Limits

Definitions
Precise Definition : We say lim f ( x ) = L if Limit at Infinity : We say lim f ( x ) = L if we
x ®a x ®¥
for every e > 0 there is a d > 0 such that can make f ( x ) as close to L as we want by
whenever 0 < x - a < d then f ( x ) - L < e . taking x large enough and positive.

“Working” Definition : We say lim f ( x ) = L There is a similar definition for lim f ( x ) = L

x ®a x ®-¥

if we can make f ( x ) as close to L as we want except we require x large and negative

ve

om
by taking x sufficiently close to a (on either side
of a) without letting x = a . Infinite Limit : We say lim f ( x ) = ¥ iiff w
we
x ®a

can make f ( x ) arbitrarily y llarge

argge (a
ar (and
nd pos
positive)
Right hand limit : lim+ f ( x ) = L . This has by taking x sufficiently o a ((on either side
y ccll ssee tto
x ®a

.c
the same definition as the limit except it of a) without letting
g x = a.
requires x > a .
There is a simila
imilaa defin
imil defin ti on for lim f ( x ) = -¥
tion

ce
x ®a
Left hand limit : lim- f ( x ) = L . This has the
x ®a except wwee m ake f ( x ) arbitrarily large and
make
same definition as the limit except it requires negative.
ati
tivve.
x<a.
ra Relationship between the limit
lim
li mit aand one-sided
nd oon
ne- limits
lim f ( x ) = L Þ lim+ f ( x ) = lim- f ( x ) = L im f ( x ) = lim- f ( x ) = L Þ lim f ( x ) = L
llim
x ®a x ®a x ®a x ®a x ®a x ®a

lim f ( x ) ¹ lim- f ( x Þ llim

im f ( x ) Does Not Exist
m
x ®a + x ®a ®a

Prop
Properties
xa

Assume lim f ( x ) and lim g ( x ) bo

both
botth eexist nd c is any number then,
xist aand
x ®a x ®a

1. lim éëcf ( x ) ùû = c lim f ( x ) é f ( x ) ù lim f ( x)

x ®a x ®a 4. lim ê ú = x ®a provided lim g ( x ) ¹ 0
x ®a g ( x ) g ( x)
û lim
.e

x ®a
ë x ®a
2. lim éë f ( x ) ± g ( x ) ùû = liim f ( x ) ± lim g ( x )
llim
im n n
x ®a x®a x ®a 5. lim éë f ( x ) ùû = élim f ( x ) ù
x ®a ë x ®a û
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3. lim éë f ( x ) g ( x ) ùû = llim
im f ( x ) lim g ( x ) 6. lim é n f ( x ) ù = n lim f ( x )
x ®a x ®a x ®a x ®a ë û x®a
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Basic Limit Evaluations at ± ¥

N sgnn ( a ) = 1 if a > 0 and sgn ( a ) = -1 if a < 0 .
ote sg
Note
w

lim e x = ¥ &
1. lim lim e x = 0 5. n even : lim x n = ¥
x®¥
x ®¥ x®- ¥ x ®± ¥

2. lim ln ( x ) = ¥ & lim ln ( x ) = - ¥ 6. n odd : lim x n = ¥ & lim x n = -¥

x ®¥ x ®0 - x ®¥ x ®- ¥
b 7. n even : lim a x + L + b x + c = sgn ( a ) ¥
n
3. If r > 0 then lim =0 x ®± ¥
xr
x ®¥

4. If r > 0 and x r is real for negative x 8. n odd : lim a x n + L + b x + c = sgn ( a ) ¥

x ®¥
b 9. n odd : lim a x n + L + c x + d = - sgn ( a ) ¥
then lim r = 0 x ®-¥
x ®-¥ x
 Evaluation Techniques
Continuous Functions L’Hospital’s Rule
If f ( x ) is continuous at a then lim f ( x ) = f ( a ) f ( x) 0 f ( x) ± ¥
x ®a If lim = or lim = then,
x ®a g ( x ) 0 x ®a g ( x ) ±¥
Continuous Functions and Composition f ( x) f ¢( x)
f ( x ) is continuous at b and lim g ( x ) = b then lim = lim a is a number, ¥ or -¥
x ®a g ( x ) x ®a g ¢ ( x )
x ®a

x ®a
( x ®a
)
lim f ( g ( x ) ) = f lim g ( x ) = f ( b ) Polynomials at Infinity
p ( x ) and q ( x ) are polynomials. To ccompute
ompu
putte
Factor and Cancel

om
p ( x)
lim
x 2 + 4 x - 12
= lim
( x - 2 )( x + 6 ) lim
x ®± ¥ q ( x )
factor largest power ooff x ou
outt o both
off bo
x®2 2
x - 2x x®2 x ( x - 2)
p ( x ) and q ( x ) and then ccompute
ompu
putte llimit.
imit
x+6 8
= lim = =4
x®2 x 2 (
x 2 3 42 ) 3 - 42

.c
3x 2 - 4 x 3
Rationalize Numerator/Denominator lim = lim
m 2 5 = lim 5 x = -
3- x 3- x 3+ x
x ®-¥ 5 x - 2 x 2 x® x x -2 ( )
x ®- ¥
x -2 2
lim 2 = lim 2 Piecewise Function
unct
un ctiion

ce
x ®9 x - 81 x ®9 x - 81 3 + x
ì x 2 + 5 if x < -2
9- x -1 lim g ( x ) w here g ( x ) = í
where
= lim = lim
î1 - 3 x if x ³ -2
( ) ( )
x ®-2
x ®9
ra ( x - 81) 3 + x x®9 ( x + 9 ) 3 + x
2

ompu
putte ttwo
Compute wo on
one sided limits,
-1 1 im g ( x ) = lim- x 2 + 5 = 9
llim
= =-
(18)( 6 ) 108 ®-
® x ®-2

im g ( x ) = lim+ 1 - 3 x = 7
llim
Combine Rational Expressions
m
® 2+
x ®- x ®-2

1æ 1 1ö 1 æ x - ( x + h) ö One sided limits are different so lim g ( x )

O
lim ç - ÷ = lim çç ÷ x ®-2
h ®0 h x + h
è x ø h ®0 h è x ( x + h ) ÷ø doesn’t exist. If the two one sided limits had
xa

been equal then lim g ( x ) would have existed

1 æ -h ö - 1 x ®-2
= lim çç ÷ = lim
im -
h ®0 h x ( x + h ) ÷ h® x ( x + h ) x2 and had the same value.
è ø
.e

Some Continuous Functions

Partial list of continuous
tinuous
ti nuous functions
functi and the values of x for which they are continuous.
w

1. Polynomials als ffor ll x.

or aall x. 7. cos ( x ) and sin ( x ) for all x.
2. Rationall ffunction,
uncti on, xxcept for x’s that give
tion,
division
ion bby
y zzero.
eroo.
er 8. tan ( x ) and sec ( x ) provided
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3. n x ((nn odd for for all x. 3p p p 3p

x ¹ L , - , - , , ,L
4. x ((nn even)
even for all x ³ 0 . 2 2 2 2
9. cot ( x ) and csc ( x ) provided
w

5. e x ffor
or all x.
6. ln x for x > 0 . x ¹ L , -2p , -p , 0, p , 2p ,L

Intermediate Value Theorem

Suppose that f ( x ) is continuous on [a, b] and let M be any number between f ( a ) and f ( b ) .
Then there exists a number c such that a < c < b and f ( c ) = M .