Limit and its Rules

Muhammad Nadeem
School of Electrical Engineering &Computer Sciences
muhammad.nadeem@seecs.edu.pk

Concept of Limit
Let (x) be defined on an open interval about x0 except possibly at
x0 itself. If (x) gets arbitrarily close to k for all x sufficiently close to
x0, we say that approaches the limit k as x approaches x0.

Lim f ( x) = k
x x0

muhammad.nadeem@seecs.edu.pk

The limit value does not depend on how the function is defined:

x2 1

g ( x) = x 1
1

x2 1
f ( x) =
x 1
y

x 1

h( x) = x + 1

x =1

x
1

x
1

x
1

Lim f ( x) = Lim g ( x) = Lim h( x) = 2

x 1

x 1

x 1

muhammad.nadeem@seecs.edu.pk

A function may fail to have a Limit at a point in its domain

0
U ( x) =
1

g ( x) = x
0

x <1
x 1

x0
0

h( x ) = 1
sin x x > 0

x0
x=0

It jumps: The unit

step function U(x)
has no limit as
because its values
jump at x=0.

It grows too large to

have a limit: g(x) has no
limit as x approaches to 0
because the values of g
grow arbitrarily large.

It oscillates too much to

have a limit: h(x) has no
limit as x approaches to 0
because the functions
values oscillate between
+1 and -1.
muhammad.nadeem@seecs.edu.pk

Rules of Limit
(1)

Lim( f ( x) g ( x) ) = Lim f ( x) Lim g ( x)

(2)

Lim f ( x) g ( x) = Lim f ( x) Lim g ( x)

(3)

(4)

x c

x c

x c

x c

x c

x c

Lim(k f ( x) ) = k Lim f ( x)
x c

x c

f ( x)
f ( x) Lim
Lim
= x c
x c g ( x )
Lim g ( x)
x c

(5)

Lim( f ( x) ) = Lim f ( x)
n

x c

x c

g (c ) 0

f (c ) R

muhammad.nadeem@seecs.edu.pk

Limit of Polynomials
Limit of a polynomial can be found by substitution:
If

P ( x) = an x n + an 1 x n 1 + ..............a0

Then

Lim P ( x) = P(c) = an c n + an 1c n 1 + ..............a0

x c

muhammad.nadeem@seecs.edu.pk

Example: Find the limit

Lim( x 4 + 3x 3 4 x 2 x + 5)
x 2

muhammad.nadeem@seecs.edu.pk

Lim( x 4 + 3 x 3 4 x 2 x + 5)
x 2

= (2) 4 + 3(2) 3 4(2) 2 (2) + 5

= 16 24 16 + 2 + 5
= 17

muhammad.nadeem@seecs.edu.pk

Example: Find the limit

Lim
x2

x+2
x 2 + 5x + 6

muhammad.nadeem@seecs.edu.pk

Lim( x + 2)
x+2
x2
Lim 2
=
x 2 x + 5 x + 6
Lim( x 2 + 5 x + 6)
x2

2+2
=
(2) 2 + 5(2) + 6
4
=
4 + 10 + 6
1
=
5

muhammad.nadeem@seecs.edu.pk

Example: Find the limit

x 3
Lim 2
x 3 x 4 x + 3

muhammad.nadeem@seecs.edu.pk

x3
x3
Lim 2
= Lim 2
x 3 x 4 x + 3
x 3 x 3 x x + 3
x 3
= Lim
x 3 ( x 3)( x 1)
1
= Lim
x 3 ( x 1)
1
=
2

muhammad.nadeem@seecs.edu.pk

Example: Find the limit

4x x2
Lim
x4 2
x

muhammad.nadeem@seecs.edu.pk

4x x2
x( 4 x)
Lim
= Lim
x 4 2
x4 2
x
x
x(2 + x )(2 x )
= Lim
x4
2 x
= Lim x(2 + x )
x4

= 4( 2 + 2)
= 16

muhammad.nadeem@seecs.edu.pk

Example: Find the limit

x 1
Lim
x 1
x+3 2

muhammad.nadeem@seecs.edu.pk

x 1
x 1
x+3 +2
Lim
= Lim

x 1
x + 3 2 x1 x + 3 2
x+3 +2
( x 1)( x + 3 + 2)
= Lim
x 1
( x + 3) 4
= Lim( x + 3 + 2)
x 1

=4

muhammad.nadeem@seecs.edu.pk

Sandwich Theorem
Suppose that g(x) f(x) h(x)for all x in some open interval
containing c, except possibly at x = c itself. Suppose also that

Lim g ( x) = Lim h( x) = L
x c

Then

x c

Lim f ( x) = L
x c

muhammad.nadeem@seecs.edu.pk

Example: Suppose the following inequality holds for values of

x close to 0;

1 x 2 1 cos x 1

<
<
2
2 24
x
2

then find the limit

1 cos x
Lim
x 0
x2

muhammad.nadeem@seecs.edu.pk

Since

1 x2 1
Lim =
x 0 2
24 2

1 1
Lim =
x 0 2
2

By sandwich theorem

1 cos x 1
Lim
=
2
x 0
x
2

muhammad.nadeem@seecs.edu.pk