NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

SPMS/DIVISION OF MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES

2024/25 Semester 1 MH1100 Calculus I Tutorial 3, Week 4

Your tutor will aim to discuss: Problem 2, 4, 7, 8, 11, and 12

Problem 1 Consider two functions f and g, with the following graphs:

Figure 1. Graphs for Problem 1.

Use these graphs to evaluate the following limits. If the limit does not exist, explain why.
(a) lim [f (x) + g(x)] (b) lim [f (x) + g(x)] (c) lim [f (x)g(x)]
x→2 x→1 x→0p
(d) lim fg(x)
(x)
(e) lim [x3 f (x)] (f) lim 3 + f (x)
x→−1 x→2 x→1

[Solution:] We are given the graphs for two functions, f and g, and are asked to investigate
a number of related quantities.
(a) First we are asked for lim [f (x) + g(x)]. Notice that the limits of the pieces exist:
x→2

lim f (x) = 2, lim g(x) = 0.

x→2 x→2

It thus follows from the “Sum Law” that the sum f (x) + g(x) also has a limit at
x = 2, and it is equal to:
lim (f (x) + g(x)) = lim f (x) + lim g(x) = 2.
x→2 x→2 x→2

(b) The limit lim [f (x) + g(x)] does not exist. This is because
x→1

lim (f (x) + g(x)) = lim f (x) + lim g(x) = 1 + 2 = 3,

x→1− x→1− x→1−

while
lim (f (x) + g(x)) = lim f (x) + lim g(x) = 1 + 1 = 2.
x→1+ x→1+ x→1+

1
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(c) We are asked to evaluate the limit lim [f (x)g(x)]. Because lim f (x) exists and equals
x→0 x→0
0 and lim g(x) exists and is approximately equal to 1.4, it follows that
x→0

lim [f (x)g(x)] = lim f (x) · lim g(x) = 0 · lim g(x) = 0.

x→0 x→0 x→0 x→0

(d) Notice that we cannot apply the “Quotient Law” to this function because
lim g(x) = 0.
x→0

Actually, we have
f (x) f (x)
lim = −∞ and lim = ∞.
x→−1+ g(x) x→−1− g(x)

(e) We are asked to evaluate lim (x3 f (x)) if it exists. Notice that the limits of the pieces
x→2
exist:
lim x3 = 8, lim f (x) = 2.
x→2 x→2

It thus follows from the “Product Law” that the product x3 f (x) also has a limit at
x = 2, and it is equal to:
lim x3 f (x) = lim x3 · lim f (x) = 8 × 2 = 16.


x→2 x→2 x→2

p
(f) We are asked to evaluate lim 3 + f (x) if it exists. Notice that, because of various
x→1
simple limit laws, the piece inside the square root has a limit:
lim (3 + f (x)) = 4.
x→1
p
It thus follows from the “Root Law” that the squre root 3 + f (x) also has a limit
at x = 1, and it is equal to:
p q √
lim 3 + f (x) = lim (3 + f (x)) = 4 = 2.
x→1 x→1

Problem 2 Use the limit laws to evaluate the limit

 3
1 + 2x
lim ,
x→1 1 + 4x2 + 4x4

carefully justifying each step.

[Solution:]

(1) To begin, note that, by the limit law for simple functions, lim 1 exists and equals
x→1
1, and lim x exists and equals 1. Then, by constant multiple law, lim 2x exists and
x→1 x→1
equals 2. So, by the limit law for sums, lim (1 + 2x) exists and is equal to 3.
x→1
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(2) Furthermore, by the limit law for products, lim x2 exists and equals ( lim x)( lim x) = 1.
x→1 x→1 x→1
Use the power law, we can find that lim x4 exists and equals ( lim x)4 = 14 = 1. So,
x→1 x→1
by the limit law for sums and constant multiple law, lim (1 + 4x2 + 4x4 ) exists and
x→1
equals lim 1 + 4 · lim x2 + 4 · lim x4 = 9.
x→1 x→1 x→1

(3) Then, because both lim (1+2x) and lim (1+4x2 +4x4 ) exist and lim (1+4x2 +4x4 ) =
x→1 x→1 x→1
9 ̸= 0, it follows from the “Quotient Law” that

1 + 2x lim (1 + 2x) 3 1
x→1
lim 2 4
= 2 4
= = .
x→1 1 + 4x + 4x lim (1 + 4x + 4x ) 9 3
x→1
(4) Finally, we can apply the power law to deduce that,
 3  3  3
1 + 2x 1 + 2x 1 1
lim = lim = = .
x→1 1 + 4x2 + 4x4 x→1 1 + 4x2 + 4x4 3 27

Problem 3 Evaluate the limit and justify each step by indicating the appropriate Limit
Law(s). !
r
x 2
x3 − 7x2 − 4 .
3

lim 1 +
x→8 2x − 8

[Solution:]

(1) We first check the existence of the limit

r
x2
3
lim .
x→8 2x − 8
By the limit law for simple functions, lim x exists and equals 8, and lim (−8) exists
x→8 x→8
and equals −8. Then, by constant multiple law, lim 2x exists and equals 16, and by
x→8
the limit law for sums, lim (2x − 8) exists and is equal to 8. Meanwhile, by the limit
x→1
law for products, lim x2 exists and equals ( lim x) · ( lim x) = 64. Hence, by the limit
x→8 x→8 x→8
x 2
law for quotients, lim 2x−8 exists and equals
x→8

x2 lim x2
x→8
lim = = 8.
x→8 2x − 8 lim (2x − 8)
x→8

We can use the Root Law to calculate the limit

r r
3 x2 3 x2
lim = lim = 2.
x→8 2x − 8 x→8 2x − 8

(2) We apply the Sum Law to get the limit

r ! r
3 x2 3 x2
lim 1 + = 1 + lim = 3.
x→8 2x − 8 x→8 2x − 8
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 2
(3) Furthermore, by the Power Law, lim x2 exists and equals lim x = 64, and lim x3
x→8 x→8 x→8
 3
exists and equals lim x = 512. Then, by constant multiple law, lim (−7x2 ) =
x→8 x→8
−6 × 64 = −448. We use the Sum Law to obtain the limit
lim x3 − 7x2 − 4 = 512 − 448 − 4 = 60.


x→8

(4) Finally, we can apply the limit law for products to deduce that,
r ! r !
x2 x2
x3 − 7x2 − 4 = lim 1 + · lim x3 − 7x2 − 4
3
3

lim 1 +
x→8 2x − 8 x→8 2x − 8 x→8

= 3 × 60 = 180.

Problem 4 If lim fx(x) f (x)

2 = 1, find lim f (x) and lim x .
x→0 x→0 x→0

[Solution:] Since lim fx(x) 2

2 = 1 and lim x = 0, using the product law we obtain
x→0 x→0

f (x) 2 f (x)
lim f (x) = lim 2
· x = lim 2 · lim x2 = 1 × 0 = 0.
x→0 x→0 x x→0 x x→0
Similarly,
f (x) f (x) f (x)
lim = lim 2 · x = lim 2 · lim x = 1 × 0 = 0.
x→0 x x→0 x x→0 x x→0

Problem 5 If
( √
x − 2, if x > 2
f (x) =
4 − 2x, if x < 2
determine whether lim f (x) exists.
x→2

√
[Solution:] Since f (x) = x − 2 for x > 2, we have
√ q √
lim f (x) = lim x − 2 = lim (x − 2) = 2 − 2 = 0.
x→2+ x→2+ x→2+

Since f (x) = 4 − 2x for x < 2, we have

lim f (x) = lim (4 − 2x) = 4 − 2 · 2 = 0.
x→2− x→2−

The right- and left-hand limits are equal. Thus the limit exists and
lim f (x) = 0.
x→2

Problem 6 Let

4 − 12 x, if x < 2
(
f (x) = √
x + c, if x ≥ 2
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Find the value of c so that lim f (x) exists.

x→2

[Solution:] Since f (x) = 4 − 21 x for x < 2, we have

1 1
lim f (x) = lim (4 − x) = 4 − · 2 = 3.
x→2− x→2− 2 2
√
Since f (x) = x + c for x ≥ 2, we have
√ q √
lim f (x) = lim x + c = lim (x + c) = 2 + c.
x→2+ x→2+ x→2+

If the limit lim f (x) exists , then the right- and left-hand limits should be equal, indicating
x→2
that
lim f (x) = lim f (x).
x→2+ x→2−

So √
2 + c = lim f (x) = lim f (x) = 3
x→2+ x→2−
gives that c = 7.

Problem 7
(a) What is wrong with the following equation?
x2 + x − 6
= x − 2.
x+3

(b) Given your answer to part (a), explain why the following equation is correct.
x2 + x − 6
lim = lim (x − 2).
x→−3 x+3 x→−3

[Solution:]

(a) The equation

x2 + x − 6
=x−2
x+3
is incomplete because the domain of the left-hand side is equal to R \ {−3}, while the
domain of the right-hand side is R. In other words, the left-hand side does not give
any value when evaluated at x = −3.

(b) But the equation:

x2 + x − 6
lim = lim (x − 2)
x→−3 x+3 x→−3
is nevertheless correct, because the limit of a function, lim f (x), does not depend on
x→a
the definition of f (x) at x = a. Looking at the above equation, we observe that:
x2 + x − 6 (x − 2)(x + 3)
= =x−2
x+3 x+3
everywhere except at the point that we are taking the limit.
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Problem 8 Limits of quotients Find the limits.

x2 +3x−10
(a) lim xx−5
2 −25 (b) lim 2
x+3
(c) lim x+5
x→5 x→−3 x +4x+4 x→−5
2 −7x+10 2 2
(d) lim x (e) lim t +t−2
2 (f) lim t 2+3t+2
x→2 x−2 t→1 t −1 t→−1 t −t−2
3 2 −1
(g) lim −2x−4
3 2 (h) lim 5y4 +8y 2 (i) lim x −1
x→−2 x +2x y→0 3y −16y x→1 x−1
1 1
+ x+1 4 3
(j) lim x−1
x (k) lim uu3 −1
−1
(l) −8
lim vv4 −16
x→0 u→1 v→2
√
4x−x2
(m) lim x−3 (n) lim √ (o) x−1
lim √x+3−2
x→9 x−9 x→4 2− x x→1
√ √
2 +8−3 2 +12−4
(p) lim xx+1 (q) lim x x−2 (r) lim √ x+2
x2 +5−3
x→−1 x→2 x→−2
√
x2 −5
(s) lim 2−x+3 (t) lim √ 4−x
x→−3 x→4 5− x2 +9

[Solution:]
(a)
x−5 x−5 1 1
lim2
= lim = lim = .
x→5 x − 25 x→5 (x + 5)(x − 5) x→5 x + 5 10
(b)
lim (x + 3)
x+3 x→−3 0
lim = = = 0.
x→−3 x2 + 4x + 4 lim (x + 2)2 1
x→−3

(c)
lim (x − 2)
x2 + 3x − 10 (x + 5)(x − 2) x−2 x→−5
lim = lim = lim = = −7.
x→−5 x+5 x→−5 x+5 x→−5 1 lim 1
x→−5

(d)
x2 − 7x + 10 (x − 2)(x − 5)
lim = lim = lim (x − 5) = −3.
x→2 x−2 x→2 x−2 x→2
(e)
t2 + t − 2 (t + 2)(t − 1) t+2 3
lim = lim = lim = .
t→1 t2 − 1 t→1 (t + 1)(t − 1) t→1 t + 1 2
(f)
t2 + 3t + 2 (t + 2)(t + 1) t+2 1
lim 2
= lim = lim =− .
t→−1 t − t − 2 t→−1 (t − 2)(t + 1) t→−1 t − 2 3
(g)
−2x − 4 −2(x + 2) −2 1
lim 3 2
= lim 2 = lim 2 = − .
x→−2 x + 2x x→−2 x (x + 2) x→−2 x 2
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(h)
5y 3 + 8y 2 y 2 (5y + 8) 5y + 8 1
lim = lim = lim 2 =− .
y→0 3y 4 − 16y 2 y→0 y 2 (3y 2 − 16) y→0 3y − 16 2
(i)
x−1 − 1 x−1 − 1 x 1−x −1
lim = lim · = lim = lim = −1.
x→1 x − 1 x→1 x − 1 x x→1 (x − 1)x x→1 x
(j)
1 1 (x+1)+(x−1) 2x
x−1 + x+1 (x−1)(x+1) (x−1)(x+1) 2
lim = lim = lim = lim = −2.
x→0 x x→0 x x→0 x x→0 (x − 1)(x + 1)
(k)
u4 − 1 (u − 1)(u3 + u2 + u + 1) u3 + u2 + u + 1 4
lim = lim = lim = .
u→1 u3 − 1 u→1 (u − 1)(u2 + u + 1) u→1 u2 + u + 1 3
(l)
v3 − 8 (v − 2)(v 2 + 2v + 4) v 2 + 2v + 4 3
lim 4
= lim 2
= lim 2
= .
v→2 v − 16 v→2 (v + 4)(v + 2)(v − 2) v→2 (v + 4)(v + 2) 8
(m)
√ √ √
x−3 x−3 x+3 x−9 1 1 1
lim = lim ·√ = lim ·√ = lim √ = .
x→9 x − 9 x→9 x − 9 x + 3 x→9 x − 9 x + 3 x→9 x + 3 6
(n)
√
4x − x2 4x − x2 2 + x
lim √ = lim √ · √
x→4 2 − x x→4 2 − x 2 + x

x(4 − x) √ √
= lim · (2 + x) = lim x(2 + x) = 16.
x→4 4 − x x→4

(o)
√
x−1 x−1 x+3+2
lim √ = lim √ ·√
x→1 x + 3 − 2 x→1 x + 3 − 2 x+3+2
x−1 √ √
= lim · ( x + 3 + 2) = lim ( x + 3 + 2) = 4.
x→1 x − 1 x→1

(p)
√ √ √
x2 + 8 − 3 x2 + 8 − 3 x2 + 8 + 3
lim = lim ·√
x→−1 x+1 x→−1 x+1 x2 + 8 + 3
x2 − 1 1 x−1 1
= lim ·√ = lim √ =− .
x→−1 x + 1 2
x +8+3 x→−1 2
x +8+3 3
(q)
√ √ √
x2 + 12 − 4 x2 + 12 − 4 x2 + 12 + 4
lim = lim ·√
x→2 x−2 x→2 x−2 x2 + 12 + 4
x2 − 4 1 x+2 1
= lim ·√ = lim √ = .
x→2 x − 2 2 2
x + 12 + 4 x→2 x + 12 + 4 2
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(r)
√
x+2 x+2 x2 + 5 + 3
lim √ = lim √ ·√
x→−2 x2 + 5 − 3 x→−2 x2 + 5 − 3 x2 + 5 + 3
√
x + 2 p 2  x2 + 5 + 3 3
= lim 2 x + 5 + 3 = lim =− .
x→−2 x − 4 x→−2 x−2 2
(s)
√ √ √
2 − x2 − 5 2 − x2 − 5 2 + x2 − 5
lim = lim · √
x→−3 x+3 x→−3 x+3 2 + x2 − 5
9 − x2 3−x 3
= lim √ = lim √ = .
x→−3 (x + 3)(2 + x2 − 5) x→−3 2 + x2 − 5 2
(t)
√
4−x 4−x 5 + x2 + 9
lim √ = lim √ · √
x→4 5 − x2 + 9 x→4 5 − x2 + 9 5 + x2 + 9
√ √
(4 − x)(5 + x2 + 9) (4 − x)(5 + x2 + 9)
= lim √ = lim
16 − x2
q
x→4 2 2 x→4
(5 − x + 9)(5 + x + 9)
√
5 + x2 + 9 5
= lim = .
x→4 4+x 4

Problem 9 Let 
1
h(x) = x2 cos .
x3
(a) Graph h(x) to estimate lim h(x), zooming in on the origin as necessary.
x→0
(b) Confirm your estimate in part (a) with a proof.

[Solution:]
(a) The graph of h(x) is displayed in Figure 2. From the graph, we estimate
 
1
lim h(x) = lim x2 cos = 0.
x→0 x→0 x3
(b) The function h(x) = x2 cos x13 is the product of two components:

– x2 , which

clearly approaches 0 as x approaches 0.
1
– cos x3 , which oscillates between −1 and 1 for all values of x because the cosine
function always lies between −1 and 1.
Thus, we cannot use the product law to get the limit. Given that cos x13 is bounded,


we can write:  
1
−1 ≤ cos ≤ 1.
x3
Multiplying this inequality by x2 (which is non-negative for all real x), we get:
 
1
−x2 ≤ x2 cos ≤ x2 .
x3
Thus:
−x2 ≤ h(x) ≤ x2 .
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Figure 2. Graph of function h(x) involved in Problem 9

As x approaches 0, both −x2 and x2 approach 0. Therefore, by the Squeeze Theorem:

lim − x2 = 0 and lim x2 = 0.
x→0 x→0

Since h(x) is squeezed between −x2 and x2 , we can conclude:

 
1
lim h(x) = lim x2 cos = 0.
x→0 x→0 x3
Thus,
lim h(x) = 0.
x→0

Problem 10 Use the squeeze theorem to show that

p π
lim x3 + x2 sin = 0.
x→0 x

[Solution:] We prove this limit by applying the squeeze theorem with a choice of
p p
f (x) = − x3 + x2 and h(x) = x3 + x2 .

To begin, note that

p π p π p π p
x3 + x2 sin ≤ | x3 + x2 sin | = x3 + x2 | sin | ≤ x3 + x2 .
x x x

Similarly,
p π p π p π p
x3 + x2 sin ≥ −| x3 + x2 sin | = − x3 + x2 | sin | ≥ − x3 + x2 .
x x x

Thus, we have shown that

p p π p
− x3 + x2 ≤ x3 + x2 sin ≤ x3 + x2 .
x

Next, we observe that (using limit laws),

 p  p
lim − x3 + x2 = lim x3 + x2 = 0.
x→0 x→0
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√
It now follows from the squeeze theorem that the limit lim x3 + x2 sin πx exists and equals
x→0
0. Here is a plot of the three functions involved in the proof:

Figure 3. Graphs of functions involved in Problem 10.

√
The
√ top graph (in black) is h(x) = x3 + x2 . The
√ middle graph (in blue) is g(x) =
π
x + x sin x . The lower graph (in red) is f (x) = − x3 + x2 .
3 2

Problem 11 Prove that

√
  
2 2π
lim x 1 + sin = 0.
x→0+ x

[Solution:]
√ We prove this limit with a 1-sided squeeze theorem, with a choice of f (x) = 0 and
h(x) = 2 x. We start by establishing that
√ √
  
2 2π
0 ≤ x 1 + sin ≤2 x
x

when x > 0, as required by the assumptions of the squeeze theorem.

To show this we begin with the following, which follows from the basic properties of the
function sin x:  
2 2π
0 ≤ sin ≤1
x
Adding 1 to this inequality we get:
 
2 2π
1 ≤ 1 + sin ≤2
x
√
Multiplying this through by the non-negative number x, we deduce
√ √ √
  
2 2π
0 ≤ x ≤ x 1 + sin ≤ 2 x.
x

Furthermore, we observe that

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√
lim 0 = 0 and lim 2 x = 0.
x→0+ x→0+
Thus all the assumptions of the squeeze √theorem are satisfied for these choices of f (x) and
h(x). It then follows that the limit lim x 1 + sin2 2π


x exists and equals 0. Here is the
√ x→0+ √ 
picture. The top graph is of 2 x, and the one under it is of x 1 + sin2 2π


. Note that
√ √ x
we could equally well have squeezed our function between 2 x and x.

Figure 4. Graphs of functions involved in Problem 11

Problem 12 In this problem we will investigate the limit

lim (2x + 3) = 5.
x→1
(a) Draw a graph of the function f (x) = 2x + 3 with the point (1, 5) marked.

(b) Add the lines y = 5 + ϵ and y = 5 − ϵ to your graph, with ϵ = 2. Using your graph,
find a δ > 0 such that |f (x) − 5| < ϵ whenever 0 < |x − 1| < δ.

(c) Repeat for the case ϵ = 1.5.

(d) Repeat for the case ϵ = 1.0.

(e) Repeat for the case ϵ = 0.5.

(f) Express |f (x) − 5| in terms of |x − 1|.

(g) Use part (f) to give a general formula for δ(ϵ) as a function of ϵ such that for every
possible ϵ > 0, |f (x) − 5| < ϵ whenever 0 < |x − 1| < δ(ϵ).

[Solution:]
(a & b) The graph of f (x) = 2x + 3 is the blue line in Figure 5. The point (1, 5) is marked
as a red circle. The two lines y = 5 + ϵ and y = 5 − ϵ with ϵ = 2 are the green
dashed lines. Looking at the graph, we observe that we can choose any δ such that
0 < δ ≤ 1. For such a delta, if 0 < |x − 1| < δ, then 0 < x < 2 and we can observe di-
rectly that every point of the graph above such an x lies between the horizontal lines.
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Figure 5

(c) In the case of ϵ = 1.5 the graph is shown in Figure 6. We can choose any δ such that
0 < δ ≤ 0.75.

Figure 6

(d) In the case of ϵ = 1.0 the graph is shown in Figure 7. We can choose any δ such that
0 < δ ≤ 0.5.

(e) In the case of ϵ = 0.5 the graph is shown in Figure 8. We can choose any δ such that
0 < δ ≤ 0.25.
 13

Figure 7

Figure 8

(f) We express |f (x) − 5| as a function of |x − 1| via:

|f (x) − 5| = |(2x + 3) − 5| = |2x − 2| = |2(x − 1)| = |2||x − 1| = 2|x − 1|.

(g) If we choose an x such that 0 < |x − 1| < δ(ϵ), then the equation we found in part (f)
tells us that for this x:
|f (x) − 5| = 2|x − 1| < 2δ(ϵ).

So the question we have to ask is: if we want this quantity to be less than ϵ, what do
14

we set δ(ϵ) to? If we choose δ(ϵ) = ϵ/2 then we get:

ϵ
|f (x) − 5| = 2|x − 1| < 2δ(ϵ) = 2 = ϵ.
2

Thus |f (x) − 5| < ϵ for every x such that 0 < |x − 1| < ϵ/2, as required.