Theorems

    Theorem: Properties of Limits Let b and c be real numbers, and let n be a


    positive integer, and let f and g be functions for which the limits
    lim f (x) = L and lim g(x) = K
    x→c x→c
    Then,
    (a) (Scalar Multiple)lim [bf (x)] = bL
    x→c

    (b) (Sum or Difference) lim [f (x) ± g(x)] = L ± K.


    x→c

    (c) (Product) lim [f (x) · g(x)] = L · K.


    x→c
    f (x) L
    (d) (Quotient) lim = .
    x→c g(x) K
    (e) (Power) lim [f (x)]n = Ln .
    x→c

    Note: In general, these rules work only if you can evaluate the function. They seem to
    suggest that the way to evaluate lim f (x) = f (c). In general, this is not true unless the
    x→c
    function is continuous. In cases where you get DNE, or 0/0, you would need to do some
    more work to investigate the limit.

    (4) Example B: Evaluate lim (4x2 + 3).


    x→2
    Solution:

    lim (4x2 + 3) = lim 4x2 + lim 3


    x→2 x→2 x→2
     
    2
    = 4 lim x + lim 3
    x→2 x→2
    2
    = 4(2) + 3
    = 19
    1
    x2 + x + 2
    (5) Example C: Evaluate lim .
    x→1 x+1
    Solution:
    x2 + x + 2 limx→1 x2 + x + 1
    lim =
    x→1 x+1 x+1
    2
    1 +1+1
    =
    1+1
    4
    =
    2
    = 2
    (6) Radicals.

    Theorem: Limits of a Function Involving a Radical: Let n be a positive


    integer. Then the following is valid for when n odd for all c, and when n is even,
    only for c > 0.
    √
    n
    √
    n
    lim x= c
    x→c

    (7) Compositie Functions.

    Theorem: Limits of Composite Functions: If f and g are functions such that


    lim g(x) = L and limx→L f (x) = f (L), then
    x→
     
    lim f (g(x)) = f lim g(x) = f (L).
    x→c x→c
    p
    3
    (8) Example D: Evaluate lim 2x2 − 10.
    x→3
    Solution:
    p
    3
    q
    lim 2x2 − 10 = 3 lim (2x2 − 10)
    x→3 x→3
    √3
    = 8
    = 2
    (9) What happens when we get a 0/0 form (that is given a rational function, if the top
    function evaluate to 0 and the bottom function evaluate to 0). We have the following
    theorem which enables us to find the limit.

    Theorem: Functions that Agree at All but One Point: Let c be a real num-
    ber, and let f (x) = g(x) for all x 6= c in an open interval containing c. If the limit
    of g(x) as x approaches c exists, then the limit of f (x) as x approaches c exists and

    lim f (x) = lim g(x)


    x→c x→c

    x2 + x − 6
    (10) Example E: Evaluate lim .
    x→−3 x+3
    Solution: Notice that when we plug the limit in, we get 0/0. So we need to investigate
    further. First we check if we can simplify the expression.
    x2 + x − 6 (x + 3)(x − 2)
    lim = lim
    x→−3 x+3 x→−3 (x + 3)
    = lim x − 2
    x→−3
    = −5
    2
    Notice when you try to graph the function, you will get a straight line. The calcula-
    tor’s resolution is poor, and so it will not show you that there is a break unless you get
    very close to the point (essentially the zoom feature on your calculator is a technological
    form of the  − δ proof.
    1 1
    −
    (11) Example F: Evaluate lim 3 + h 3 .
    h→0 h
    Solution: We notice that we get a 0/0. So we check if we can simplify the problem.

    1 1 3−3−h
    −
    3(3 + h)
    lim 3 + h 3 = lim
    h→0 h h→0 h
    −h
    = lim
    h→0 h(3(3 + h)
    −1
    = lim
    h→0 9 + 3h
    1
    = −
    9
    (12) Rationalizing Technique. Another way to find a limit is the technique of rationaliz-
    ing the numerator of the a fractional expression containing a radical, and that evaluates
    to a 0/0 form. We do this bu multiplying the top and the bottom by the conjugate of
    the numerator.
    √
    x+1−1
    (13) Example G: Evaluate lim .
    x→0 x
    Solution: When we evaluate √ the limit, we get a 0/0. So we multiply the top and the
    bottom of the function by x + 1 + 1.
    √ √ √
    x+1−1 x+1−1 x+1+1
    lim = lim ·√
    x→0 x x→0 x x+1+1
    √ √
    x+1−1 x+1+1
    = lim ·√
    x→0 x x+1+1
    (x + 1) − 1
    = lim √
    x→0 x( x + 1 + 1)
    x
    = lim √
    x→0 x( x + 1 + 1)
    = 1
    √
    x+1−2
    (14) (You DO!) lim .
    x→3 x−3

    You might also like